NBN Online for the week of September 25, 2006

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

In This Issue:

Front Page
NAHB Kit Sends Builders Back to Basics in Cooling Market
Tucson Job Training Shores Up Local Labor Pool
Play Builders' Free Online Pro Football Game for Prizes, Fun
Share Nation's Building News With Your Staff. It's Free.
Coast to Coast
Soft Market Teaches Flippers an Ever-So-Humble Lesson
Environment
EPA Drops Dust Standard, Saving Builders Billions
Legal
Wave of Retroactive Storm Water Suits Halted in Vermont
Politics & Government
SLGA Awards: Nominate Those Who Stand Up for Housing
Economics & Finance
Housing Starts Lose More Ground in August
Slump in Builder Confidence Continues for Eighth Month
Housing Downswing to Bottom Out Next Year, Congress Told
NAHB Works to Soften the Blow of New Lumber Pact
Eye on the Economy: The Housing Outlook Has Darkened
Tips
Builder's Tip: A Time Saver for Installing Closet Shelf Cleats
Construction Safety
OSHA Crane Standard a Bad Fit for Small Home Builders
Safety Award Deadline Extended to Oct. 6
50Plus Housing
How to Effectively Deal With the Demanding Boomer Customer
Multifamily
Multifamily Stocks at Record High on NAHB Index
Enter Pillars to Be 'Best of the Best' in Multifamily
Remodelers
Top Remodelers to Lead Free Forums at Remodeling Show
Building Systems
Design, Trends, Codes Are Hot Topics at BSC SHOWCASE
Education
Want to Know More About Designations? Ask an Expert
Education Calendar
Green Building
Keystone Green Building Program Follows NAHB Model
Green Building: Catch the Wave or Watch It
Entries Sought for Sustainable Building Awards
Regulation
Growth Boundaries, Permit Caps Pushing Up Home Costs
Workforce housing
Apply for 2006 Workforce Housing Awards by Oct. 27
Codes and Standards
ICC Code Council Board Names Weiland CEO
Labor
RCS Designation Reaches 12,000th Attendee at SEBC
Building Products
Fashion Week Diamonds to Benefit Missing Children
TV
NAHB-Produced Programs on HGTV & DIY This Week
Endowment
Endowment Scholar Makes Good on Promise
Association News
Take the Solveras Savings Challenge & Save; or Make $50
Free NAHB Video Instructs How to Deal With the Media
GM $500 Off Exclusive Offer for NAHB Members
UPS Offers Up to 30% Discount to NAHB Members on Shipping
Find Key Employees Through the NAHB Online Career Center
Calendar of Events
NAHB Career Center

Top Story

NAHB Kit Sends Builders Back to Basics in Cooling Market

With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment.

“A cooling housing market is no longer a threat lingering somewhere in the future,” said Bob Schultz, MIRM, founder and president of New Home Specialist. “Even national builders like KB Home and Toll Brothers are starting to see the effects,” he said, and “the good news is that you can succeed in a cooling market once you have a clear understanding of how the market works in times like these.”
[MORE]

Lumber Prices Provided by Random Lengths

Framing Lumber Composite $ 286 down $ 15
OSB Composite $ 189 down $ 22
Southern Pine Plywood Composite $ 357 down $ 21
With Permission from: RandomLengths.com
 

Tucson Job Training Shores Up Local Labor Pool

With a mission to ease the construction labor shortage in Southern Arizona, provide a needed community service and raise the profile of the home building business as a great place to pursue a career, the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association's Institute of Construction (TSIC) opened its doors last October and has already garnered the success that makes it a model for builders in other parts of the country.

Roger Yohem, vice president and director of communications for the association, said that TSIC has become a valuable resource for the community while helping to fill an important member need.

“After a while, you have to stop complaining about the lack of skilled labor and do something to solve it,” said Greg Miedema, president of Dakota Builders in Tucson.

“We wanted to make people feel better about being in a trade,” Miedema said. “Not everyone needs to go to college, and for years, we’ve told our kids that you have to have a college degree to be a productive member of society. We wanted to help get rid of that condescending attitude.”

[MORE]

Play Builders' Free Online Pro Football Game for Prizes, Fun

Don't miss another weekend of NFL games — and your chance to win prizes from HGTVPro. Sign up and play in the Builders Football League (BFL) on HTGVpro.com — the free, online pro football "pick 'em" contest with a special league for NAHB members.

Playing is free, fun and easy ― and participants have a chance to win weekly prizes or the grand prize — a Panasonic 61-inch high definition TV — at the end of the season.

[MORE]

Share Nation's Building News With Your Staff. It's Free.

Make your business click. Subscribe your employees and trade partners to Nation's Building News — the free, online e-newspaper of NAHB.

Each issue is filled with valuable news and information on every aspect of the home building industry — business and builders tips; the latest materials prices and mortgage interest rates; new technologies; cutting-edge design; state and federal regulations and how they affect the industy; and more. Information your entire company needs to stay ahead of your competitors.

[MORE]

Housing Snapshot

Interest Rates  
  30-Yr. Fixed: 6.40% 15-Yr. Fixed: 6.06% 5 Yr. ARM: 6.08%
  1 Yr. ARM: 5.54% Libor (3 months): 5.37% Prime: 8.25%
Housing Starts*  (August 2006)
  Total: 1.665 million Single: 1.360 million Multi: 305,000
Home Sales*  (July 2006)
  New: 1.072 million Existing: 6.33 million  
Median Home Prices  (July 2006)
  New: $230,000 Existing: $230,000  
* Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate

 

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