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Construction employment increased in 217 out of 358 metro areas between April 2016 and April 2017, declined in 89 and stagnated in 52, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that construction firms in many parts of the country continue to expand headcount amid strong private-sector demand for their services.

Pending home sales in April slumped for the second consecutive month and were down year-over-year nationally and in all four major regions, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Only the West saw an increase in contract signings last month

Billy Grayson, an expert in sustainability program development for companies and organizations, has been selected by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to serve as the executive director of its Center for Sustainability and Economic Performance. ULI is a global, multidisciplinary, member-driven real estate organization dedicated to responsible land use and building thriving, sustainable communities. Grayson joined the Institute’s staff on May 30.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced that in April it welcomed 15 new regular members to its ranks, which currently numbers more than 2,200 member companies. MBA welcomes the following new members

Mortgage applications decreased 3.4 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 26, 2017.

An Orange County man pleaded guilty this morning to federal charges relating to his operation of a fraud scheme that took $2.2 million from distressed homeowners through false promises that he could help them avoid foreclosure by obtaining modifications to their mortgages

April not seasonally adjusted (NSA) construction unemployment rates were down in 22 states and unchanged in two (Arkansas and California) on a year-over-year basis, according to analysis released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). However, the national NSA construction unemployment rate of 6.3 percent was up 0.3 percent from April 2016, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) board of directors unanimously eThe board elected Maine Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC) Director Greg Payne to serve as chair of the board, replacing previous long-time chair

American wind power’s future growth will be driven by a diverse range of customers and trends. Leaders representing a corporate purchaser, deregulated utility, a public utility commissioner, and a wind developer, discussed a few of those trends – demand from diverse customers, transmission expansion, falling costs, and storytelling – on the closing General Session panel as the WINDPOWER 2017 Conference wrapped up this week in Anaheim.

here is still time to register for the fourth webinar in the National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) 2017 series. Sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the free webinars highlight the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) 2015 NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for Buildings and Other Structures, as well as its supporting materials, FEMA P-1051 Design Examples and FEMA P-1052 Training Materials.

NeighborWorks America today announced that $27.5 million in neighborhood stabilization grants have been awarded to 55 nonprofit organizations to help stabilize and revitalize distressed communities suffering from the direct and/or indirect effects of the foreclosure crisis. The one-time grants, awarded after a competitive process conducted by third party reviewers, are part of Project Reinvest, a limited and targeted program from NeighborWorks America, not related to its core grant operations.

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) issued the following statement after the Department of Transportation announced Positive Train Control grant awards for FY17. Diaz-Balart

The American Water Works Association announced today that Olympic champion Amy Van Dyken and a panel of water industry leaders will speak at the association’s Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE17), to be held June 11-14 in Philadelphia.

Following is a statement from Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), on today's announcement that SolarWorld Americas Inc. has joined the Section 201 trade action

The Multifamily Production Index (MPI), released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), dropped seven points to 48 in the first quarter of 2017. The MPI has not had a reading of under 50 since the fourth quarter of 2011.

California has established ambitious goals to reduce energy consumption in buildings, including a policy goal for all new residential buildings to be zero net energy (ZNE) by 2020. Now the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has launched two projects to help the state meet its ZNE building goals.

Habitat for Humanity and Wells Fargo & Company today announced a new commitment to improve 100 homes with veterans in nearly 30 communities across the country from Seattle to South Palm Beach, Florida.

Forty-four percent of highway contractors reported that motor vehicles had crashed into their construction work zones during the past year, according to the results of a new highway work zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America. As a result, association officials launched a new national advertising and outreach campaign to urge motorists to stay alert and slow down while driving through highway work zones

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International will offer attendees of the upcoming 2017 BOMA International Annual Conference & Expo an in-depth look at the sustainable best practices and technology trends driving the commercial real estate industry.

A study released today by the Beacon Hill Institute found that Ohio schools built under government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) cost 13.12 percent more than schools that were bid and constructed through fair and open competition, free from PLA requirements. The study looked at 88 schools built in Ohio since 2000 and found that those built under a PLA mandate cost $23.12 more per square foot than projects built without PLA mandates.