KB Home Tops Times Builders Survey Again

For the second consecutive year, KB Home, the nation’s largest home builder, captured the No. 1 perch on the Times’ 2000 survey of residential building in Southern California.

The Westwood-based builder, which primarily develops entry-level homes, constructed 3,344 houses here last year and sold all but 52 for a sales volume of $792 million, down 11% from its 1999 revenues of $890 million.

Lennar Homes, which ranked No. 1 in 1998, ranked second in the 2000 survey, with revenues of $763 million, up 1.2% over the previous year. The Mission Viejo-based developer built 1,500 single-family homes last year.

In the commentary part of the survey, respondents said the greatest challenges facing builders this year are the lack of available land and the continuing labor shortage. Escalating prices of land and materials also were cited as potential impediments.

But most of those surveyed said sales are expected to remain brisk in 2001, even if they do not reach the record levels of the past two years.

The survey of new home building in 2000 marks the 30th year The Times has tracked Southland builders.

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Survey results were compiled by Irene Vasquez.