WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 15, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Thomas Vetter, MIRM, Master CSP, CMP, CSP, has been elected 2011 Chair of the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Institute of Residential Marketing, the education branch of the National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC). The announcement was made Jan. 11 at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 10, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Home builder sentiment for the mature-market sector retreated in the last quarter of 2010 when compared to the same period a year earlier. The National Association of Home Builders’ 55+ Housing Market Index for single-family homes dropped three points to 14 from a year ago following annual declines in the second and third quarters of 2010.”The normal course of purchasing a new home in anticipation of or upon entering retirement has been interrupted by the fall in Baby Boomers’ house values and reduction in their home equity,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 10, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) called on Congress today to repeal all new expanded 1099 reporting requirements imposed in recent laws that will harm job creation and place a major paperwork and cost burden on the nation’s small businesses.Testifying on behalf of NAHB before the House Small Business Committee, Mike Kegley, a builder from Union, Ky., and president of the Home Builders Association of Kentucky, told lawmakers that the collection of W-9 forms, monitoring payments over the course of a year, and additional staff time will cost individual small businesses thousands of dollars per year

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 3, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The Building Systems Councils (BSC) of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) honored David Endy for a lifetime of service and achievement in advancing the systems-built industry and contributing to the efforts of the BSC.Endy, president of Stratford Homes LP based in Stratford, Wis., received the S.A. Walters Systems-Built Achievement Award at an awards ceremony and luncheon held during the BSC’s annual SHOWCASE event held in New Orleans Nov. 7-10. The S.A. Walters Systems-Built Achievement award is given annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the industrialized housing industry in the United States.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 31, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Eliminating the deductions for mortgage interest and real estate taxes would raise taxes disproportionately for middle-class households and make the tax system less progressive, according to a new study from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).The study also concludes that the benefits of these deductions are collected primarily by middle-class taxpayers, with incomes between $50,000 and $200,000, and that greater benefits are earned by larger households and families, such as those with children

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 27, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The latest National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) edged up to 41.5 in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to 40.8 in the third quarter. An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers say market activity is lower compared to the prior quarter than report it is higher. The RMI has been running below 50 since the final quarter of 2005.The overall RMI combines ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future activity like calls for bids. In the fourth quarter, the RMI component measuring current market conditions stayed flat at 43.3 from 43.4 in the previous quarter. The RMI component measuring future indicators of remodeling business increased, to 39.7 from 38.1 in the previous quarter.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 26, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Bob Peterson, president of Associates in Building & Design, Ltd. (ABD) in Ft. Collins, Colo., was appointed 2011 chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers this month during the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. As chair for the leading professional organization for residential remodeling, Peterson represents the more than 14,000 remodeling industry members of NAHB.”I am honored to represent the interests of professional remodelers and look forward to helping our industry take on the challenges we will face this year as we look to a brighter future ahead,” said Peterson. “I am proud of our members, who are the most educated and skilled in the industry, running successful businesses and providing quality remodeling services for home owners across the nation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 26, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 17.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 329,000 units in December, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Commerce Department. The big gain, though largely tied to an unexpectedly strong showing in the West, was a welcome boost at the end of a year that had the lowest total number of new-home sales on record (321,000) since the government began keeping track in 1963.”After six very tough months, the housing market ended the year on an upbeat, with signs of stabilization beginning to take hold in many markets,” said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev. “That said, the nationwide inventory of new homes for sale is now at its thinnest level in more than 40 years. This is a sign that many builders still cannot obtain the credit they need to meet anticipated improvements in buyer demand in 2011.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 20, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Nationwide housing starts declined 4.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 529,000 units in the final month of 2010, according to newly released figures by the U.S. Commerce Department. While this was the slowest pace of starts activity since October 2009, the year-end data indicate that production of new homes improved 6.1 percent in 2010 from the previous year. On another positive note, permit issuance for construction of new homes and apartments rose 16.7 percent in December to a rate of 635,000 units, the strongest pace since March of 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 20, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) elected four senior officers to top leadership positions within the federation during the association’s International Builders’ Show in Orlando.With more than 800 affiliated state and local home builders associations and more than 160,000 members across the country, NAHB is the “voice of the housing industry,” representing the interests of the nation’s housing professionals through advocacy, education and research

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 18, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes held unchanged at a relatively low level of 16 for a third consecutive month in January, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today.”As we emerge from the traditionally slow holiday season, builders continue to look for signs of improvement in the economy, home buyer demand and builder and consumer credit conditions,” said 2011 NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. “Unfortunately, a severe lack of construction financing, and widespread difficulties in obtaining accurate appraisal values, continue to limit builders’ ability to prepare for anticipated improvements in buyer demand in 2011.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 17, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Three National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) members, home builders and remodelers who are certifying their projects to the federal Department of Energy’s Builders Challenge program say that affordability, not cutting-edge technology, is key to their ability to seal the deal with home buyers.The builders spoke at press conference during the NAHB International Builders’ Show, which observed its fourth annual Green Day on Jan. 13.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 17, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The 2011 edition of The New American Home (TNAH) features leading-edge green building technology woven seamlessly into the elegant architecture of the well-crafted house. The home has achieved “Emerald” status under the National Green Building Standard certification program.Featuring American Empire design with Greek Revival elements, the home combines an inviting layout with graceful style, eccentric interiors and easy classicism. Built in a quiet Orlando neighborhood, it offers lake views with the Orlando skyline beyond.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 17, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Housing will see gradual improvements in activity this year as the nation’s economy and job market continue to move to higher ground, establishing momentum that will produce more considerable gains in 2012, according to economists who appeared at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando on Jan.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 14, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Green-built homes will take an increasingly large percentage of the market in direct proportion to their price – because home buyers’ prime motivation today is cost effectiveness, according to representatives from four suppliers and product manufactures who spoke today at the National Association of Home Builders International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla.“The key is value for every stakeholder in the process,” from the manufacturer to the builder and the home buyer, said Richard Davenport, director of sustainable construction for BASF.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 14, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — New job creation amid a slowly recovering economy is creating increased demand by new renters seeking to move into apartments. However, the lack of credit needed to finance the development of apartments is already causing rents to increase and is likely to lead to a shortage of available apartments in the next few years.“Although we are forecasting construction of 133,000 new multifamily residences in 2011,” said the National Association of Home Builders’ chief economist, David Crowe, “that is far short of the 250,000 to 300,000 units that would be required to keep supply and demand in balance

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 14, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — A joint study by the 50+ Housing Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the MetLife Mature Market Institute shows the recession has made 55+ buyers more practical when selecting a new home. Design considerations have become less important, and financial concerns have become more prominent.Previous studies from these two organizations found that most 55+ buyers depended on home sale proceeds to finance a new purchase. The most recent data shows that option diminished during the economic downturn.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 6, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Housing professionals from across the country and abroad will convene at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 12-15, for the 2011 International Builders’ Show (IBS), the housing industry’s largest annual trade show and exhibition. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) event, held in one of the largest convention centers in the country, will feature the most cutting-edge designs, technologies, and products for all segments of the industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 29, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — A fanciful castle, two major hotel renovations and a medical office that features a nod to local historic architectural styles are among the winners in this year’s National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Awards of Excellence.“Even as we recover from the economic slump in the commercial building sector, the best projects in the industry continue to impress the judges for their innovation, efficient use of materials and overall construction excellence,” said Carl Harris, chair of the NAHB’s National Commercial Builder Council, which sponsors the awards each year

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 23, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Sales of newly built, single-family homes increased 5.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 290,000 units in November, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Commerce Department. The gain represents a partial bounce-back from a near-record low, downwardly revised number of new-home sales in October.