In order to better understand how builders and developers havechanged the way they do business during this difficult period, theStrategic Alliance, a group of eight real estate-related companies,created a survey that was distributed to more than 1,000 buildersand developers throughout the Tri-State and Mid-Atlantic regions,as well as Pennsylvania and Florida.

"The target market of the builders who responded ranged fromfirst-time buyers, seasonal homeowners, rental properties,residential homes and 55-plus active adult communities," says BillFeinberg, president of Feinberg & Associates, P.C., and founderof the Strategic Alliance. "Many of these builders have mixed-useand multifamily projects lined up, waiting for the opportune timeto break ground."

When questioned at the end of 2009 about how they see thecurrent market compared to a year ago, 25% of respondents thoughtthat the economy was easing up, while 46% saw it getting worse orremaining unchanged. "Although some builders are positive thingsare changing for the better, there is still a lot of doubt andtrepidation moving forward," adds Feinberg.