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Week of July 19, 2004

Front Page

* In U.S. Census, Active Seniors Prefer the Suburbs of Metro Areas
* 2005 IBS Exhibit Space Already Tops Las Vegas
* Liability Insurance Initiative Reaches a Critical Phase
* Housing Snapshot

President's Message

* Please Take the Time to Help Us Solve the GLI Crisis

Housing Politics

* White House Plan Could Increase Logging in National Forests
* Bill Would Help Small Businesses Recover Court Costs in Federal Agency Disputes
* NAHB Enters Election Season With 10-Point Housing Platform
* NAHB Inviting Convention Delegates to Special Events

Housing and Economics

* Housing Market Index Finds Builders Remain Upbeat in July

Housing Finance

* Builders Advocate Stronger Housing Goals for Fannie and Freddie

Small Builders and Remodelers

* Remodelers and Custom Builders Ought to Get Together

Seniors Housing

* Universal Design: A Winner-Takes-All 'Experience'
* Pitfalls to Avoid When Planning an Active Adult Community
* 20 Club Forming for Seniors Housing

Design

* Vanilla Not a Favorite Flavor of Generation X Home Buyers
* Best in American Living Award Deadline Extended

Environment

* NAHB Members Urged to Act Now to Preserve Habitat Conservation Program
* Waiting for Decision on Beach Mouse Plan a Hardship for Small Alabama Builder
* Eco-Terrorists Intensifying No-Growth Battles in California

Green Building

* Solar Photovoltaic System Built on Rooftop of Brooklyn Rectory

State and Local

* Mississippi Circuit Court Knocks Down Local Impact Fee Ordinance

Building Systems

* New York Agrees to Test Third-Party Modular Approvals

Sales and Marketing

* What’s in a Name? Plenty — If It's Followed by ‘MIRM’

Building Products

* Bendable Vinyl Coil Has Come of Age

Builder's Engineer

* The Boss With the Swiss Cheese Desk

Building News Coast To Coast

Association News & Events

* Official Web Site Optimizes Benefits of NAHB Membership
* Member Advantage: Save 15% With Paychex® Payroll Processing
* Awards Programs Deadlines
* Calendar of Events

NBN Back Issues

 

In U.S. Census, Active Seniors Prefer the Suburbs of Metro Areas

Suburban areas near metropolitan markets are the leading choice … [ MORE ]


Building News From Coast to Coast

[ MORE ]

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Register Now for The 2005 International Builders' Show!

2005 IBS Exhibit Space Already Tops Las Vegas

The Big Show just got bigger as sales of exhibit space for The 2005 International Builders’ Show ™ (IBS) in Orlando topped last year's record in Las Vegas of more than 1 million gross square feet. 2005 IBS will be held Jan. 13-16 at the Orange County Convention Center.

This year’s increased exhibit space — with a baseline size of almost 17 football fields — means a wider variety of products and services will be on display. Plus, with exhibitors competing for business, buyers are expected to be offered many great show-only deals.

Each year, show attendees get to see the latest products, services and innovations in the building industry well before they hit the mainstream. Last year in Las Vegas, a record-breaking 104,000 IBS attendees were treated to the then largest-ever IBS exhibition. More than 1,600 exhibitors represented 300-plus product categories in residential construction, home technology and light commercial construction.

To register for the 2005 IBS, go to www.BuildersShow.com/register. To view the list of exhibitors, go to www.Buildersshow.com/exhibitors.


NBN Online will be on midsummer recess next week and not publish on July 26. We will resume publication on Aug. 2.

2005 IBS Exhibit Space Already Tops Las Vegas

The Big Show just got bigger as sales of exhibit space for The 2005 International Builders’ Show ™ (IBS) in Orlando topped last year's record in Las Vegas of more than 1 million gross square feet. 2005 IBS will be held Jan. 13-16 at the Orange County Convention Center.

This year’s increased exhibit space — with a baseline size of almost 17 football fields — means a wider variety of products and services will be on display. Plus, with exhibitors competing for business, buyers are expected to be offered many great show-only deals.

Each year, show attendees get to see the latest products, services and innovations in the building industry well before they hit the mainstream. Last year in Las Vegas, a record-breaking 104,000 IBS attendees were treated to the then largest-ever IBS exhibition. More than 1,600 exhibitors represented 300-plus product categories in residential construction, home technology and light commercial construction.

To register for the 2005 IBS, go to www.BuildersShow.com/register. To view the list of exhibitors, go to www.Buildersshow.com/exhibitors.


NBN Online will be on midsummer recess next week and not publish on July 26. We will resume publication on Aug. 2.


Liability Insurance Initiative Reaches a Critical Phase

NAHB’s effort to improve the price, coverage and availability of general …  …[ MORE ]


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Housing Snapshot

Mortgage interest rates moved down slightly last week, with retail sales, industrial production and prices all on the decline. Freddie Mac Chief Economist Frank Nothaft said he expects to see no significant increase in those rates in the immediate future. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan prepared to address the Congress this Tuesday and Wednesday, and he was expected to say that the Fed's new policy of measured increases in interest rates remains appropriate for current economic conditions. The Consumer Price Index increased by 0.3% in June, half the rate of the previous month, and the Producer Price Index declined 0.3%. It was up 0.7% in April and 0.8% in May. On the lumber price front, the cost of framing lumber started moving up again following a few weeks of softening. The cost of 1,000 board feet climbed $14 to $419, according to Random Lengths. Brazilian imports continued to increase the supply and lower the prices of panels, Random Lengths reported. The price of 15/32-inch 3-ply CDX southern west-east plywood was $300 per 1,000 square feet, up $5 from the previous week. Oriented strand board continued to decline in price, falling to $275 from $290 during the prior week. [ MORE ]

Mortgage Interest Rates

30-Year Fixed-Rate: 6.0%
15-Year Fixed-Rate: 5.4%
1-Year ARM: 4.02%

Housing Starts - May 2004*

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

New Home Sales May 2004*

1.369 million

Existing Home Sales May 2004*

6.80 million

* Seasonally adjusted annual rate


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