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The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) slipped in August after showing mostly healthy business conditions so far this year. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the August ABI score was 49.1, down from a mark of 54.7 in July. This score reflects a slight decrease in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 61.8, down from a reading of 63.7 the previous month.

Yesterday Sheila Crowley announced that she will retire in 2016 from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) after leading the organization as President and CEO for over 17 years. Dr. Crowley will continue with NLIHC through April 2016 to ensure a smooth and successful transition for her successor

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today commended Senate Democrats, including Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and more, for their thoughtful inclusion of smart, job-creating clean energy incentives in their newly-announced energy policy bill.

States and communities can improve services and outcomes for people with substance use disorders (SUDs) by integrating housing with treatment and recovery support programs, according to housing, homeless and SUD treatment experts who convened for a frank dialogue on new service approaches for this population. The National Council on Behavioral Health and CSH highlight that and other recommendations in a report released today: The Substance Use and Housing National Leadership Forum.

The Bipartisan Policy Center applauds legislative and executive branch efforts to improve the permitting process for infrastructure projects. “For years, this conversation has been stuck in polarized gridlock. Our nation is in desperate need of increased infrastructure investments. It is encouraging to see an array of efforts to move beyond political posturing and address this complex challenge,” BPC President Jason Grumet said

Sheila Crowley announced that she will retire in 2016 from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) after leading the organization as President and CEO for over 17 years. Dr. Crowley will continue with NLIHC through April 2016 to ensure a smooth and successful transition for her successor

Today, in reaction to the release of 2014 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data, NCRC President and CEO John Taylor made the following statement: “The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data release for 2014 illustrates a disturbing and highly problematic trend with hard numbers: opportunities for homeownership are still very limited. Particularly in low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color, it’s too difficult to become a homeowner.”

Despite a number of industry predictions, new data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) report today revealed that Dodd-Frank's mortgage protections and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's related new mortgage regulations did not produce a decrease in mortgage accessibility for homebuyers.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized changes to its Qualified Mortgage (QM) rule. The changes, which raise the number of loans a small creditor can re-sell and expand the number of banks that can qualify as a "rural bank," are a response to feedback from lenders.

The Coalition for the Homeless held a press conference on the steps of City Hall Monday morning to highlight the importance of curbing the sale and availability of the synthetic drug K2, as the City Council held hearings today on how to stop the drug’s spread

The American Bankers Association – through its subsidiary the Corporation for American Banking – has endorsed the mortgage insurance solutions of Arch Mortgage Insurance Company?, a leading provider of private mortgage insurance and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arch Capital Group Ltd.

The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) welcomed today’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau final rule that broadens the small-creditor designation under its Qualified Mortgage rule. The ICBA-advocated change will allow more community banks to receive QM legal safe-harbor protection for mortgage loans they originate and retain in portfolio.

As part of the program for the 2015 NMHC Board of Directors and Advisory Committee meeting, six young multifamily investment sales professionals discussed the best investment opportunities in their respective geographic markets, which buyers and sources of capital are succeeding in allocating capital and what innovation their industry may bring to the market.

The level of commercial/multifamily mortgage debt outstanding increased by $38.5 billion in the second quarter of 2015, as three of the four major investor groups increased their holdings.  That is a 1.4 percent increase over the first quarter of 2015

Consumers Energy has recognized the artistic talents of students across Michigan elementary schools by featuring their drawings about electric and natural gas safety into its 2015-16 kids safety calendar.

What do consumers think of green homes? And, what are the most important elements of a green-built home? Builders and other industry professionals now have an opportunity to find out what green means to home buyers with a new publication from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)

The National Institute of Building Sciences has released the schedule of testimony for the Representative Hearing on Productivity and the Workforce, to be held September 25, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm EDT, at the Institute’s Headquarters in Washington, D.C

Homeowners continue to prioritize investing in outdoor living spaces and there has been a significant surge in popularity in adding technology and systems that can help automate energy consumption .These findings are from the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey covering activity during the second quarter of 2015 that focused on emerging home features: systems, technologies and special function rooms in the home.

Greenpeace released its 2015 Energy [R]evolution report, which finds that a global phase out of fossil fuels and shift towards 100 percent renewable energy is possible by 2050. The analysis, researched in collaboration with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), shows that the transition to renewables would create jobs and be cost competitive. The necessary investment in clean energy would be more than covered by future savings in fuel costs

“Proper septic maintenance can improve water quality across the nation,” said Ken Kopocis, Deputy Assistant Administrator in EPA’s Office of Water. “Maintenance can also prevent expensive malfunctions and save homeowners significant sums of money. It’s good for our environment and our economy.”