Yearly Archives: 2016

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) begins the public sale for Cotton Annex building in an effort to find a new owner for the property while creating the greatest possible value for taxpayers.

For the first time in more than 25 years, the National Institute of Building Sciences will increase annual membership dues for its individual members, beginning February 1, 2017. This nominal increase in dues will adjust for inflation, yet it still remains in line, or below, the membership fees of other building industry-related organizations.

The company will continue to donate roofing materials to Habitat for Humanity builds across the U.S. and Canada where GAF factory-certified contractors volunteer their roofing installation services. GAF, along with their GAF Master Elite and Certified Contractors, contributed to nearly 280 Habitat for Humanity homes as part of the 2015-2016 partnership

A new technology company, Arc Skoru Inc., officially launched today by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). This new venture will be the official host for Arc, a state-of-the-art digital platform available at arcskoru.com. Arc allows any project — whether a single building, a community or an entire city — to measure improvements and benchmark against itself and projects around it.

Construction spending was mixed in October as a rebound in residential and public categories outweighed a downturn in most private nonresidential segments, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted, however, that public investments in infrastructure remain down compared to last year while private-sector demand should remain robust amid continued economic growth.

The Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) global efforts to create communities that are sustainable, prosperous and livable are documented in the Institute’s latest annual report, which includes accomplishments during fiscal year 2016 (July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016).

With solar power on the rise around the country, a national network of fossil fuel and utility-backed organizations have joined forces to put the brakes on this fast growing pollution-free energy resource. Trade groups and think tanks backed by deep pocketed anti-clean energy ideologues and fossil interests are bankrolling campaigns, promoting model legislation and media campaigns to provide cover for anti-solar campaigns across the country, said a new report released today by Environment America Research & Policy Center.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced the agency's new schedule of loan limits, and due to an increase in housing prices, most areas in the country will see a slight increase in loan limits in 2017 These loan limits are effective for case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2017, and will remain in effect through the end of the year

Today, in reaction to the news that Steve Mnuchin will be President-Elect Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Secretary of the Department of the Treasury, and subsequent remarks from Mr. Mnuchin, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition’s (NCRC) President and CEO John Taylor made the following statement

On November 16, HUD published in the Federal Register a final rule regarding the use of small area fair market rents (SAFMR) in certain metropolitan areas, and replacing HUD’s existing 50th percentile fair market rent (FMR) policy for the Housing Choice Voucher (voucher) program. SAFMRs reflect rent standards in zip code areas while traditional FMRs reflect a single rent standard for an entire metropolitan region.

Access to healthy food, community farms, chef-driven restaurants, and innovative food retail concepts is increasingly being incorporated into real estate developments as an amenity that adds appeal and value, according to a new publication from the Urban Land Institute (ULI), Cultivating Development: Trends and Opportunities at the Intersection of Food and Real Estate.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro today announced that public housing developments in the U.S. will now be required to provide a smoke-free environment for their residents. In an address to local public housing officials, residents and public health professionals in Boston, Secretary Castro said HUD's new rule will provide resources and support to more than 3,100 Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to implement required smoke-free policies over the next 18 months.

Mortgage applications decreased 9.4 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 25, 2016. This week's results included an adjustment for the Thanksgiving holiday.

NeighborWorks America announced that the application period is open beginning November 28 for one-time grants to revitalize distressed communities suffering from the direct and/or indirect effects of the foreclosure crisis. Projects proposed should support and further existing multi-faceted, place-based initiatives working to transform communities.

Next week's workshop, sponsored by the National Institute of Building Sciences, will answer the question of what to do when building control systems have been hacked or taken over by ransomware. Intended for building owners, facility managers, engineering, physical security, information assurance and other professionals involved with the design, deployment and operation of building control systems, the “Your Building Control Systems Have Been Hacked, Now What? Workshop,” to be held Tuesday, December 6, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, will provide a combination of classroom learning modules and hands-on laboratory exercises to help attendees learn how to detect, contain, eradicate and recover from a cyber event.

As smart homes become more popular among consumers, buyers and sellers are showing greater interest in those homes and smart-home technologies and Realtors® in a certification to acknowledge their experience and expertise in those features

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry, announced today that Cypress Creek Renewables, a leading provider of local solar farms, has joined SEIA’s board of directors.

Construction employment declined or was stagnant in one-third of metro areas between October 2015 and October 2016 amid diminishing public-sector investments in infrastructure and other civil works, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America.