www.NAHB.org
Week of March 15, 2004
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Front Page
 
President's Message
n For Working Families, Affordable Housing Is in Short Supply
 
Housing Politics
n NAHB President Rayburn Discusses Housing Priorities With Leaders in Washington
 
Housing and Economics
n Rising OSB and Steel Prices Raise Concerns as Peak Building Season Nears
n Atlanta Leads Nation in Single-Family Housing Activity for 13th Consecutive Year
n New Study Weighs in on California’s Housing Woes
n Report Cites Economic Benefits of California Home Building
n Eye on the Economy
 
Environment
n Briefing Paper Examines ‘No Surprises’ Rule on Habitat Conservation
 
Sales and Marketing
n After the Tradeshows: Five Easy Steps to Maintain Marketing Momentum
 
Seniors Housing
n Shifting to the 50+Market? Don’t Overlook Sales Staff Training
 
Member Dividends
n NCHI Membership Helped Culligan Business Flow
 
Housing Finance
n Builders Need to Know the Basics to Obtain Financing
 
Small Builders and Remodelers
n How to Get That Final Payment
 
Women's Council
n Marketing Yourself for Success: The Resumé
 
Military Housing
n Air Force Announces Forum for Large Military Housing Privatization Project
 
Labor
n HBI Trustees Visit Job Corps Campus
 
Building Products
n Composite Fire Door Meets Local Standards
 
Builder's Engineer
n Why 'Oscar Plumbing' Will Never Make Much Money
 
Building News
Coast To Coast
 
Association News
& Events
n Home Builders Renovate Homeless Shelter in Washington, D.C.
n Sign Up for the Legislative Conference and Make Housing a Priority in Congress
n Help Build This Year’s Family Build Home for a Mother of Three
n Calendar of Events
 
NBN Back Issues
 


Major Initiative to Provide ‘Workforce Housing’ in One Thousand Communities Across the Country

At the site of a renovation project that will provide 228 affordably priced rental and condominium …

Building News
From Coast to Coast

n Robots That Build (But Still Won't Do Windows)

n Bill Would Make It Easier to Convert Apartments Into Condos

n What Slowdown? Home Sales Heat Back Up

n Housing Boom Attributed to Boomers

n Great Room Moves Outside

n Homeownership Rates Rise in U.S.

n The New Trends in Home Design

n Roaming Around the House
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NAHB President Meets With EPA Administrator to Seek Balance on Regulatory Issues

In a meeting last week with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Leavitt, NAHB President Bobby Rayburn discussed collaborative efforts …

Housing Snapshot

Mortgage interest rates dropped sharply last week, leading Freddie Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft to speculate that mortgage interest rates this year could average lower than they were last year. Nothaft expects adjustable rate financing in 2004 to account for the highest share of the mortgage market since 1995. On the broader economic front, uninspired by the gains they have been seeing in the job market, consumers were losing confidence early this month, according to the University of Michigan. But if Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan turns out to be correct in what he told Congress last Thursday, consumers may soon have more to cheer about. Greenspan voiced confidence that the job situation will be turning around shortly. The Commerce Department reported a record $541.8 billion U.S. trade deficit in 2003, and terrorist railroad bombings in Spain had a major downward impact on the stock market in their immediate aftermath. Framing lumber was down for a change last week, according to Random Lengths, falling by $6 to $392 per 1,000 board feet. A persisting concern for home builders, the prices of oriented strand board and plywood remained high: the mill price for 15/32-inch 3-ply CDX Southern Westside plywood was $490 per 1,000 square feet; and OSB was $498.
Mortgage Interest Rates
30-Year Fixed-Rate 5.41%
15-Year Fixed-Rate 4.69%
1-Year ARM 3.41%
Housing Starts - Jan. 2004*
Total 1.903 million
Single-Family Starts 1.537 million
Multifamily Starts 339,000
New Home Sales
Jan. 2004*		 1.106 million
Existing Home Sales
Jan. 2004*		 6.04 million
* Seasonally adjusted annual rate


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