Nation's Building News Online for September 29, 2003

	www.NAHB.org Week of September 29, 2003

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	Front Page

	President's Message n The White House Has Sent Congress a Dangerous Proposal

	Housing Politics n Board Adamantly Supports HUD Oversight Over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Programs

	Housing and Economics n August New Home Sales Pile on the Good Housing News n August Home Resales as Good as They’re Likely to Get n Home Starts Recede in August From 17-Year Peak n Home Buyers Take a Breather From Rising Mortgage Rates n Builders Confident of Healthy Six-Month Outlook for Home Sales n Eye on the Economy

	Multifamily n Index Finds Rentals Weak But Improving and Condos Stronger

	Smart Growth n Workers Face Housing Affordability Woes in Rhode Island

	Business Management n Builders May Be Entitled to CIAC Refunds From Utilities n Maximize Your Marketing With Press Releases n Use ‘Administrative’ E-mail Addresses When Posting on Web Sites

	State and Local n Liability Insurance Top Housing Industry Concern n NAHB Promotes Infrastructure Finance Alternatives Among Public Officials

	Codes and Standards n NAHB Prepares for Ventilation Standard Appeal Hearing

	Research n Sheathing Alternatives to OSB and Plywood May Be Worth Considering

	Environment n Environmentalists Charge Court Officials With ‘Voodoo’ Science n More Anti-Housing Arson Attacks Reported in San Diego n Model Legislation Targets Ecological Terrorists

	Small Builders and Remodelers n Don't Make Accounting a Foreign Language

	Seniors Housing n A New Concept in Retirement Housing Gains Favor

	Housing Finance n Congress Revives Stalled FHA Multifamily Insurance Programs n More ARMs in the Future as Mortgage Rates Rise

	Member Dividends n HBAs Use NAHB e-Resources to Communicate With Members

	Labor n Field Superintendent Courses Tailor-Made for California

	Building Products n Implementing Best Practices Can Reduce Cycle Time

	Building Systems n Showcase 2003 a Time to Learn and a Time to Play

	International Housing n Mexico Is Focus of International Housing Conference

	Building News Coast To Coast

	Association News & Events n Sears Recognizes Builders for Furthering the American Dream n Boost Your Marketing Through These Awards Programs n Calendar of Events

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Sears Recognizes Builders for Furthering the American Dream

The Sears American Dream-Maker Awards are providing home builders and contractors with an opportunity to receive recognition for their charitable efforts to turn the American dream of homeownership and maintenance into a reality for low- and moderate-income families.

Sears, Roebuck and Co. will award a total of $50,000 to the winners, whose donations of time, talent, funding and services from Oct. 1, 2002 through Sept. 30, 2003 helped increase homeownership in their communities.

Entrants in the competition can nominate themselves or be nominated by another person. Nominations must include an original essay no longer than 1,000 words describing the nominee’s dedication and charitable efforts and one testimonial from an upstanding member of the community confirming the impact of the builder’s efforts.

Entries can be submitted via mail or e-mail and must be received by 5 p.m. (EST) on Oct. 1. All essays and testimonials must be typewritten and submitted to: Sears American Dream-Maker Awards, c/o Hunter Public Relations, 41 Madison Avenue, Suite 500, New York, NY 10010 or via e-mail to: searsdream-makers@hunterpr.com.

		Learn how Countrywide®'s National Builder Division works locally to speed up the closing process.

		Discover how Countrywide can qualify almost any homebuyer with its wide selection of ARMs.

For official rules and more information, click here.

Winners in five categories will receive a donation of $10,000 each made in their name to the housing-related organization of their choice, subject to approval by Sears, and a certificate of accomplishment.

Sears may also publicize the achievements of the winners at the 2004 International Builders’ Show and elsewhere.

Sears will also designate two honorable mention winners in each of the five categories.

The entry categories are:

Builders with revenues over $1 billion
Builders with revenues between $400 million and $999 million
Builders with revenues between $100 million and $399 million
Builders with revenues under $100 million
Professonal contractors/builders of a minority-owned business

Sears, Roebuck and Co. created the Sears American Dream Campaign in August 2002 in response to a HUD study finding that the nation’s minority homeownership rate was 18% lower than the national average, with less than 50% of African-Americans and Hispanics owning homes.

The company’s $100 million community commitment is helping to make homeownership and continued home maintenance a reality for all Americans.

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