Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) talks to the news media about the stimulus package. Photo by Carolyn Bunce

Congress Gives Housing Some Stimulus, But More Is Needed

 
Congress approved a $168 billion economic stimulus package on Feb. 7 in an effort to help shore up housing and the economy.

“While we didn’t get everything we wanted in this bill, it does include important provisions that will help our industry,” said NAHB President Brian Catalde. “Our board of directors will meet next week in Orlando to outline the next steps that Congress and the Administration should take to build on efforts already undertaken to stabilize housing and avert a recession.” ...

Builders Keep No-Growth Proposal Off Florida Ballot

Culminating a hard- and long-fought battle by NAHB, the High Production Home Builders Council, the Florida Home Builders Association and other coalition partners, the Florida Division of Elections on Feb. 1 announced that Florida Hometown Democracy — a potentially disastrous anti-growth initiative — failed to qualify for the November 2008 ballot.

The proposed constitutional amendment would take the responsibility of planning away from planners and local elected officials and require the voters to decide on each and every amendment to comprehensive zoning plans. ...

Members, Please Take the Online NAHB Branding Survey

NAHB members are encouraged to fill out a Web-based survey on NAHB branding that was sent via e-mail to members earlier this week and is also available through Nation’s Building News. Member feedback is crucial to the NAHB branding effort now underway.

The survey should take 10 minutes or less to complete. All answers are confidential. To take the survey, click here.

Free, NAHB-produced ads are available to members and HBAs.

New NAHB TV Spots Help HBAs, Members Promote Home Buying

Three free, new NAHB-produced television ads are available for members and home builders associations to use on local television stations to promote the many benefits of buying a home today.

To view the ads, click here.

The ads point out to consumers that ― with today's near-record low interest rates, plenty of homes on the market and readily available mortgage funds for borrowers with good credit — it is a good time for them to buy the home of their dreams.

The ads were produced by the NAHB Production Group to help members and HBAs that want to promote home buying on local television but cannot afford the cost of producing an ad. ...

Nation's Building News Will Not Be Published Feb. 11 or Feb. 18

Nation's Building News will not be published Feb. 11 or Feb. 18 while the NBN staff is attending the 2008 International Builders' Show. Regular weekly publication will resume Feb. 25 and include reports from the show.