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Record Number of Housing Policy Analysts Meet at NAHB
With the nation’s housing industry at the center of efforts to lead the economy out of its most severe recession in decades and struggling to regain its own footing after a record downturn, real estate and housing finance professors from universities across the country as well as Washington, D.C.-based policy analysts in the government and at trade and non-profit associations met at the National Housing Center on June 4 and 5 in record numbers to consider a wide range of information and analysis focused on urban economics and real estate issues.
NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe reported that there were 50% more participants and papers at the recent mid-year meeting of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association than at any of the previous annual meetings at the association headquarters over the past 37 years.
During 15 sessions, researchers presented their efforts on topics such as mortgage trends, pricing and foreclosures, housing subsidy impacts, immigration, homeownership, multifamily development, house price measurements and land use issues.
The presentations are followed by discussions that the authors use to improve their research before it is published in economic journals.
NAHB, along with other housing groups, organizes the meeting as a means of opening up interaction with leading researchers in the housing and real estate areas and increasing access to their findings.
 Tax Credit Web Site Looks at Opportunity of a Lifetime
Builders and other industry professionals can help spur home sales by referring prospective first-time home buyers to www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com. The NAHB Web site provides detailed information on the $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time home buyers included in the economic stimulus legislation signed into law by President Obama.
Consumers can use the Web site to find information on the tax credit — including a detailed question and answer section. It also includes information about other housing-related and small business measures in the legislation and a number of home-buying resources for consumers.
Spanish Version Also Available Online
A Spanish version of this increasingly popular Web site is also available to provide detailed information on the tax credit to Spanish-speaking first-time home buyers.
Industry professionals are encouraged to highlight either tax credit Web site when marketing to their potential first-time home buyer market.
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