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Washington D.C. - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In response to the construction industry’s markedly changed economic conditions and rapid adoption of new technologies and green building goals, ConsensusDOCS today released a comprehensive update to its library of construction contract documents, as well as new contracts.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts declined 4.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 529,000 units in the final month of 2010, according to newly released figures by the U.S. Commerce Department. While this was the slowest pace of starts activity since October 2009, the year-end data indicate that production of new homes improved 6.1 percent in 2010 from the previous year. On another positive note, permit issuance for construction of new homes and apartments rose 16.7 percent in December to a rate of 635,000 units, the strongest pace since March of 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) elected four senior officers to top leadership positions within the federation during the association's International Builders' Show in Orlando.With more than 800 affiliated state and local home builders associations and more than 160,000 members across the country, NAHB is the "voice of the housing industry," representing the interests of the nation's housing professionals through advocacy, education and research

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) today announced southern West Virginia housing programs have been awarded nearly $1.4 million in grant funding for housing assistance to homeless individuals a...

Anchorage, AZ - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Qualifying Alaskans will have greater access to homeownership through a $625,000 loan approved by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation board of directors. The loan will allow Fairbanks Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (FNHS) to continue its down-payment assistance loan program for under-served markets and provide assistance to borrowers who would not qualify for home ownership due to income limitations, down-payment requirements, loan-to-values, or other considerations

Washington, DC - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced the newly elected officers and new directors to its 2011 Board of Directors. At elections that closed in December, USGBC’s membership elected the following individuals to serve as directors:

Denver, CO - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Defying the seasonal trend, December home sales rose by 13.2% from November in a survey of 54 metropolitan areas. Home sales dropped 5.0% from December 2009, but this is the lowest year-over-year drop the survey has seen in five months.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Thanks to strengthening in consumer spending and growing policy clarity at the end of 2010, the economy is finally poised to accelerate and sustain above-par, less volatile growth, according to the January 2011 Economic Outlook released today by Fannie Mae's (FNMA/OTC) Economics & Mortgage Market Analysis Group. The economy is expected to grow by 3.6 percent in 2011, compared to an estimated 2.8 percent in 2010. The group expects some increase in housing activity during 2011, however, a growth-oriented view of housing is not expected until 2012.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes held unchanged at a relatively low level of 16 for a third consecutive month in January, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today."As we emerge from the traditionally slow holiday season, builders continue to look for signs of improvement in the economy, home buyer demand and builder and consumer credit conditions," said 2011 NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. "Unfortunately, a severe lack of construction financing, and widespread difficulties in obtaining accurate appraisal values, continue to limit builders' ability to prepare for anticipated improvements in buyer demand in 2011."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Three National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) members, home builders and remodelers who are certifying their projects to the federal Department of Energy’s Builders Challenge program say that affordability, not cutting-edge technology, is key to their ability to seal the deal with home buyers.The builders spoke at press conference during the NAHB International Builders’ Show, which observed its fourth annual Green Day on Jan. 13.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 2011 edition of The New American Home (TNAH) features leading-edge green building technology woven seamlessly into the elegant architecture of the well-crafted house. The home has achieved “Emerald” status under the National Green Building Standard certification program.Featuring American Empire design with Greek Revival elements, the home combines an inviting layout with graceful style, eccentric interiors and easy classicism. Built in a quiet Orlando neighborhood, it offers lake views with the Orlando skyline beyond.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Housing will see gradual improvements in activity this year as the nation’s economy and job market continue to move to higher ground, establishing momentum that will produce more considerable gains in 2012, according to economists who appeared at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando on Jan.

Destin, FL - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The best and worst housing market forecasts for 2011 have been issued by Housing Predictor, which selects the 25 best and 25 worst markets annually. Markets selected have the highest probability of reaching their forecasts, and are updated over the entire year as housing market conditions change

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Green-built homes will take an increasingly large percentage of the market in direct proportion to their price – because home buyers’ prime motivation today is cost effectiveness, according to representatives from four suppliers and product manufactures who spoke today at the National Association of Home Builders International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla.“The key is value for every stakeholder in the process,” from the manufacturer to the builder and the home buyer, said Richard Davenport, director of sustainable construction for BASF.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New job creation amid a slowly recovering economy is creating increased demand by new renters seeking to move into apartments. However, the lack of credit needed to finance the development of apartments is already causing rents to increase and is likely to lead to a shortage of available apartments in the next few years.“Although we are forecasting construction of 133,000 new multifamily residences in 2011,” said the National Association of Home Builders’ chief economist, David Crowe, “that is far short of the 250,000 to 300,000 units that would be required to keep supply and demand in balance

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A joint study by the 50+ Housing Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the MetLife Mature Market Institute shows the recession has made 55+ buyers more practical when selecting a new home. Design considerations have become less important, and financial concerns have become more prominent.Previous studies from these two organizations found that most 55+ buyers depended on home sale proceeds to finance a new purchase. The most recent data shows that option diminished during the economic downturn.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development today awarded nearly $127 million in grants to 48 local projects to conduct a wide range of activities intended to protect children and families from potentially dangerous lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards (see chart below)

Orlando, FL - January 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the current state of the national economy, consumers are looking for ways to reduce costs wherever they can – operation of their homes is certainly no exception. In direct response to their customers' needs, and their own desire to "do the right thing," many home builders and remodelers have taken strides to incorporate features that make homes more energy efficient, comfortable, cost-effective to operate and maintain, and generally more friendly to the natural environment. Tuesday night, at a dinner celebration just prior to the start of the 2011 International Builders' Show, an elite group of these conscientious residential professionals received EnergyValue Housing Awards (EVHA) for new and existing homes

Washington, DC - January 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has named the recipients of its 2010 LEED for Homes Awards, recognizing projects, developers and home builders who have demonstrated leadership in the residential building marketplace. The awards were presented during the Residential Summit on Thursday, Nov. 18, during the 2010 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo held in Chicago, Ill. The 2010 award categories recognize innovative multi and single family projects, production builders, affordable housing projects and developers, an overall commitment to LEED for Homes, and Project of the Year.

Washington, DC - January 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- NeighborWorks America, a Congressionally chartered nonprofit and one of the nation’s largest community development corporations, announced today that Leila Finucane Edmonds has joined the corporation as director of National Initiatives