NBN Online for the week of March 27, 2006

(Plain Text Version) for full graphical version, click here.

In This Issue:

Front Page
Green Home First to Use NAHB Guidelines in a Subdivision
Working Families With Children Locked Out of Homeownership
Find Employees Through New NAHB Online Career Center
Reader Survey: Tell Us What News Is Important to You
Coast to Coast
Slowing Home Market to Ripple Through Many Layers of Jobs
Economics & Finance
Canada Causing Builders to Find New Sources of Lumber
Slide Out West Cuts New Home Sales in February
Rise in February Home Resales Suggests Stabilizing Market
California Builders Want to Reverse the Tide on Home Prices
Eye on the Economy: Rebounding From a 'Soft Patch'
Tips
Builder’s Tip: Sharing Compressed Air
Business Management
Two Sure Ways to Improve Profitability
50Plus Housing
Former Del Webb CEO to Builders: ‘Do Your Homework’
Learn How to Market and Sell to the 50+ Home Buyer
Multifamily
Real Rents Slip in January as Energy Costs Rise
Attend Upcoming Multifamily Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Remodelers
Extension of Comment Period Sought for Lead Paint Rule
Sales
26 Design Trends for 2006
Education
CAPS Credits Available at Pre-50+ Symposium Courses
Education Calendar
Commercial
Insurance Rates Are Going Down
Womens Council
Woman Builder Works Miracles for Katrina Shelter Victims
Labor
Sacramento BIA Participates in Workforce Development Grant
Building Products
Energy Star-Rated Appliances Save Water, Cut Bills
Builder's Engineer
In the Toilet, Part 2
TV
NAHB-Produced Programs on HGTV & DIY This Week
Endowment
$1 Million Gift From M/I Homes to Further Education
South Carolina Builders Help Feed the Hungry
Kentucky Students Graduate Pre-Apprenticeship Program, Get Jobs
Association News
NAHB Spring Board Meeting May 9-13
Spokesperson Training Still Available for 2006 Spring Board
GM $500 Exclusive Offer for NAHB Members
Calendar of Events
NAHB Career Center

Top Story

Green Home First to Use NAHB Guidelines in a Subdivision

The green home building movement received a major boost on March 13 with an announcement by Cherokee Investment Partners that it is building a demonstration home under the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines that will be the first of its kind in a traditional subdivision.

The acquisition firm, which is a world leader in sustainable revitalization of environmentally impaired properties, said that its Mainstream GreenHome has been designed to look and function as a traditional home and will be used to persuade conventional builders and the home buying public to embrace green building on a national level. It is being built by Corban Homes. The announcement was made in Albuquerque, N.M. in conjunction with the NAHB Green Building Conference.
[MORE]

Lumber Prices Provided by Random Lengths

Framing Lumber Composite $ 367 down $ 6
OSB Composite $ 350 up $ 4
Southern Pine Plywood Composite $ 475 up $ 6
With Permission from: RandomLengths.com
 

Working Families With Children Locked Out of Homeownership

Despite White House efforts over the last three administrations to boost homeownership opportunities among low- and moderate-income households, especially minorities, working families with children remain underrepresented among the ranks of the nation’s home owners, according to a new study by the Center for Housing Policy, the research affiliate of the National Housing Conference.

Based on the biannual American Housing Survey, the study — “Locked Out: Keys to Homeownership Elude Many Working Families With Children” —  found that the homeownership rate of working families with children was 59.6% in 2003, three percentage points lower than it was in 1978 and 8.7 points below a homeownership rate of 68.3% for all U.S. households — despite small but steady gains since 1991.

[MORE]

Find Employees Through New NAHB Online Career Center

  
NAHB is hosting an online building industry-oriented career center that provides members with a cost-effective recruiting solution that makes locating qualified candidates and advertising open positions faster and easier.

NAHB members using the NAHB Career Center will receive a 20% discount off of standard rates for job postings. For a complete listing of all rates, click here

The career center can be found on:

  • NAHB's Web site by visiting www.nahb.org/careers
  • Nation’s Building News "NAHB Career Center" section. The career center is  a regular feature of Nation's Building News. 

The career center was created in collaboration with ConstructionJobs.com, a leading employment resource for the construction, design and building industries.

[MORE]

Reader Survey: Tell Us What News Is Important to You

Because you regularly read Nation's Building News, we value your input and would like your help.

Please tell us what information in Nation's Building News is important to you — what you read and what you might like us to add — by answering our short online reader survey.

To take the survey, click here.

Housing Snapshot

Interest Rates  
  30-Yr. Fixed: 6.32% 15-Yr. Fixed: 5.97% 5 Yr. ARM: 5.96%
  1 Yr. ARM: 5.41% Libor (3 months): 4.96% Prime: 7.50%
Housing Starts*  (February 2006)
  Total: 2.12 million Single: 1.8 million Multi: 320,000
Home Sales*  (February 2006)
  New: 1.08 million Existing: 6.91 million  
Median Home Prices  (February 2006)
  New: $230,400 Existing: $209,000  
* Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate

 

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> Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium 2006
> NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference and Gala
> Spring Construction Forecast Conference