Nationwide, home-building permits are at a four-year high. But coming off the Great Recession, is there a market for luxury homes?

Four times a year, the U.S. Department of Commerce serves up the big number that tells us how much we are producing as a country. U.S. second quarter GDP grew more than economists had expected. That doesn't make it good.

Lawmakers must fund new federal highway construction before the current legislation expires on Saturday. If they don't, local construction projects may suffer, and jobs could be lost.

The latest news in the housing market: New home construction fell last month, but building permits were up to their highest level since 2008.

Housing starts, as they're called, were up 2.6 percent last month, and compared with last April, home construction was up almost 30 percent.

What's going on with the housing market? Susan Wachter, who teaches real estate at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, explains.

It is one step forward, one step back for the housing market. The mortgage bankers association says this morning applications for home mortgages were up 3.3 percent last week but demand for refinancing dropped for the sixth straight week.

Connecticut contractor Peter Schneider is surviving the recession thanks to his hard-won skills, hard-working attitude, and a little bit of luck.