NBN Online for the week of December 17, 2007

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

In This Issue:

Front Page
Fed and Senate Take Steps to End Mortgage Credit Crunch
Washington Builders Limit Runoff From Record Rainfall
Nation's Building News Will Not Be Published During the Holidays
Read Our International Builders' Show Preview on Jan. 14
Coast to Coast
Lennar Homes Underscores Its Commitment to the Northeast Housing Market
Politics & Government
Senate Energy Bill Passed Without Tax Incentives
House-Passed AMT Relief Bill Faces Uncertain Future
Bill Would Let Bankruptcy Judges Alter Mortgage Terms
Legislative Conference Set for April 30
Economics & Finance
Builders Look for Signs of Improvement
Florida Builders Must Adjust to New Market Realities
NAHB Teleconference Looks at What’s Ahead for Housing
Useful Links to Monitor Economic and Housing Trends
Tips
Builders' Tip: Steel Corners Make Clean Corners
Sales
Let Buyers 'Option Up' With More Packaged Options
50Plus Housing
A Community With Sol Thrives in Tucson
First AARP-NAHB ‘Livable Communities’ Honored
Remodelers
Slow Times Are the Go Time for Tuning Up Your Business
Building Systems
SIPs the Way of the Future, SIPs User for 20 Years Says
Free Builders’ Show Lunch Focuses on Concrete
Education
Education Calendar
Disaster Relief
Brad Pitt Seeks Donations to Build 150 New Orleans Homes
Research Center
NAHB’s Bob Jones to Address EnergyValue Housing Awards
Green Building
Feb. 14 ‘Green Day' Highlight of Builders’ Show
New Green Standard Comment Period Starts Dec. 21
Consumer Spending on Green to Double Next Year
Legal
Proposed Bill on Clean Water Goes Overboard
Labor
Complete RCS Lineup Being Offered at Builders' Show
Building Products
Strong Door, Small Cut Saw Best of What’s New in 2007
TV
NAHB-Produced Programs on DIY, Fine Living and HGTV
Endowment
Seiders Discusses Housing Cycle at Penn State Lecture
View Free Construction Management Seminar Webcast
Association News
Robert Holmes, Leading California Contractor, Dies at 86
Drive Away With a New $500 GM Offer This Holiday Season
End Public Speaking Anxiety With ‘Spokesperson Training' at IBS
UPS Offers Up to 30% Discount to NAHB Members on Shipping
Introducing the Hertz Green Collection. Reserve and Conserve.
Calendar of Events
NAHB Career Center

NAHB-Produced Programs on DIY, Fine Living and HGTV

The NAHB Production Group produces weekly television shows on DIY, Fine Living and HGTV for consumers. The following is the latest lineup:

"Rock Solid" on DIY

Episode: "Granite Fireplace Revamp"

• Dec. 19, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
• Dec. 20, 1:00 a.m. ET/PT
• Dec. 22, 11:30 a.m. ET/PT

 

Home owner Frank Marinelli made a common mistake when building his Newport, R.I. home 20 years ago. He saved money by covering the fireplace surrounds in his living and dining room with brick and inexpensive tile. That brick is now painted white and fading, the tile is chipped and the fireplaces are more than ready for a facelift. Marinelli calls on his old buddies, masons Dean Marsico and Derek Stearns, to revamp his two fireplace surrounds using polished granite and boulder veneer. The stone guys take us inside a stone fabricator's shop; discuss what to look for in a good manufacturer and how to choose stone; and demonstrate how to revamp a fireplace surround.

"Assembly Required" on DIY

Episode: "Modular Home — Prefab Options"

• Dec. 24, 10:30 p.m. ET/PT
• Dec. 25, 2:30 a.m. ET/PT

 

In this episode, two families realize just how fantastic custom prefab homes can be. Watch as the Papadapoulos family considers prefab home options for their Virginia vineyard. Also, meet the Surratt family, who used prefab technology to create a one-of-a kind modular home. Tour their home and find out the many upgrades that are available to modular home buyers.

"I Want That" on Fine Living

Episode: "New Shapes for the Bath, Rainbow Walls, Cobblestone Drives"

• Dec. 20, 6:30 p.m. ET/PT

 

When it comes to style in the bathroom, flat may be where it's at. From a flat sink that seemingly defies gravity to a showerhead that looks like a UFO, see the new shapes that are taking bathrooms by storm. Plus, add some color with glass block walls that morph through a rainbow of colors. Dress up the front of your house with an affordable cobblestone driveway.   

HGTV Seeking ‘Dream Home’ Builder/Architect Teams

HGTV is seeking developers, builders and architects to create the 2008 and 2009 dream homes for the network’s Dream Home Sweepstakes. To learn more, click here.

About the NAHB Production Group

The NAHB Production Group is a full-service, self-contained, media production unit creating programming for cable television, broadcast television, non-profit, museum and corporate clients. Productions range from magazine format shows for general audiences to museum-installation videos for specialized use.

The production group includes award winning journalists, writers and photographers with experience in broadcast, documentary and corporate television.



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.


 

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