DJ Hovnanian Sept Orders -2: Calif New-Home Orders Up 900%
RED BANK, N.J. (Dow Jones)--Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (HOV) September new home orders rose 94.3% to 851, with orders in California especially strong.
In a press release Thursday, the homebuilder said new home orders increased 900% last month in California to 360.
In dollar value, total new home orders grew 110.6% to $218.1 million. In California the increase was 833.8% to $87.7 million.
Hovnanian also saw increases in the Northeast, Texas and North Carolina but a 9.9% decline in new home orders in metro D.C. But new home orders in the region increased 16.3% on a dollar-value basis.
At the end of the month, the number of active selling communities increased 6.1% to 190 communities from 179 communities a year earlier. The number of active selling communities in California, including the effect of the forecast homes acquisition, grew 311%.
Company Web site:
http://www.khov.com
-Lisa Reynolds; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400
(END) DOW JONES NEWS 10-03-02
06:13 AM- - 06 13 AM EDT 10-03-02