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Week of February 16, 2004
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Front Page
 
President's Message
n Housing America’s Working Families
 
Housing Politics
n Major Transportation Bill Clears the Senate
n An Interview With Assistant Treasury Secretary Wayne Abernathy
n An Interview With NAHB Executive Vice President Jerry Howard
 
Housing and Economics
n Eye on the Economy
 
Building Quality
n Awards Help Builder Achieve Great Strides in Housing Quality
 
Green Building
n Green Building Moving Into the Mainstream at Austin Conference
 
Housing Finance
n GAO Report Suggests Need for Scrutinizing Housing Nonprofits
 
Seniors Housing
n NAHB Forming 20 Club for Seniors Housing Professionals
 
Small Builders and Remodelers
n My Competitor Just Paid My Membership Dues
n Three Remodelors™ Council Members Receive Council Honors
 
Design
n Infill Projects Should Blend With Neighboring Communities
 
Women's Council
n Women’s Council Names Bob Weiss Outstanding Executive Officer of the Year
 
Building Systems
n Modular Home Provides Students Hands-on Training and Real-Life Experience
 
Labor
n Administration’s Budget Proposes Increased Funds for Job Corps Training Efforts
 
Building Products
n Single-Hung Windows Designed for Beauty and Efficiency
 
Housing Forum
n Leaking Basement Walls
 
Building News
Coast To Coast
 
Association News
& Events
n Nominees Announced for NAHB 2005 Vice President and Secretary
n Prominent St. Louis Builder Robert Jones Dies
n Help Build This Year’s Family Build Home for a Mother of Three
n Calendar of Events
 
NBN Back Issues
 


In GSE Regulatory Efforts, Congress Warned of Possible Harm to Home Finance System

As the debate over the regulatory restructuring of the housing industry’s government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) was heating up again …

Building News
From Coast to Coast

n Solar Power Hits Suburbia

n Easy Access

n Let Your Contractor Finance Home Improvements

n Touring Condos That Aren't There

n Blueprints for the Home Planet

n Improvements With a Flair

n U.S. Rules Put Adult Communities in Play

n Solar Power Gets an Energy Boost

Hot Topics!
Building A Better Business Through Education?
A Guide to Better Buyer Relations: Marketing, Sales and Purchase Contract
Confused about Subcontractor Agreements?
Structural Defects, Can They Happen to You?

Has Your Computer Become a Pain in the Neck?

That may be because of poor posture. The best posture to maintain while operating your computer is a "neutral posture":

  • Sit comfortably (like you've been taught) with your head balanced over shoulders and trunk, your back against the back of your chair and elbows close to your sides.
  • Sit with both feet comfortably on the floor — not just your toes, heels or balls of your feet.
  • Sit with upper arms relaxed and vertical.
  • Sit so your wrists are in a straight or neutral position when using your keyboard.
  • Use your keyboard and mouse without putting wrist or arm pressure on your work surface.
  • Make sure you are able to view your computer screen and whatever documents you are working with while maintaining the above posture.

Builders Working With Congress to Include FHA Condo Purchases in Zero Downpayment Program

NAHB is working to improve legislation introduced by Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-OH) on Feb. 3 that would implement the proposed FHA-insured zero downpayment mortgage announced last month by Federal Housing Administration Commissioner John Weicher at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.  …

Housing Snapshot

Mortgage interest rates receded last week. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan reported to the Congress that prospects for growth look good, conceding that businesses need to be creating more jobs and indicating that the Fed will wait to see improvement before it moves to boost interest rates. The size of the federal deficit, which the Administration expects to weigh in at a hefty $521 billion this year, needs to be reined in, however, or it could start having an adverse impact on rates, even over the short term, Greenspan warned. His remarks apparently provided reassurance to the financial markets. An index by the University of Michigan suggested that consumer confidence was unraveling during the first half of this month. And lumber prices continued to trend upward last week. Random Lengths reported that the price of framing lumber was $374 per 1,000 board feet, $18 higher than the prior week. The mill price for 15/32-inch 3-ply CDX Southern Westside plywood was up $30 to $465 per 1,000 square feet, up from $244 a year earlier; and oriented strand board jumped $30 to $470, compared to $197 at the same point in 2003.
Mortgage Interest Rates
30-Year Fixed-Rate 5.66%
15-Year Fixed-Rate 4.96%
1-Year ARM 3.57%
Housing Starts - Dec. 2003*
Total 2.088 million
Single-Family Starts 1.664 million
Multifamily Starts 397,000
New Home Sales
Dec. 2003*		 1.060 million
Existing Home Sales
Dec. 2003*		 6.47 million
* Seasonally adjusted annual rate


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