NBN Online for the week of June 20, 2005

Court Upholds Streamlined Storm Water Permit

In a recent decision, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a legal threat to the Construction General Permit, which regulates storm water discharges during the home building process. The permit is viewed by builders as the most efficient available option for complying with strict federal storm water requirements.

"This is a critical victory for home builders because lawsuits like these eat away at housing affordability," said NAHB President David Wilson. "Builders want to protect the environment, but we do not want more layers of regulation that cost time and money to fulfill and do little to protect the environment."

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Builders Curbing Speculation in Housing

Home builders have been taking steps to curb speculative home buying by investors in the nation’s hottest housing markets, according to a series of surveys conducted by the NAHB.

“Builders — especially the largest builders — early on recognized the dangers of excessive speculative activity and took steps to discourage sales to investors who did not intend to occupy the new homes,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. “As a result of these proactive efforts, speculative activity in the national market for new single-family homes has been well contained.”