Luxury Homebuilder in Charlotte Succumbs to Housing Slump

Chalk it up to the protracted housing slump: The leading home builder in the southeast won't be erecting any more houses. Charlotte, N.C.-based Simonini Builders has announced it will be closing operations by the end of the year. One of the best-known luxury home builders in the nation, Simonini was awarded Builder Magazine's "2002 America's Best Builder Award," "2005 Best in American Living Award," and Professional Builder's Magazine "2006 National Builder of the Year."