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U.S. home builders today completed four days of talks with Chilean government, trade and industry officials that are geared toward increasing exports of softwood lumber and other wood products to America.

In accordance with the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, HUD published a Notice in the Sept. 2, 2016, Federal Register identifying Federal buildings and other real property HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. The properties were reviewed using information provided to HUD by Federal landholding agencies or by GSA regarding their inventories of excess or surplus property. The list includes buildings and properties in 29 states and Puerto Rico.

Public hearings for WSSC’s Proposed Capital Improvements Project Budget (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2018 – 2023 will be held on September 7 and 8, respectively in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties

Builder confidence in the single-family 55+ housing market remains in positive territory for the first quarter of 2015, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) 55+ Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. Compared to the previous quarter, the single-family index edged down slightly by one point to 58, which is the fourth consecutive quarter above 50.

Industry Officials Caution that Worker Shortages Could Undermine Sector’s Recovery and Stall Broader Economic Growth without Measures to Recruit and Train New Generation of Craft Workers for the Industry

Private-Sector Outlays Rise 1.0 Percent for the Month While Public Sector Investments in Infrastructure, Other Construction Fall 3.1 Percent as New Survey Finds Most Firms Having Hard Time Finding Craft Workers

Consumers Energy is assisting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on work taking place at Tippy Dam this week to protect salmon, lake trout and other fish species in the Great Lakes. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel are applying lampricides to the Manistee River at Tippy Dam to control sea lamprey larvae from the hydro facility downstream to Lake Michigan, a distance of 29 miles.

The Modular Building Institute’s (MBI) US and Canadian Foundations are pleased to announce two recipients of educational scholarships in 2016. Annually, the foundations provide $5,000 in scholarships to employees of MBI member companies or employee spouses, children, or grandchildren. The US Foundation provides one $2,500 scholarship and the Canadian Foundation provides one $2,500 scholarship. Applicants apply directly to the foundations and must be enrolled or enrolling in two- or four-year schools

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its mid-year ranking of commercial and multifamily mortgage servicers' volume as of June 30, 2016.  At the top of the list is Wells Fargo Bank N.A. with $502.2 billion in U.S. master and primary servicing, followed by PNC Real Estate/Midland Loan Services with $499.1 billion, Berkadia Commercial Mortgage LLC with $220.6 billion, KeyBank N.A. with $195.4 billion, and CBRE Loan Services with $108.3 billion.

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

The National Association of Realtors® has named 10 Realtors® as finalists for REALTOR® Magazine’s 2016 Good Neighbor Awards. This award honors Realtors® who have made an extraordinary impact on their communities through volunteer work.

Independent mortgage banks and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks reported a net gain of $1,686 on each loan they originated in the second quarter of 2016, up from a reported gain of $825 per loan in the first quarter of 2016, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported today in its Quarterly Mortgage Bankers Performance Report.

Pending home sales expanded in most of the country in July and reached their second highest reading in over a decade, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Only the Midwest saw a dip in contract activity last month

Mortgage applications increased 2.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 26, 2016.

NeighborWorks America knows that manufactured housing can help solve America’s affordable housing crisis. It is a vital resource for many elderly and low-income homeowners. Particularly in rural, high-poverty areas, it may be the best housing option. Manufactured housing can offer benefits to buyers including lower cost and improved energy efficiency compared with site-built homes. Increasing the energy-efficiency of manufactured homes can help make homeownership a sustainable investment for low- and moderate-income families long-term.

Located in Phoenix, Cedar Crossing is a 74-unit complex developed by National Equity Fund partner, Native American Connections. It is a unique multiphase housing community that encompasses numerous supportive services followed up with access to transitional and ultimately permanent affordable housing.

Nation’s Top Construction Official Says New Rule Allows Federal Officials to Punish Firms at Will and Impose Arbitrary Consequences, Making it Hard for Many Firms to Continue Federal Work The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America issued the following statement today in response to the release of a final federal regulation that would allow unelected federal officials to blacklist firms who run afoul of vague guidelines

Following is a statement from Sean Gallagher, vice president of state affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), on the wide support of Amendment 4 by Florida voters

Labor Day signals the unofficial end to summer, and for many Michigan residents it is also the time when vacation homes are closed for the winter. Consumers Energy recommends several tips to help ensure these homes stay safe when unoccupied during the cold weather.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Green Sports Alliance and National Institute of Building Sciences launched a survey today to get the input of sports venue owners and operators about their facilities’ energy and water usage. The purpose of this ground-breaking initiative is to identify opportunities to reduce energy and water use, save money and lead the way towards the possible development of a new ENERGY STAR® score and certification for stadiums and arenas