NBN Online for the week of March 10, 2008

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In This Issue:

Front Page
Congress Urged to Act Soon to Shore Up Housing, Economy
Housing Finance System Reform Needed to End Mortgage Crisis
58 Members Honored for 50 Years of Service to NAHB
NAHB ‘Weathering the Economic Storm’ Videos Now Online
Layouts for Living
Floor Plans: California Project Proves Green Can Be Affordable
Coast to Coast
Subprime Alternative: FHA Reform Deal Close
Housing Forum
Letter to the Editor: Bring Back First-Time Buyers
Politics & Government
Eco-Terrorism Against Street-of-Dreams Homes Denounced
Florida Looks at Crackdown on Copper and Metal Thefts
Government Affairs Awards Deadline Is March 21
Legislative Conference Coming at a Pivotal Time for Housing
Economics & Finance
Conforming and FHA Loan Limits Increased
National Sales Tax Would Be a Setback for Housing
Eye on the Economy: Housing-Directed Stimulus Still Needed
Useful Links to Monitor Economic and Housing Trends
Tips
Builders’ Tip: Fine-Tuning an Aerosol Insulation Nozzle
Business Management
Builders Told to Work With Lenders to Resolve Problems
Builders Get ‘Hands-On’ Software Knowledge at IBS
Improve Business Operations With ‘Cost of Doing Business Study’
Submit Comments by June 1 to Update ‘Performance Guidelines’
Sales and Marketing
Asking for the Sale the Key to Successful Selling
Safety
Newer Employees More Likely to Suffer Fatal Injuries
Technology
Integrating Green Home Technologies Grows Margins
50Plus Housing
Football Great Manning to Kick Off 50+ Housing Symposium
Help Rebuild New Orleans at 50+ Housing Symposium
Multifamily
Builders Less Confident in Rental Apartment Market
Register for the Multifamily Pillars Conference on April 1-3
Remodelers
Three Easy Steps to Go Green Remodeling
Commercial
Enter NCBC 2009 Awards of Excellence Competition
Education
Boost Business Skills During National Designation Month
Education Calendar
Environment
Tighter Smog Standards Could Raise Home Building Costs
Single Lot Permits Would Improve Stormwater Regulation
New NAHB Tool Provides Storm Water Compliance Tips
Green Building
IRS Announces Rule Changes for Energy Tax Credit
Labor
Students Battle in Construction Project Competition at IBS
Building Products
Trane Air Conditioners Use Self-Charging Technology
Honeywell Bullet-Proof Fabric Used in Hurricane-Resistant Curtains
TV
NAHB-Produced Programs on DIY, Fine Living and HGTV
Endowment
Endowment Doubles IBS Student Scholarships for 2009
HBAs: Challenge/Build/Grow Proposals Due by March 28
Association News
Philadephia-Area Builder Bernard Drueding, Jr. Dies at 86
New: Register Online for Spokesperson Training
April Is ‘New Homes Month,’ Free Promotional Toolkit Available Online
Drive Away With a Shiny New $500 GM Private Offer
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

Letter to the Editor: Bring Back First-Time Buyers

Dear Editor:

The one point that needs to be hit home in a much bigger way than I have heard or read is this: in the cycle of events that takes place from beginning to end, before a person other than a first-time buyer can buy a house, they need to sell a house. If that person has a $300,000 house to sell, they need a $300,000 buyer. And that $300,000 buyer needs to sell their $225,000 house first in order to buy, and so on and so forth all the way down to the first-time home buyer.

Therefore, creating an incentive for the first-time home buyer to purchase increases the likelihood that the person with the $300,000 house will be able to sell it. But here's the dilemma: the toughest person to get financed in most cases is the first-time home buyer. Until that changes, we are stuck right where we are.

In resolving this issue, we need an incentive that doesn't repeat the past mistake of allowing too many unqualified people into the marketplace and ultimately overheating it. The person who comes up with a solution to this issue will be the hero of our industry.

David Baulieu
Huntersville, N.C.


 

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