News
RealEstateRama News
Lower Operating Costs Mean New-Home Buyers Can Afford More House
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- During New Homes Month in April, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is showing home buyers why they can afford a higher-priced home—if it’s new construction. Using data from the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2011 American Housing Survey, NAHB found that buyers can purchase a more expensive newer home and achieve the same annual operating costs as an older, existing home.
New-Home Sales Decline in February from Strong January Pace
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes declined 4.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 411,000 units in February from a strong pace of 431,000 units in the previous month, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Department. Despite the slight decline, this is the second highest monthly total since April 2010 when the federal home buyer tax credit expired.
Home Builders Call on Congress to Move Forward on Housing Finance Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The nation’s home builders today called on Congress to move forward on bipartisan housing finance reform to ensure that affordable housing credit can be delivered through a competitive, efficient, sound and stable system that maintains the crucial element of a federal backstop for the mortgage market.
List of Improving Housing Markets Rises to 274 in March
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The list of improving U.S. housing markets expanded for a seventh consecutive month in March to include 274 metros on the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. This total amounts to a net gain of 15 markets since February and includes entrants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Growing Labor Shortages Impeding Housing and Economic Recovery
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Growing labor shortages in all facets of the residential construction sector are impeding the housing and economic recovery, according to a new survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Home Builders Applaud Bill to Restore Flow of Credit to Housing, Spur Job Growth
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In a major step forward to spur job and economic growth and keep the housing recovery on track, Reps. Gary Miller (R-Calif.) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would help provide home builders access to credit for viable home building projects.
Nationwide Housing Production Edges Up in February
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing production edged up 0.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 917,000 units in February, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. This slight upward movement represented gains in both the single-family and multifamily sectors, with single-family housing starts reaching their fastest pace since June of 2008.
Builder Confidence Slips Two Notches in March
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes paused for a third consecutive month in March, with a two-point reduction to 44 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today.
Regulatory Burdens on Small Business Hurt Housing, Economy, Builders Tell Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal agencies are circumventing the intent and the letter of a law to make the regulatory process more cost effective and less burdensome for small businesses, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress today. As a result, the regulatory process continues to unnecessarily increase compliance costs and is acting as a drag on the housing and economic recovery
New Guide Helps Builders Navigate 2012 Residential Code
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new guide co-published by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the International Code Council (ICC) provides critical answers to the most frequently asked residential construction jobsite code questions. Available through BuilderBooks, NAHB’s publishing arm, the 2012 Home Builders’ Jobsite Codes: A Quick Guide to the 2012 International Residential Code, is a portable guide for home builders, contractors, inspectors, architects, engineers and other construction professionals
NAHB Remodelers Applauds Reintroduction of Senate Lead Paint Rule Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers applauds the reintroduction of legislation to improve the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) lead paint rule for home owners and remodelers who must comply with the costly work practices and recordkeeping requirements of the rule.
Fourth Quarter Indices Show Continued Improvement for Apartment and Condominium Market
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Multifamily Production Index (MPI), released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), increased two points to a level of 54. It is the fourth straight quarter with a reading over 50
Price, Proximity to Work and Design are Key Concerns for Home Buyers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 4, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Price and proximity to work are key concerns for first-time home buyers, while trade-up buyers tend to be most focused on the design of the home and the neighborhood, according to “Characteristics of Home Buyers,” an analysis of the recently released 2011 American Housing Survey (AHS) by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
2012 ICC 700 National Green Building Standard™ Now Available
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 28, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The 2012 ICC 700 National Green Building Standard ™, (NGBS) recently approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), is now available for purchase through BuilderBooks.com, the publishing arm for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in both print and e-Book formats.
E-Verify an Important Component of Immigration Reform, Builders Tell Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 28, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Salt Lake City home builder and developer Christopher Gamvroulas today told Congress that the E-Verify program is an effective system and offered proposals put forth by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to improve it and to achieve comprehensive immigration reform.
Tight Credit, Flawed Appraisals and Erratic Supply Chain Hurt Jobs, Housing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The budding housing revival driven by pent-up consumer demand still faces a number of obstacles, including tight credit for builders along with a stretched lot and building supply system in many markets that are barely keeping up with demand. The precarious support system to housing could threaten the fragile housing and economic recovery now under way, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
New-Home Sales Surge 15.6 Percent in January
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 15.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 437,000 units in January, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. Amidst this quickened sales pace – the fastest since July of 2008 – the months’ supply of new homes for sale fell to its lowest level in nearly eight years.
Linda Hebert Named 2013 NAHB Professional Women in Building Council Chair
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council appointed its 2013 chair last month during the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.
Report Recommends Reforms of Residential Appraisal System
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Serious problems in the residential appraisal process must be addressed in order to restore confidence in the residential real estate market and to establish a foundation for sustainable growth of the U.S. economy, according to a new white paper from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Nationwide Housing Affordability Increases at Year-End 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 21, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Exceptionally low interest rates helped ensure a slight gain in nationwide housing affordability amid relatively stable house prices in the final quarter of 2012, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), released today.
