NBN Online for the week of October 22, 2007

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

In This Issue:

Front Page
Small Dip Helping to Improve Health of Remodeling Market
Builders See Further Headway on Mortgage Credit Crunch
Debunk Falsehoods in the Media With NAHB ‘Myth Buster’ Info
Coast to Coast
Lawyer Says EPA May Increase Criminal Enforcement of Stormwater Violations
Politics & Government
Federal Judge Blocks Disputed 'No Match' Rule for Workers
Builders Oppose Federal Oversight of State Building Code Process
Maryland Enacts Law to License Builder’s Sales Agents
Economics & Finance
September Housing Starts Drop 10.2 Percent
Fed, Treasury Say Housing Hampering the Economy
Builder Confidence Dips to All-Time Low in October
OFHEO Will Not Lower Conforming Loan Limit in 2008
Eye on the Economy: Builder Price Cuts Gain Center Stage
Consumer Calls to Mortgage Help Hotline on the Rise
Attend Construction Forecast Conference and Webcast Oct. 24
Useful Links to Monitor Economic and Housing Trends
Tips
Builders’ Tip: Lop Off the Corners to Fit Crown Molding
Remodelers
Hard Times Not the Best Times to Diversify Business
Ten Common Mistakes Impede Sales, Cause Snafus
Improving Home Performance a New Niche for Remodelers
Lead-Safe Remodeling Reduces Risks, NAHB Tells Congress
It’s Not Always Easy Being a Remodeler, Experts Say
Asdal, Hanbury, Petersen Honored by NAHB Remodelers
Research
Research Center Gets Grant to Study Post-Disaster Housing
50Plus Housing
Downtown Is the New Frontier for Boomers
IBS
How to Survive in a Challenging Market Offered at IBS
Multifamily
Enter Pillars of Industry Awards by Nov. 30
Building Systems
Attend SHOWCASE 2007 in Hilton Head, S.C. Oct. 28-31
Custom
Attend the Custom Builder Show in Naples, Fla., Oct. 26-28
Education
Education Calendar
Green Building
Enter ‘Building With Trees’ Competition
Safety
NAHB Awarded OSHA Grant for Fall Protection Training
Workforce housing
NAHB, NAACP, NEA Symposium to Address Affordable Housing
Labor
New Training Center Opens for People With Disabilities
Building Products
DuPont Launches Lightweight, Waterproof Roofliner
TV
NAHB-Produced Programs on DIY, Fine Living and HGTV
Endowment
Endowment Gives $32,000 to Virginia Tech Victims Memorial
Community Service Award Entries Due by Nov. 12
Students, Apply for Scholarships to Attend IBS by Nov. 15
Association News
Rutenberg, Tritt Named to Florida Housing Hall of Fame
Drive Away With a Shiny New $500 GM Offer
UPS Offers Up to 30% Discount to NAHB Members on Shipping
Calendar of Events
NAHB Career Center

Related Articles

September Housing Starts Drop 10.2 Percent

Fed, Treasury Say Housing Hampering the Economy

Builder Confidence Dips to All-Time Low in October

Eye on the Economy: Builder Price Cuts Gain Center Stage

Consumer Calls to Mortgage Help Hotline on the Rise

Attend Construction Forecast Conference and Webcast Oct. 24

Useful Links to Monitor Economic and Housing Trends

OFHEO Will Not Lower Conforming Loan Limit in 2008

The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) said last week that it would not let the conforming loan limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to drop next year.

The single-family mortgage loan limits for the two housing government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) are currently set at $417,000.

OFHEO said that if the index used to calculate the maximum loan level should increase, the amount of the increase in 2008 would be reduced by 0.16%, the decline calculated in 2006.

“Under no circumstance, however, would the maximum loan level for 2008 drop below the 2006 and 2007 limit of $417,000,” OFHEO Director James Lockhart said.

OFHEO is scheduled to announce the maximum conforming loan limit for 2008 next month.



Attend the Fall Construction Forecast Conference in October 

Plan to attend NAHB's Construction Forecast Conference on Oct. 24 at the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C. The conference brings together the nation's premier housing economists and finance experts for an in-depth examination of the economic outlook for the housing industry.

Can't attend? Watch the conference webcast live.

For more information, or to register for the conference or webcast, visit www.nahb.org/cfc.



Want to Know the Housing Forecast for the Top 100 Metros? 

Find out in HousingEconomic.com’s 2007-2008 Metro Forecast (free preview). Get the metro forecast with in-depth analysis, overviews and downloadable Excel tables.

To learn more, visit www.HousingEconomics.com.



Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips to Navigate the Slowdown

What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn.

To help members navigate the uncharted waters of this slowdown, NAHB has compiled a comprehensive “Back to Basics” online toolkit — the best of the basics, the tried and true and the truly new. To access the toolkit, click here.

To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar.

For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242.


 

Sponsored by
McGraw Hill
Construction

 
 
> Get 3D Models for your projects at the Sweets Network!
> Find product catalogs from all leading manufacturers at the Sweets Network!
 
 

Sponsored by
Fannie Mae

 
 
 
 

Sponsored by
NAHB

 
 
> GM NAHB $500 Exclusive Offer
> Save Up to 30% on UPS Shipping
> Introducing the Hertz Green Collection