In a major step forward in making the nation's lawmakers aware of the dire financial situation faced by most home builders, Reps. Gary Miller (R-Calif.), Brad Miller (D-N.C.) and 29 other original cosponsors on May 5 introduced NAHB-supported legislation designed to address the severe credit crunch for acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) financing.

Immediately following the bill’s unveiling, an updated BuilderLink Alert was posted on www.nahb.org informing NAHB members of this latest development and explaining what they need to do to help build support for the legislation among members of Congress. Read More

The Elkhorn River Valley custom home in Gretna, Neb., boasts a sophisticated, yet cozy kitchen, hearth room and dinette area that is perfect for a growing family. 

Designed and built by Curt Hofer & Associates of Omaha, Neb., the kitchen earned the 2010 Best in American Living Awards (BALA) platinum award for kitchen design and one of two BALA best room of the year awards. ... Read More

The continuing effort to provide recognition for the added value of energy-saving and other green features in homes will take another step forward around mid-summer when the Appraisal Institute is expected to add a green and energy addendum to its appraisal report form.

Green builders have been waging an uphill battle in recent years to convince the lending community to recognize the difference between homes that are just built to code and those that incorporate techniques, systems and products that can dramatically reduce monthly utility costs, which represent a significant expense for home owners.... Read More

Home builders associations across the country will be showing their winning hands during National Membership Day on Tuesday, May 24, when they call in their new membership numbers to NAHB.

Participating HBAs will be calling a special NAHB phone line — 800-899-6242 — between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. EDT to report their projected number of new members recruited in May.

“It’s a day we all look forward to,” said Robin Newhouse, chair of the NAHB Membership Committee. “Senior officers and other volunteer leaders spend the day at NAHB in Washington, D.C., taking calls from the locals. We love having the chance to answer questions and talk to members from all over the country — and it’s fun to watch the officers jostling to answer the phones.” ... Read More

As the housing market continues to struggle to recover from the economic downturn, National Homeownership Month in June offers an opportunity to direct the attention of the public and the media to the many benefits of homeownership.

NAHB’s National Homeownership Month Promotional Kit has resources that highlight many of the incentives to buy that exist in the current market — affordable home prices, low interest rates, the large selection of homes for sale in all price ranges, and banks ready to loan to buyers with good credit.

The resources in the kit include:

• Talking points on the benefits of homeownership
• A guide to using social media to promote National Homeownership Month
• National Homeownership Month radio spot scripts and website banner ads
• Consumer outreach materials — including a “Checklist for Finding and Hiring a Builder or Remodeler,” a “Top Reasons to Buy a Home” handout and articles on topics of interest to current and potential home owners. ... Read More