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The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and ASTM International (ASTM) will explore the state of building science education in North America and collaborate to examine ways to improve educational training and curriculum development at the second Workshop on Building Science Education in North America: Building Bridges and Bridging the Gap.

Government should not be permitted to tell property owners, in essence, “the more land you own, the less you’ll be allowed to use.”  So argue Pacific Legal Foundation attorneys in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the constitutional takings case of Donna Murr and her siblings Joseph Murr, Michael Murr, and Peggy Heaver.  They have been barred from developing a vacant lot they own along the St. Croix River, in St. Croix County, Wisconsin — and a state appellate court said they weren’t entitled to Fifth Amendment takings compensation because they also own a neighboring lot with a recreational cabin on it

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently released an infographic to help veterans determine whether or not they are protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA).  Recent changes to VEVRAA regulations require contractors to invite applicants to voluntarily self-identify as protected veterans at both the pre-offer and post-offer phases of the application process

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently made available on its website a Checklist for Compliance (link is external) with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a law requiring that federal contractors take affirmative action and do not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. The new tool was created to help contractors assess their compliance with the regulations that govern the law.

The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP®) has announced Julissa Acre, former Goldman Sachs star and current public affairs director at Define American, will keynote the Latina Brunch session at its 2015 National Convention & Latin Music Festival.

Household debt balances were largely flat in the second quarter of this year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Household Debt and Credit Report. Total indebtedness increased just $2 billion from Q1 2015. Foreclosures hit their lowest point in the 16-year history of the New York Fed’s Consumer Credit Panel, a nationally representative sample drawn from anonymized Equifax credit data.

Affordable, quality healthcare is essential to sustaining a vibrant society. Yet, the American healthcare industry is facing overwhelming uncertainty in almost every segment. In 2015, the National Institute of Building Sciences Academy for Healthcare Infrastructure (AHI) began working on five critical issues currently facing the healthcare facilities industry and established a Collaborative Research Team to focus on each issue.

NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, has selected 15 young professionals to receive its prestigious 2015 Developing Leaders Award. The annual award honors up-and-coming professionals under the age of 35 for their exemplary professional accomplishments, strong leadership and community involvement. The award will be presented at NAIOP’s Commercial Real Estate Conference 2015, October 13-15 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Firming home prices in many housing markets resulted in a modest drop in nationwide housing affordability in the second quarter of 2015, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) released today.

The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties decreased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.30 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the second quarter of 2015. This was the lowest level since the second quarter of 2007. The delinquency rate decreased 24 basis points from the previous quarter, and 74 basis points from one year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) National Delinquency Survey.

Mortgage applications increased 0.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 7, 2015

The Association of Mortgage Professionals, has announced that it will work to support H.R. 3393, the Mortgage Fairness Act of 2015. The legislation introduced by Congressmen Bill Posey and Dennis Ross in the U.S. House of Representatives would provide a long overdue technical correction to the Dodd Frank Act. This technical correction would allow lower and moderate income consumers and homebuyers some flexibility in the loan they choose to buy a home in order to have better cash flow at the time of closing.

A promising climb in home sales throughout the country amidst insufficient supply caused home prices to steadily rise in most metro areas during the second quarter, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of Realtors

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) reacted in disappointment to the ruling by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla overturning New York City’s Responsible Banking Act in The New York Bankers Association v. The City of New York. The Responsible Banking Act is one of several responsible banking ordinances that U.S. cities have recently passed, which require banks bidding on municipal deposits and investments to submit community development plans describing the loans, investments, and bank services they would provide to minority and modest-income neighborhoods.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced 27 finalists in the Knight Green Line Challenge, which asked for innovative ideas that tap into the potential of the Green Line to make surrounding neighborhoods in St. Paul more vibrant places to live and work.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education(CAE) has selected nine educational facilities for this year’s CAE Education Facility Design Awards. The program honors educational facilities that the jury believes should serve as an example of a superb place in which to learn, furthering the client's mission, goals and educational program while demonstrating excellence in architectural design.

Informa Exhibitions U.S., Construction & Real Estate and theU.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) are excited to announce indie soul/pop band Fitz and The Tantrums will headline the 2015 Greenbuild Celebration, scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015, from 7-10 p.m. at the Newseum, an interactive museum, in Washington, D.C.

EPIC began raising the money for Mercy Housing during its second annual EPIC Real Estate Forum in Las Vegas, Nev. in February, 2015. Several of EPIC’s key partners sponsored the event and made significant contributions to EPIC’s fund raising efforts.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker today filed a bill that will address the need to raise the net metering caps in the Commonwealth. The Governor’s action is an important step in the legislative process. It recognizes both the popularity of solar in the state and its importance to the economy, and it advances the Governor’s commitment to reaching and exceeding 1,600 megawatts (MW) of solar in Massachusetts. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Vice President of State Affairs Sean Gallagher released the following statement

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, with support from its Industry Defense Fund and in collaboration with 15 other real estate associations, has released a groundbreaking study on the economic effects of repealing Section 1031 of the United States tax code, also known as “like-kind” exchanges.