Nation's Building News Online

Plain Text Version (Click Here for Graphical Version)

Sponsored by Countrywide Home Loans National Builder Division

www.NAHB.org
Week of June 21, 2004

Front Page

* NAHB, Treasury, HUD Extol Local, National Economic Benefits of New Housing
* Register Now for IBS and Save
* Builders Urge Democratic Party to Adopt Housing Policy Agenda
* Housing Snapshot

President's Message

* You Can Help Solve the General Liability Insurance Problem

Housing and Economics

* Prospective Home Buyers Hoping for Decline in Prices Could Be Out of Luck, Report Suggests
* Home Price Increases Slow to More Sustainable Rate in First Quarter
* Senate Approves Greenspan for Fifth Term as Fed Chairman
* May Housing Starts Virtually Unchanged From April
* Eye on the Economy

State and Local

* Voters Face Bigger Decision Than Bush vs. Kerry in 2004 Elections

Seniors Housing

* Tighten Up Your Focus Groups for Better Quality Feedback

Design

* Inside Design: Smaller Rooms, More Creativity, Flex Space
* Best in American Living Awards Entries Due in July

International

* Opportunities Abound to Improve Mexico's Housing Delivery System, Harvard Study Finds

Small Builders and Remodelers

* What Do Customers Say About Your Service?

Environment

* State Legislatures Keeping Irrational Mold Fears Alive

Green Building

* Tucson Builder Lauded for Achievement in Residential Energy Efficiency
* Green Building Featured in Grand Rapids Parade of Homes

Construction Safety

* Free Construction Safety Seminars at Various Locations This Summer

Business Management

* How to Make Your Business Presentable So You Can Sell It
* Build Your Knowledge at the Custom Builder Symposium

Building Systems

* Enter the Systems-Built Marketing and Design Competition

Building Quality

* Competition Opens for EnergyValue Housing Awards

Building Products

* Fiberglass Gains Entry Door Market Share

Builder's Engineer

* Spreadsheets Rock

Building News Coast To Coast

Association News & Events

* National Housing Endowment Provides Support for Symposium on Housing Needs of Mentally Ill
* Only YOU Can Help Solve the GLI Crisis!
* Sign Up for 2005 Committees and Councils by July 9
* Awards Programs Deadlines
* Calendar of Events

NBN Back Issues

 

NAHB, Treasury, HUD Extol Local, National Economic Benefits of New Housing

Treasury Secretary John Snow and HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson joined NAHB President Bobby Rayburn at a Las Vegas housing site on June 18 to extol the benefits of housing to the local and national economy. … [ MORE ]


Building News From Coast to Coast

[ MORE ]

Sponsored by: National Association of Home Builders

Membership has its Advantages
Learn More. Earn More. The NAHB University of Housing.
Reach 100,000+ Builders & Contractors
Members Save at BuilderBooks.com

Register Now for IBS and Save

Register online for The 2005 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, FL and save.

Also, book your Orlando hotel through the IBS housing block by Dec. 17 and you’ll receive a discount booklet with savings to local attractions like Disney World and Universal Studios, discounts to restaurants, and other benefits including convenient customer service for changes and cancellations, the International Builders' Show Shuttle Bus system and on-site services from the NAHB hotel desk at the Orange County Convention Center.

To register online and reserve your hotel room through the IBS housing block, go to www.BuildersShow.com/register.

Register Now for IBS and Save

Register online for The 2005 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, FL and save.

Also, book your Orlando hotel through the IBS housing block by Dec. 17 and you’ll receive a discount booklet with savings to local attractions like Disney World and Universal Studios, discounts to restaurants, and other benefits including convenient customer service for changes and cancellations, the International Builders' Show Shuttle Bus system and on-site services from the NAHB hotel desk at the Orange County Convention Center.

To register online and reserve your hotel room through the IBS housing block, go to www.BuildersShow.com/register.


Builders Urge Democratic Party to Adopt Housing Policy Agenda

The nation’s home builders urged the Democratic Platform Drafting Committee to adopt a national policy agenda to address America’s housing challenges during a hearing before the panel on June 18 in Santa Fe, NM.

Testifying on behalf of NAHB, Bill Killmer, executive vice president …  …[ MORE ]


We Want to Hear From You

Let us know what you think about the new NBN Online. On everything from the news we are covering to how it is being delivered, we are waiting to hear from you. Click here to contact the editors. To manage your subscription, please see the links below.


Housing Snapshot

More segments of the economy began to pitch in and add strength to the recovery, according the Federal Reserve "Beige Book" report released last week. Big industry production surged 1.1% in May, with factory production the biggest slice of activity — a good sign that manufacturing is on a firm recovery path and the national recovery is gaining momentum. Overall hiring picked up "at a faster pace," and while producer prices rose 0.8% for the month, the Fed doesn't appear to view inflation as a "serious concern in the period ahead" as Fed officials signaled they intend to increase the benchmark overnight interest rate at a "measured," or gradual, pace starting as early as their next policymaking meeting later this month. Given the current economic environment, Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist, anticipated that mortgage rates would remain "at or near their current consumer-friendly levels for the remainder of the year." Lumber prices, while still much higher than a year ago, began to decline last week. The price of framing lumber dropped $7 to $419 per 1,000 board feet, according to Random Lengths. Last year, the price was $309. The price of 15/32-inch 3-ply CDX southern west-east plywood declined $43 to $355 per 1,000 square-feet, and oriented strand board dropped $60 to $340, more than countering the $40 increase two weeks ago. [ MORE ]

Mortgage Interest Rates

30-Year Fixed-Rate: 6.32%
15-Year Fixed-Rate: 5.70%
1-Year ARM: 4.13%

Housing Starts - May 2004*

Total: 1.97 million
Single-Family Starts: 1.64 million
Multifamily Starts: 317,000

New Home Sales Apr. 2004*

1.093 million

Existing Home Sales Apr. 2004*

6.64 million

* Seasonally adjusted annual rate


Sponsored by: Countrywide Home Loans

See how Countrywide gets it done fast -- with experts that provide a full range of home financing solutions.
Find out how you can get more power over your monthly finances with our PayOption ARMs.

To unsubscribe or to manage your subscription, CLICK HERE

Nation's Building News Online is produced and distributed by the National Association of Home Builders