Increasing competition, tightening profit margin, access to consumer lending has forced new home builders , smaller Scottsdale area builders, to the larger new York stock exchange public builders to 
rethink and take a sharper pencil to their costs to find profits (or minimize losses).
How are the Home builders constructing homes cheaper and in theory better quality ?
The layman's language is Build my Phoenix area home with the same quality, functionally, and safety, with modern materials for less.
The industry term is what is known as "Value Engineering" and is presenting a unique opportunity to the Pheonix area buyer.
What is it ?
Value Engineering , as it relates to Home building, is an analysis of the cost of building home and how one can reduce cost and provide an equal product at lower cost.
Primarily, this is done in 2 main areas. ( Click here to find out how ) ...
Interesting! In Florida, they are pouring solid concrete walls at a much higher cost and selling like crazy.
Im sure the basic structure of these homes are fine. It is usually in the finish product where the builders go with cheaper quality materials. Building codes won't allow a builder to use a substandard material that will effect the structure itself.
Steve - The codes certainly do help maintain the integrity of the structures. But obviously codes vary by location.