Building News
From Coast to Coast

n Home Redesigns for Retirement Years

n The Great American Upgrade

n Builders Encouraged by Rising Tide of Renters

n Seniors Choosing to Live in 'All Age' Areas

n Business of Building Townhouses Is Booming

n Keeping a Lid on It

n A Second Story, Delivered and Installed

n Kibbles & Glitz

What are your expectations for housing market activity in this year's final quarter?

	Activity will increase.
	The market will stay about the same as it is today.
	Things will slow down some, but not much.
	There will be a significant slowdown.
	Don't know.

IBS Early Registration Extended Through Oct. 22

Early registration for the 2004 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas has been extended through Wednesday, Oct 22. To register now and save, click here.

OSHA Revises Form for Reporting Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses

To avoid confusion, members of NAHB should be aware of recent revisions to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Form 300, on which employers are required to keep a record of work-related injuries and illnesses. …

Housing Snapshot

The cost of framing lumber continues to decline slowly; it fell to $323 per 1,000 board feet last Friday, down from $326 a week earlier, according to Random Lenths. Prices for 15/32-inch, 3-ply CDX Southern Westside plywood fell $5 to $545 per 1,000 square-feet at the end of last week, while 7/16-inch OSB North Central was unchanged at $465. Although the rapid run-up that began in the spring appears to have ended, prices are far higher than a year earlier: $240 and $162, respectively, for the two Random Lengths indexes. Mortgage interest rates were creeping up again last week for the second week in a row, but with prospects for inflation remaining low, Freddie Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft and Research Director Buchi Ramagopol are predicting that rates will range from 6%-6.25% on average through the first half of 2004. They expect single-family originations to drop 40%, from $3.3 trillion this year to $1.9 trillion in 2004, as refinancings decline. Refinancing is expected to account for about 65% of new loan applications this year and decline to about one-third next year.

Mortgage Interest Rates
30-Year Fixed-Rate	6.05%
15-Year Fixed-Rate	5.36%
1-Year ARM	3.79%
Housing Starts - Sep. 2003*
Total	1.89 million
Single-Family Starts	1.52 million
Multifamily Starts	368,000
New Home Sales Aug. 2003*	1.15 million
Existing Home Sales Aug. 2003*	6.47 million
* Seasonally adjusted annual rate