Week of April 25, 2005
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NAHB President Dave Wilson, right, testifies on GSEs.

Builders Testify on Housing Finance System Reform

The nation’s home builders testified before the Congress last week on several solutions to strengthen the regulation of the housing government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks. The proposals would ensure the ongoing financial safety and soundness of the GSEs and allow them to continue to fulfill their vital housing mission. ...

Framing Lumber Composite $ 402 $ 6
OSB Composite $ 371 $ 5
Southern Pine Plywood Composite $ 500 $ 5
With permission from: www.randomlengths.com 
Vogue Homes used ICFs to make this unworkable hillside lot work.

Floor Plans: Concrete Custom Home Conquers Unworkable Lot
 

Vogue Homes

Building on the Unbuildable: The lot featured a 35-foot hill and a slope that would challenge a rock climber. In addition, the city of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., for more than a decade had deemed it unbuildable. But John Vogstrom, president of Vogue Homes, conquered the slope and overcame the city’s reluctance. He built an 8,400-square-foot custom home on the hillside using Insulating Concrete Forms (IFCs). ...

 

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Builders Make Annual Trek to Capitol Hill

As part of NAHB’s annual Legislative Conference, more than 850 builders from across the country trekked to Capitol Hill on April 13 to seek support from their members of Congress for legislation that would increase the availability of affordable housing and expand rental housing and homeownership opportunities nationwide.

“Through visits to Capitol Hill, our members take the message of the housing industry directly to their legislators,” said NAHB President Dave Wilson. “Such personal contact helps federal lawmakers better understand the impact of housing issues on the voters back home.”

In more than 300 individual meetings with their representatives and senators, builders called for action on the following NAHB legislative priorities: ...

Interest Rates  
  30-Yr. Fixed: 5.8% 15-Yr. Fixed: 5.36% 5 Yr. ARM: 5.22%
  1 Yr. ARM: 4.26% Libor (3 months): 3.18% Prime: 5.75%
Housing Starts*  (March 2005)
  Total: 1.837 million Single: 1.539 million Multi: 298,000
Home Sales*  (February 2005)
  New: 1.226 million Existing: 6.79 million  
Median Home Prices  (February 2005)
  New: $230,700 Existing: $191,000  
* Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate

   
 
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