National News
Home Construction Must Increase to Keep Up with Sales
Home Construction Must Increase to Keep Up with Sales NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz recently provided the following economic and housing industry overview in his bi-weekly e-newsletter Eye on the Economy: The decline, rebound and growth of home construction in 2020 has been dramatic. After a significant decline in the spring, home building has seen…
Read MoreWorking Closely with NAHB, Nearly 100 Lawmakers Urge Trump to Act on Lumber
Working Closely with NAHB, Nearly 100 Lawmakers Urge Trump to Act on Lumber Working in tandem with NAHB, nearly 100 Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Oct. 20 sent a letter to President Trump seeking urgent action on lumber supply shortages that have resulted in unprecedented price spikes in recent months that are threatening the housing…
Read MoreSoftwood Lumber Prices Surge a Record 29% in September
Softwood Lumber Prices Surge a Record 29% in September — Building Materials Up 4.4% in 2020 Prices paid for goods used in residential construction climbed 1.8% in September (not seasonally adjusted) according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The index for inputs to residential construction, goods less…
Read MoreSharp Decline in Real GDP in All States: 2Q20
Sharp Decline in Real GDP in All States: 2Q20 Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the previous quarter, as a result of reflecting “stay-at-home” orders across the country due to COVID-19. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported the…
Read MoreDespite Weekly Declines, Refinancing Year-over-year Gains Remain Strong
Despite Weekly Declines, Refinancing Year-over-year Gains Remain Strong For the week ending September 11, 2020, the Mortgage Banker’s Association’s (MBA) Weekly Application Survey indicated a decrease in its Market Composite Index, a measure of both purchasing and refinancing, of 2.5% from one week earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis. The Purchasing and Refinancing Indexes decreased…
Read MoreFannie, Freddie to Delay Mortgage Refinancing 0.5% Surcharge Until Dec. 1
Fannie, Freddie to Delay Mortgage Refinancing 0.5% Surcharge Until Dec. 1 After strong opposition from NAHB and many other housing, consumer advocacy, and banking groups, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) said today that it has ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to delay until Dec. 1, 2020, the implementation of a new 0.5% surcharge…
Read MoreNAHB Statement on Beryllium Settlement with OSHA
NAHB Statement on Beryllium Settlement with OSHA NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke issued the following statement regarding a settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) involving a rule on beryllium exposure in construction: “NAHB commends our settlement with OSHA addressing our concerns with the overly broad applicability of both the Jan. 7, 2017 final…
Read MoreNAHB Rolls Out First Wave of 2020 Congressional Endorsements
NAHB Rolls Out First Wave of 2020 Congressional Endorsements NAHB is once again endorsing candidates for the U.S. House and Senate in the upcoming Nov. 3 elections. NAHB endorses candidates who have shown a commitment to policies that promote homeownership and rental housing opportunities for all Americans. NAHB makes all of its endorsement decisions in…
Read MoreAn Open Letter on Coronavirus Safety from NAHB Chairman to Residential Construction Workers
An Open Letter on Coronavirus Safety from NAHB Chairman to Residential Construction Workers NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke today sent an open letter to the nation’s residential construction workers imploring them to continue following guidance to prevent the transmission of coronavirus in the face of rising cases nationwide. Read the letter below: Dear Colleagues, As chairman…
Read MoreNAHB Announces New Chairman
NAHB Announces New Chairman From NAHBNow.com At the conclusion of NAHB’s 2020 Spring Leadership Meetings, NAHB Chairman Dean Mon informed the Board of Directors that he would be unable to complete the remainder of his term due to personal reasons and was resigning his chairmanship. Mon will continue to be an active member of the…
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