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Construction employment showed a mixed pattern geographically in the latest 12 months, increasing in 219 out of 358 metro areas between January 2016 and January 2017, declining in 104 and stagnating in 35, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that firms in many parts of the country are either benefitting from growing demand for construction or having a hard time finding enough qualified workers to keep up with demand, while firms in other parts suffer from declining demand

President Trump’s budget slashes critical resources used to help keep housed some of the country’s lowest income and most vulnerable seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, veterans, and formerly homeless individuals. At a time when America’s housing crisis has reached historic heights and the lowest income people suffer the most severe impacts, proposals to further cut these vital resources are unconscionable and unacceptable.

Nationwide housing starts rose 3 percent in February from an upwardly revised January reading to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.288 million units, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department. Single-family production increased 6.5 percent to 872,000 units — its highest reading in nearly a decade — while multifamily starts fell 3.7 percent to 416,000 units.

The Alliance to Save Energy vowed to fight budget cuts for federal energy efficiency programs proposed Thursday by the Trump administration, including the elimination of the successful ENERGY STAR program and sharp reductions at the Department of Energy (DOE).

Joining forces to create access to affordable housing, The Blue Book Building and Construction Network has signed on as a national partner with Habitat for Humanity to help families build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.

Today, the House passed H.R. 648 (Rep. Liz Cheney, WY-at large) by an unanimous bipartisan vote of 408-0. H.R. 648 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a cooperative agreement with the State of Wyoming to modify the Fontenelle Dam and Reservoir as a way to increase storage capacity and mitigate erosion at no cost to the federal government

Thirty-nine states added construction jobs between January 2016 and January 2017 while 38 states and D.C. added construction jobs between December and January, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials said that many firms report they are having a hard time finding enough qualified workers to hire as they work to keep pace with growing demand.

Multiple years of uninterrupted job gains and hope that the best is yet to come in 2017 are igniting consumer confidence across the country, and especially in rural and middle America, according to new consumer survey findings from the National Association of Realtors®. The survey additionally found a growing disparity among renters who think it's a good time to buy and homeowners who think it's a good time to sell

Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes jumped six points to a level of 71 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This is the highest reading since June 2005

Mortgage applications increased 3.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 10, 2017.

A coalition of groups representing a broad spectrum of U.S. manufacturing, construction, energy and environmental workers, are calling for Congress to include electric transmission provisions in any proposed infrastructure legislation and streamline expansion of U.S. electrical infrastructure

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for February 2017 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases increased 2.2 percent compared to February 2016. Compared to January 2017, applications increased by 16 percent relative to the previous month. This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns

The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and National Apartment Association (NAA) issued the following statement today in regards to a statement submitted to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs in regards to the hearing entitled, Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, Part I

There is still time to register for the webinar, “Seismic Design of Precast Concrete Structures,” hosted by the National Institute of Building Sciences Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC). This is the second webinar in the 2017 series sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Military Outreach USA, a partner of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), recently launched a program to encourage communities to connect with local VA facilities and help VA provide support to homeless or recently homeless veterans and their families

The third edition of the American Water Works Association’s M50 Water Resources Planning is now available. M50 assists water resources planners in implementing a work plan that effectively addresses technical and institutional needs before developing new water supplies. The guide also demonstrates how to produce a long-term Integrated Resource Plan for water utilities.

Mortgage credit availability increased in February according to the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) which analyzes data from Ellie Mae's AllRegs® Market Clarity® business information tool.

Delinquency rates for commercial and multifamily mortgage loans remained low in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Commercial/Multifamily Delinquency Report.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) commends Congressmen David McKinley (R-WV) and Peter Welch (D-VT) on the introduction of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2017

President Donald Trump is expected to send to Congress a high-level budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018 next week. An overview of early drafts by the Washington Post show the severity of cuts under consideration. Multiple sources confirm that OMB Director Mick Mulvaney could slash the HUD budget by as much as 14% ($6 billion)—without considering inflationary adjustments