Homebuilder begins to build up sales

Discretionary spenders, the ones who disappeared in the recession, are back on the Gulf Coast, reports a local executive for national homebuilder Taylor Morrison.

In fact, sales are so strong that Steve Kempton, who runs the company's West Florida division, has done something he hasn't done since at least 2005: Raise prices. Kempton did that this year in all 24 communities the firm builds in on the Gulf Coast, from Pasco County to Collier County. That covers more than 7,000 lots.

“We are seeing a little bit of appreciation in homes,” Kempton tells Coffee Talk, “and it's not (negatively) impacting sales.”