NBN Online for the week of January 9, 2006

New Year Rings in Housing Shift to a Buyer’s Market

Following strong growth over the past three years, home sales and housing production will recede this year to levels that were recorded in 2004, according to economists participating in an NAHB teleconference late last month.

NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders and JP Morgan Chase Senior Economist James Glassman were largely in agreement in their forecasts for housing and the economy, which were positive overall.

“We’re looking for a good economy through 2006, with GDP growth remaining strong and with job creation running at roughly the same pace as in 2005 — key positive factors in the housing outlook,” said Seiders.

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Lumber Prices Provided by Random Lengths

Special International Builders’ Show Issue

This issue of Nation’s Building News previews many of the new products, technologies, classes and events that you can attend, see and sample at the 2006 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. this week. Plus, there also are photos and floor plans of the New American Home, a survey about Smart Growth, the latest word from the Builder’s Engineer and more.

Extensive reports from the show will begin appearing in the Feb. 23 edition.

Nation's Building News Will Not Be Published Jan. 16

Nation's Building News will not be published Jan. 16 immediately following the 2006 International Builders' Show. Regular weekly publication will resume Jan. 23.

Onerous Lead Paint Rule Won’t Solve Health Problems

The Environmental Protection Agency's newly proposed rule governing lead-based paint in the remodeling industry will not solve  the serious health problem it was designed to help prevent: lead poisoning in young children.

Instead, the new rule, which EPA unveiled on Dec. 29, will add delays to renovation projects and cost home owners more.

“There is no scientific research that shows that remodeling causes lead poisoning in children,” said Bob Hanbury, a Newington, Conn. remodeler and past chair of the NAHB Remodelors® Council. “Federal efforts should focus on finding the sources of lead exposure — usually tap water, peeling paint or contaminated soil or dust — and developing ways to mitigate that exposure. Instead, this rule concentrates on expensive restrictions that only affect the cost of remodeling.”