Week of April 10, 2006
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Multifamily Builders Snapping Up Land to Offset Costs

To counteract the rising land costs prevalent in most active housing markets these days, multifamily builders and developers have begun acquiring larger tracts than they need and selling off the excess land to other builders.

As a solution to escalating construction costs, some builders, developers and equity partners addressing NAHB’s Pillars of the Industry multifamily conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. last week also suggested buying building materials in the commodities markets. ...

Framing Lumber Composite $ 358 $ 0
OSB Composite $ 324 $ 12
Southern Pine Plywood Composite $ 483 $ 0
With permission from: www.randomlengths.com 
 
NAHB Executive Vice President and CEO Jerry Howard testifies at HUD hearing.

FHA Reforms Needed to Spur Homeownership Opportunities

To help spur housing opportunities for America’s working families, the nation’s home builders on April 5 called on Congress to support the Bush Administration’s efforts to reform and revitalize the Federal Housing Administration's single-family mortgage insurance programs.

Testifying before the House Financial Services Committee's Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee, Jerry Howard, NAHB’s executive vice president and CEO, said that statutory and regulatory constraints have limited the FHA’s ability to respond to the needs of borrowers. ...

Interest Rates  
  30-Yr. Fixed: 6.43% 15-Yr. Fixed: 6.10% 5 Yr. ARM: 6.11%
  1 Yr. ARM: 5.57% Libor (3 months): 5.04% Prime: 7.75%
Housing Starts*  (February 2006)
  Total: 2.12 million Single: 1.8 million Multi: 320,000
Home Sales*  (February 2006)
  New: 1.08 million Existing: 6.91 million  
Median Home Prices  (February 2006)
  New: $230,400 Existing: $209,000  
* Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate

   
 
Click here to tell us about your experience in the Gulf Coast...
 
   
 
Freddie Mac, Louisiana HFA Help Hurricane Victims Repair, Rebuild Homes
Montana State Representative Bob Lake Cautions Against Extensive GSE Reform
 
   
 
Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium 2006
NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference and Gala
Construction Forecast Conference - Spring 2006
 

 
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