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RealEstateRama News
Economists Say Housing Outlook Continues to Slowly Brighten
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mirroring the uneven economic recovery, the housing market is expected to move in a slow, gradual upward path in 2012, while encountering its share of speed bumps along the road, according to economists participating in yesterday’s National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) construction forecast webinar on the housing and economic outlook.
W. Dean Henry to Lead NAHB’s Multifamily Leadership Board
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today announced that W. Dean Henry, a real estate executive from Foster City, Calif., has been appointed chairman of NAHB’s Multifamily Leadership Board (MLB). Henry succeeds Charles R. Brindell Jr., chairman and CEO, Mill Creek Residential Trust LLC, and will serve a two-year term.
Remodeling Market Index Remains Relatively Flat in First Quarter
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- CORRECTION: Due to a recently discovered computer coding error, NAHB has revised the RMI going back to 2006. The error had slightly reduced the true values of the overall index, as well as its two major components. The revisions generally show a one point or less quarterly increase, with quarter-to-quarter patterns remaining relatively unchanged. Some of the subcomponents experienced larger revisions but in a counteracting fashion, so that the impact on the primary indicators was muted.
March Home Sales Decline From Upwardly Revised Earlier Pace
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes declined 7.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 328,000 units in March from an upwardly revised, robust pace of 353,000 units in February, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Commerce Department.
NAHB to Host its Spring Construction Forecast Webinar on Wednesday
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) will host its Semi-Annual Construction Forecast Conference on Wednesday, April 25, in a two-hour webinar from 2:00-4:00 p.m. featuring three renowned industry experts.
NAHB, Chinese Manufacturers Sign Major Exhibition Agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has signed a memorandum of understanding with a major Chinese trade association that will bring a large number of additional manufacturers and product options to the annual NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas in January 2013. The agreement underscores the International Builders’ Show’s role as the preeminent light construction trade show in the Americas.
Home Builders Urge Congress to Provide Certainty and Permanency in Tax Code
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 18, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today called on Congress to simplify the tax code as part of a comprehensive tax reform effort in order to help small businesses to continue serve as an engine of economic growth.
Single-Family Housing Starts Virtually Unchanged in March
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Single-family housing production held virtually unchanged in March as a double-digit decline in the more volatile multifamily sector brought combined nationwide starts activity down 5.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 654,000 units, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department today.
Builder Confidence Slips Three Notches in April
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes declined for the first time in seven months this April, sliding three notches to 25 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, released today. The decline brings the index back to where it was in January, which was the highest level since 2007.
Diverse Group Calls on CFPB to Create Broad QM Market
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A diverse group of 33 lenders, housing professionals, consumer advocates and civil rights organizations came together today to call on the CFPB to issue broadly defined and clear Qualified Mortgage (QM) standards as part of the forthcoming Ability to Repay regulation.
Mortgage Interest Deduction Softens Blow as “Tax Day” Approaches
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the April 17 tax-filing deadline right around the corner, the most important tax deduction for tens of millions of middle-class families could be on the chopping block as early as next year’s tax season if some policymakers get their way
101 Housing Markets on Improving List in April
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 5, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The list of housing markets showing measurable improvement expanded slightly to include 101 metropolitan areas in April, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. Thirty-five states (including the District of Columbia) are now represented by at least one market on the list.
Creativity and Cost-Savings Measures Reflected in Top New Home Design Trends
WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 3, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The home building industry celebrates New Homes Month in April by sharing the hottest design trends that will be seen in new homes in 2012. New home buyers will be able to take advantage of emerging market trends that incorporate creative use of materials, layouts and features that provide maximum utility and beauty while being cost-conscious at the same time
Former NFL Players, Home Builders Build Sheds and Character with Naples High School Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 30, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Students at Lely High School’s Construction Academy worked with an unusual team of apprentices for their community service project on March 29. More than 20 former NFL football players from around the country, along with volunteers from the Collier Building Industry Foundation, spent the afternoon with the students pounding nails instead of opposing players as they constructed storage sheds for homes built by Habitat for Humanity of Collier County.
Statement from NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg on Sen. Barrasso’s Water Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 29, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Gainesville, Fla., today issued the following statements regarding S. 2245, the Preserve Waters of the United States Act. Introduced by Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and 29 other Senators from across the country, this legislation will prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) from using a draft guidance to dramatically expand the scope of the Clean Water Act
New-Home Sales Decline 1.6 Percent in February
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 23, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes slowed 1.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 313,000 units in February, according to data jointly released by HUD and the U.S. Commerce Department today
Delaware Builder Meets with Fed Chairman and HUD Secretary to Keep Housing a Top...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 22, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Long-time local builder and developer Kevin Kelly, president of Leon N. Weiner and Associates, met recently with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to discuss pr...
National Housing Endowment Invests in Construction Management Programs with 2012 HELP Grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 21, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Students at two universities will benefit from improved residential construction management programs due to grants from the Homebuilding Education Leadership Program (HELP) of the National Housing Endowment, the philanthropic arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The grants were announced at the NAHB Student Chapter Award Ceremony at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando in February.
Delaware Builder Meets with Fed Chairman and HUD Secretary to Keep Housing a Top...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 21, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Long-time local builder and developer Kevin Kelly, president of Leon N. Weiner and Associates, met recently with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to discuss problems affecting the home building industry and policies that will help the housing market recover.
Housing Starts Decline 1.1 Percent in February
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 20, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts edged down 1.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 698,000 units in February, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Commerce Department. This was the second-best pace of new construction since October of 2008 following an upwardly revised 706,000-unit pace in January.