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Week of September 29, 2003

Front Page

President's Message

* The White House Has Sent Congress a Dangerous Proposal

Housing Politics

* Board Adamantly Supports HUD Oversight Over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Programs

Housing and Economics

* August New Home Sales Pile on the Good Housing News
* August Home Resales as Good as They’re Likely to Get
* Home Starts Recede in August From 17-Year Peak
* Home Buyers Take a Breather From Rising Mortgage Rates
* Builders Confident of Healthy Six-Month Outlook for Home Sales
* Eye on the Economy

Multifamily

* Index Finds Rentals Weak But Improving and Condos Stronger

Smart Growth

* Workers Face Housing Affordability Woes in Rhode Island

Business Management

* Builders May Be Entitled to CIAC Refunds From Utilities
* Maximize Your Marketing With Press Releases
* Use ‘Administrative’ E-mail Addresses When Posting on Web Sites

State and Local

* Liability Insurance Top Housing Industry Concern
* NAHB Promotes Infrastructure Finance Alternatives Among Public Officials

Codes and Standards

* NAHB Prepares for Ventilation Standard Appeal Hearing

Research

* Sheathing Alternatives to OSB and Plywood May Be Worth Considering

Environment

* Environmentalists Charge Court Officials With ‘Voodoo’ Science
* More Anti-Housing Arson Attacks Reported in San Diego
* Model Legislation Targets Ecological Terrorists

Small Builders and Remodelers

* Don't Make Accounting a Foreign Language

Seniors Housing

* A New Concept in Retirement Housing Gains Favor

Housing Finance

* Congress Revives Stalled FHA Multifamily Insurance Programs
* More ARMs in the Future as Mortgage Rates Rise

Member Dividends

* HBAs Use NAHB e-Resources to Communicate With Members

Labor

* Field Superintendent Courses Tailor-Made for California

Building Products

* Implementing Best Practices Can Reduce Cycle Time

Building Systems

* Showcase 2003 a Time to Learn and a Time to Play

International Housing

* Mexico Is Focus of International Housing Conference

Building News Coast To Coast

Association News & Events

* Sears Recognizes Builders for Furthering the American Dream
* Boost Your Marketing Through These Awards Programs
* Calendar of Events

NBN Back Issues

 

August Home Resales as Good as They’re Likely to Get

Existing single-family home sales set a second consecutive monthly record in August, rising 5.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.47 million units, the National Association of Realtors® announced last week.

Sales activity in August was 21.8% above the level recorded during the same month of 2002.

Existing home sales have probably now peaked out, however, according to David Lereah, chief economist for the Realtors®.

“Some of the home sales closed in August were negotiated in June when mortgage interest rates hit record lows,” he said. “Much of the remaining portion of sales reflect quick decisions to make offers in July when interest rates began to rise sharply.”


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Cathy Whatley, the association’s president, said that homes sales are expected to moderate “but remain historically strong in coming months.”

The median sales price in August was $177,500, up 9.8% from a price of $161,700 a year earlier.

Home resales in August were up 8% in the West, 6.5% in the South, 3% in the Midwest and 1.4% in the Northeast.


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