July 25, 2011
Nation's Building News

The Official Online Newspaper of NAHB

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High Regulatory Costs for New Homes Another Obstacle to Housing Recovery, Study Finds
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A new paper from NAHB's Economics and Housing Policy Group finds that the hefty price home buyers are paying for government regulations represents just one more obstacle that home builders need to overcome in restoring the marketplace to normal conditions.

On average, regulations imposed by governments at all levels account for 25% of the final price of a new single-family home built for sale, the study finds.

Nearly two-thirds of this regulatory burden — 16.4% of the final price of the house — is imposed during the development of the land, resulting in a higher-priced finished lot.

About one-third — 8.6% of the house price — is the result of the construction costs incurred by the builder after purchasing the finished lot. ... Read More

Lumber Prices Provided by Random Lengths
Framing Lumber Composite $ 271 $ 2
OSB Composite $ 195 $ 0
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With permission from: www.randomlengths.com      
Layouts For Living
Floor Plans: Tradition Meets Contemporary at Vacation Getaway in the Pine Tree State
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The four-bedroom vacation home was built on a 10-acre site in Maine.

Wood homes — log homes, in particular — have a distinct history and kinship with Maine. The homes, like the state’s residents, are durable and have weathered many hardships and storms, only to emerge stronger and more handsome.

So it’s not surprising that when the Bolduc family decided to build a four-bedroom vacation home on 10 acres in Maine, they built a log home that would match the grandeur of their home site in the Pine Tree State tradition. ...... Read More

In Victory for Remodelers, EPA Rejects New Clearance Testing Requirements for Lead

Marking a victory for NAHB Remodelers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rejected a proposal to add third-party clearance testing to the Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP). 

The lead rule applies to homes built before 1978 and requires renovator training and certification, adherence to lead-safe work practices, containing and cleaning dust and record keeping.

“We’re pleased that the EPA listened to the concerns of remodelers about the extreme costs the proposed clearance testing would have imposed,” said Bob Peterson, NAHB Remodelers chair and a remodeler from Fort Collins, Colo. ...... Read More

Housing Snapshot
Interest Rates  
30-Yr. Fixed: 4.52% 15-Yr. Fixed: 3.66% 5 Yr. ARM: 3.27%
1 Yr. ARM: 2.97% LIBOR (3 months): 0.25% Prime: 3.25%
Housing Starts*  (June 2011)
Total: 629,000 Single: 453,000 Multi: 176,000
Home Sales*  (May 2011)
New: 319,000 Existing: 4.81 million  
Median Home Prices  (May 2011)
New: $222,600 Existing: $166,500  
* Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate

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