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Week of August 2, 2004

Front Page

* Atlanta Chosen to Launch National Workforce Housing Initiative
* Start Education Outreach Now With 'Homes of Our Own'
* NAHB Leaders Put Focus on Housing Issues at Democratic Convention
* Housing Snapshot

President's Message

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

Housing Forum

* Letters to the Editor

Housing Politics

* Builders Applaud Homeownership Tax Credit Provision in Bipartisan Senate Bill
* Habitat Conservation Measures Receive Builder Support
* House Acts at the Last Minute to Avoid Shutdown of FHA Multifamily Program
* NAHB Enters Election Season With 10-Point Housing Platform

Housing and Economics

* New-Home Sales in June Hold Close to Record Pace
* Record Pace of June Home Re-sales Will Be Tough to Beat, Realtors Say
* Housing Starts in June Cool Down From Torrid Levels
* Eye on the Economy

Senors Housing

* Design Trends for Today’s Booming Boomer Market

Small Builders and Remodelers

* Help Your Clients Be Good Neighbors — And Maybe Pick Up a Job or Two

Multifamily

* Call for Entries for Pillars of the Industry Awards

Environment

* National Tree Preservation Awards Received by NAHB Members

Business Management

* Slim and Trim: Fitness for Your QuickBooks® File
* Build Smarter, Earn More by 'Pricing for Profits'
* Build Your Knowledge at the Custom Builder Symposium

Building Systems

* Consumer Publication Explains Ins and Outs of Building and Buying Log Homes

Design

* Call for Speakers for the Design Program at the Builders’ Show

Labor

* Agreement Promotes Job Safety for Mexican-Born Workers
* Superintendents in Ft. Myers, Florida, Latest to Complete Training Program

Building Products

* Spray Wand Button Provides Personal Shower Control

Building News Coast To Coast

Association News & Events

* Deadline for Insurance Survey Extended; More Participation From Builders Needed
* Fred Kemp, NAHB Senior Life Director From St. Louis, Dies
* Viking Offers Members a Discount on Top of Discounts
* Awards Program Deadlines
* Calendar of Events

NBN Back Issues

 

Atlanta Chosen to Launch National Workforce Housing Initiative

The Atlanta metropolitan area has been chosen as the first … [ MORE ]


Building News From Coast to Coast

[ MORE ]

Sponsored by: Countrywide Home Loans

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Start Education Outreach Now With 'Homes of Our Own'

Start planning your education outreach for the upcoming school year with Building Homes of Our Own, the interactive home building game for middle and high school students. Begin planning how you’ll contact teachers and schools in your community this fall to share this  popular, award-winning educational tool with them.

Building Homes of Our Own has already reached 2.1 million teachers, students and parents across the country, and the feedback demonstrates that teachers like it and that students are becoming interested in building-related careers.

“Love the new CD Building Homes of Our Own! I would love to load this on all my machines — I have a lab of 40 computers,” said Bryce Budoff, a teacher at Zuni Hills Elementary in Peoria, AZ.

“My son is an eighth grader and uses your program at school and really loves it. Now he wants to become an architect or home builder and would like to have a copy to have at home,” said Steve Cunningham, an enthusiastic parent.

To order Building Homes of Our Own, visit www.homesofourown.org; for marketing materials, visit Building Homes of Our Own on NAHB’s Web site.

E-mmail Kym Kilbourne or call her at 800-368-5242 x8447 for ideas and more information.

Start Education Outreach Now With 'Homes of Our Own'

Start planning your education outreach for the upcoming school year with Building Homes of Our Own, the interactive home building game for middle and high school students. Begin planning how you’ll contact teachers and schools in your community this fall to share this  popular, award-winning educational tool with them.

Building Homes of Our Own has already reached 2.1 million teachers, students and parents across the country, and the feedback demonstrates that teachers like it and that students are becoming interested in building-related careers.

“Love the new CD Building Homes of Our Own! I would love to load this on all my machines — I have a lab of 40 computers,” said Bryce Budoff, a teacher at Zuni Hills Elementary in Peoria, AZ.

“My son is an eighth grader and uses your program at school and really loves it. Now he wants to become an architect or home builder and would like to have a copy to have at home,” said Steve Cunningham, an enthusiastic parent.

To order Building Homes of Our Own, visit www.homesofourown.org; for marketing materials, visit Building Homes of Our Own on NAHB’s Web site.

E-mmail Kym Kilbourne or call her at 800-368-5242 x8447 for ideas and more information.


NAHB Leaders Put Focus on Housing Issues at Democratic Convention

In an ongoing effort to promote a national housing agenda …  …[ MORE ]


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Housing Snapshot

Mortgage interest rates increased slightly last week, for the first time in five weeks. The Census Bureau reported that the nation's homeownership rate had increased to an all-time high of 69.2%. Growth of the gross domestic product slowed to an annual rate of 3% in the second quarter, according to the Commerce Department, down from 4.5% in the first quarter. A big factor in the slowdown was a decline in consumer spending, which was down from a 4.1% rate of growth in the first quarter to 1% in the second. Overall, the consumer price index was up 3.3% for the first half of the year. The Bush Administration now projects 4.7% growth for this year and 3.7% for 2005. On the lumber price front, prices are moving up again after a short hiatus earlier this summer. The cost of 1,000 board feet of framing lumber climbed to $460, up from $440 the previous week and $299 a year earlier, according to Random Lengths. The price of 15/32-inch 3-ply CDX southern west-east plywood was $370, up from $330, per 1,000 square feet and oriented strand board jumped from $305 to $340. [ MORE ]

Mortgage Interest Rates

30-Year Fixed-Rate: 6.08%
15-Year Fixed-Rate: 5.49%
1-Year ARM: 4.17%

Housing Starts - Jun. 2004*

Total: 1.8 million
Single-Family Starts: 1.489 million
Multifamily Starts: 313,000

New Home Sales Jun. 2004*

1.326 million

Existing Home Sales Jun. 2004*

6.95 million

* Seasonally adjusted annual rate


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