On NAHB's annual green homes tour, a shotgun house in New Orleans is made energy-efficient from the inside out.

Green Building a Plus for Builders in Tough Market

Home builders attending the May 11-13 NAHB National Green Building Show in New Orleans were told by market analysts that they have a long way to go to sell the benefits of sustainable construction technologies to their prospective customers.

But at a time when housing demand remains largely sluggish around the country, advances in green building are providing a notable shot in the arm for builders, and as the housing industry moves out of its cyclical downturn green business appears headed for a galloping rate of growth. ...

Take Aim on Membership During ‘The Big Hunt,’ Tuesday, May 20

NAHB members and membership chairmen are invited to join ”The Big Hunt” — the National Membership Day free webcast on Tuesday, May 20 — to learn how to grow and retain membership for their local home builders associations. Tips on how to help members survive the housing downturn will also be presented during the webcast.

“The Big Hunt” webcast will be from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. EST. Visit www.nahb.com to watch it. ...

Home Buyers Finding Out They Have It Good in Oklahoma City

Strong job growth, a strong local economy, a low cost of living and mortgage rates near all-time lows are providing an unbeatable combination for prospective home buyers in Oklahoma City, according to the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association.

Just because optimal home buying conditions can be hard to find under the lackluster conditions that prevail in many parts of the nation today, consumers in Oklahoma City shouldn’t allow their confidence to be rattled by what they are seeing in the news, the association says.

In a multi-faceted campaign combining a state-of-the art Web site (DefyTheTrends.com) with more traditional marketing strategies, the local association is carrying a positive message to a larger and more diverse audience and dispelling some of the information that may apply to other places but can only be considered myths closer to home. ...