News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts declined 5.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 571,000 units in August, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department today. The decline was primarily on the more volatile multifamily side, with single-family housing production edging down just 1.4 percent. Meanwhile, permits for new construction posted modest gains in both sectors.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 50+ Housing Council is now accepting nominations for the 2012 Best of 50+ Housing Awards, which honor excellence in building, design and marketing of housing for boomers and beyond. This year, the program has added more than a dozen new categories, including "Best Integration of Technology," "Best 'Green' Community," "Best Streetscape or Neighborhood," "Best Fitness and Wellness Program" and "Best Universal Designed Home," among others."The Best of 50+ Housing Awards are this industry's most influential national awards" said 50+ Housing Council Chair, Ken Simons, a developer from Bedminster, N.J. "The awards not only recognize the best of the country's top builders and developers in the 50+ housing sector, but also show the public the newest and most innovative housing trends for mature buyers and renters."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes dipped by a single point to 14 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for September, released today. The index has now held between 13 and 16 for six consecutive months."Very little has changed in terms of housing market conditions so far this year," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nevada. "Builders continue to confront the same challenges in accessing construction credit, obtaining accurate appraisal values for new homes, and competing against foreclosed properties that they have seen for some time. Beyond this, both builder and consumer confidence took a hit in recent weeks with the market disruptions caused by the S&P downgrade and congressional gridlock on the budget deficit."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With the Oct. 1 deadline rapidly approaching when the conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will be lowered, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today called on Congress to move swiftly to extend the current loan limits to prevent further damage to the already fragile housing market and lackluster economy.“Congress must act now to prevent the loan limits from reverting to lower levels,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. “A drop in mortgage loan limits would reduce housing demand, and place downward pressure on home prices in major markets. This would exacerbate the current housing downturn, trigger more foreclosures, impede job growth and endanger the fragile economic recovery.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev., today issued the following statement regarding President Obama's address to the nation last night:"While the nation's home builders commend President Obama for tackling critical employment issues, it's discouraging that the Administration still fails to recognize that housing has a central role to play in restoring the nation's workforce.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The multifamily housing market continued to show improvement in the second quarter of 2011, as the Multifamily Production Index (MPI) compiled by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) increased for the fourth consecutive quarter.The MPI rose from 41.7 in the first quarter of the year to 44.4 in the second quarter. It is the highest quarterly reading since 2006, and continues the trend of generally improving conditions in the market for new multifamily housing that has emerged since the MPI dropped to a record low of 16.0 in the third quarter of 2008.

Pittsburgh and New Orleans Among Those Included - September 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released its first NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), a new economic index revealing metropolitan areas that have shown improvement for at least six months in three key economic areas—housing permits, employment and housing prices

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today officially opened online registration for the 2012 NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS), the largest annual light construction tradeshow in the world. Considered the premiere building industry event, the 2012 show, to be held in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 8-11, features impressive deals for both members and non-members who register before the end of September on things such as registration fees and education sessions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) announced today the launch of its NAHB Improving Markets Index (IMI), a new monthly economic index showing which housing markets are improving in three key economic indicators.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes held virtually unchanged in July with a 0.7 percent dip from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 298,000 units, according to newly released data from the U.S. Commerce Department."The fact that new-home sales fell by less than one percent in July is an indication of how little conditions have changed in the housing market," said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev. "While new-home inventories are exceptionally thin, home builders are still competing with large numbers of foreclosed and distressed homes on the market and a climate of uncertainty in which consumers are reluctant to go forward with a major purchase for fear of what economic news tomorrow might bring."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing affordability during the second quarter of 2011 hovered for the 10th consecutive quarter near its highest level in the more than 20 years it has been measured, according to National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) data released today

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Environmental Protection Agency's decision today to reconsider the imposition of a nationwide cap on how much sediment can be part of the stormwater draining from a construction site is a nod to the importance of sound science – and a big victory for home buyers, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts edged down 1.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 604,000 units in July, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department today. The slight decline comes on the heels of significant gains in housing production in June, and was attributable to a moderate drop-off on the single-family side while production of multifamily units continued upward.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes held unchanged at a low level of 15 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for August, released today.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builders in the 55+ housing market are significantly more optimistic about production and demand for multifamily rental units than they are for sales of single-family homes or multifamily condos, according to the latest 55+ Housing Market Indices that are compiled quarterly by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).All of the components measuring production and demand for 55+ multifamily rental units increased significantly in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the same period a year ago.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New home sales and marketing professionals are encouraged to submit entries for the 2012 National Sales and Marketing Awards, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Sales and Marketing Council. The Awards, better known as “The NationalsSM,” pay tribute to superior sales and marketing achievements by individual sales and marketing professionals, home builders and associates.Now in its 31st year, The Nationals is considered the nation's largest and most prestigious competition for sales and marketing professionals and communities. Entries can be submitted in nearly 50 awards categories, and include recognition for professional excellence in design, architecture, advertising, marketing, merchandising and sales achievement.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev., issued the following statement regarding the proposed debt ceiling agreement announced by President Obama and congressional leaders:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nearly 25 million homeowners across the country would face more expensive mortgages if a proposal by federal regulators goes unchanged. A proposal released by six federal agencies to implement credit risk retention provisions included in the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act would require homeowners to have at least 25 percent equity in their homes in order to qualify for a lower-rate "Qualified Residential Mortgage" (QRM) for refinancing. An analysis of the CoreLogic data shows 24.8 million U.S. homeowners – more than half of all U.S. homeowners with a mortgage - have less than 25 percent equity in their homes.Homeowners looking to refinance but fail to qualify for a QRM will be subject to additional costs associated with lenders' risk retention requirements included in the Dodd-Frank bill. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, consumers in a non-QRM loan could pay between 0.80 and 1.85 percentage points more in interest rate, simply because they could not meet the down payment or equity requirements.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The remodeling market slipped under pressure from a sluggish economy according to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI), which dipped during the second quarter to 43.9 from the first quarter result of 46.5. An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is lower compared to the prior quarter than report it is higher.The overall RMI combines ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future activity, like calls for bids. Current market conditions for the second quarter of 2011 fell to 44.8 from 46.1 in the first quarter. Future market indications dropped to 43.0 from 46.8 in the previous quarter.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Former NFL football players are working side-by-side with local home builders and contractors this week to renovate a section of St. Ann's Infant & Maternity Home in Hyattsville, Md. The Home Builders Care Foundation (HBCF) of the Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association (MNCBIA) is coordinating the community service project, which is converting an older, institutional-like section of the children's residential wing into a warm, comfortable living space."Every child and every family should have a safe, comfortable place that feels like home, whether it is temporary like here at St. Ann's, or a permanent home to call their own," said Calvin Snowden, president of the Washington, D.C. NFL Players' Association (NFLPA) former players' chapter. "It is incredibly rewarding to be able to give back to the Washington, D.C., community through a project like this."