While most consumers who purchased a new home had been through the home buying process at least once before, a third of those surveyed were first-time buyers.

A 16-year new home sales specialist for custom builder Hans Hagen Homes, Jim Lee is a perennial sales leader who has won wide admiration from his co-workers and peers, says Dorie Griffith, vice president of sales and marketing for Hans Hagen.

Little more than three years ago this former cabinet salesman spent a vacation in Sarasota, Fla., visiting his brother, a new home sales professional.

The data indicate that most home buying decisions are made within a relatively short time.

Sixty-one percent of buyers closed on their new homes on time.

eBay and Builder Homesite Inc. have partnered to offer builders listing and transaction capabilities on eBay’s Web site.

Two-thirds of home buyers surveyed indicated they had 11 or fewer walk-through items.

Build an options program so buyers get what they want — and you get the profit.

Remember “Wayne’s World” from Saturday Night Live? Wayne and his buddy Garth did an underground television program from Wayne’s basement, and Wayne frequently offered half-baked ideas that prompted Garth to tell him, “You’ve got to live in th