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Week of August 23, 2004

Front Page

* In Charley’s Aftermath, Florida Builders Start Down the Long Road to Recovery
* Earn National Recognition for Workforce Housing Projects
* Calls for Lifting Mexican Cement Tariffs Intensify as Florida Prepares to Rebuild
* Housing Snapshot

President's Message

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

Housing and Economics

* Housing Starts Surge in July as Builders Try to Keep Up With Demand
* Lower Mortgage Rates a Boost for Builder Confidence in August
* Spotlight on: Jacksonville, FL

Business Management

* Diversify Your Custom Home Business Now, When the Market Is Hot
* Build Smarter, Earn More by 'Pricing for Profits'
* Tips to Manage the ‘People Part’ of Your Business on NAHB's Web Site
* Build Your Knowledge at the Custom Builder Symposium

Seniors Housing

* How to Maximize Option Sales in Your Active Adult Communities
* Enter the 2005 Best of Seniors Housing Awards

Multifamily

* HUD Proposes Drastic Changes for 2005 Fair Market Rents
* HUD Report on Accessibility Requirements Raises Compliance Concerns

Housing Finance

* More Builders Needed to Serve on Housing Finance Agency Boards

Small Builders and Remodelers

* Chicago Builders to Renovate Home for HUD’s Homewise Program
* Use Professional Design to Create a New Profit Center

Sales and Marketing

* Closing for Cowards

Green Building

* British Home Buyers Keen on Environmentally Sustainable Housing

Regulation

* Kentucky Builders Work With State Officials to Streamline Development Plan Reviews

Legal Issues

* Federal Court Asked to Hear Long-Simmering Property Rights Case in New Hampshire
* Maryland Court Rejects Challenge to Development Agreement

State and Local

* Interest Groups Put NOR Laws and Affordable Housing Concerns on the Agenda

Commercial Building

* Council Provides the Answers for Home Builders Considering Rounding Out Their Businesses

Labor

* Housing Industry Welcomes Summer Project CRAFT Graduates in Tampa

Building Products

* Home Owners Can Throw Their Food Waste Disposers a Chicken Bone

Builder's Engineer

* Mysterious Cracking — Causes and Remedies

Building News Coast To Coast

Association News & Events

* Sign Up for 2005 Committees and Councils by Sept. 3
* Register for Sunbelt Builders Show
* Save Up to 20% From Hertz, Get Fee Waived for #1 Club Gold®
* Awards Programs Deadlines
* Calendar of Events

NBN Back Issues

 

HUD Proposes Drastic Changes for 2005 Fair Market Rents

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has proposed Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for 2005 that represent significant changes, both up and down, from their levels for the current year.

The changes came largely as the result of new methodology for calculating the rents that ignored recommendations from NAHB.

The FMRs dropped in more than 750 cases across the country, but rose in others. The largest declines were concentrated in the New England states. The most notable increase took place in San Benito County, CA, where the FMR jumped from $864 to $1,759.

Fair Market Rents — which are calculated annually to reflect what it costs to rent “modest, safe and healthy housing” in specific counties and metro areas — are used in a number of tenant-assisted programs, including Section 8 and HOME.


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HUD is required to publish final FMRs for next year by Oct. 1, but it recognizes that adjustments may be needed in some areas. It is working to get better information, which won’t be received in time for that deadline, so a second round of “final” rents will be published after that date.

NAHB is submitting comments, which are due by Sept. 7.

Comments from builders and developers may be more carefully considered this year because of the new methods that have allowed FMRs to change so drastically from one year to the next.

For the full story, which includes guidance on comments and the address to which they should be sent, click here.

For more specific information, e-mail David Ledford at NAHB or call him at 800-368-5242 x8265.
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