Real Estate Wire/Green Trends News Wire

WASHINGTON - Nearly three out of four American households believe that the nation is suffering a housing affordability crisis, and a majority of respondents reported this is a problem at their local and state level as well, according to a new nationwide survey conducted on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). "These poll results confirm what builders from across the nation have been warning about -- that housing affordability is an increasingly serious problem in communities across America," said NAHB Chairman Randy Noel, a custom home builder from LaPlace, La. "A mix of regulatory barriers, ill-considered public policy and challenging market conditions is driving up costs and making it increasingly difficult for builders to produce homes that are affordable to low- and moderate-income families." More than 2,200 adults were surveyed Nov. 27 through Nov. 30 to assess the public's attitude on whether a lack of affordable housing is a pro...

WASHINGTON. D.C.  -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) officially opened online registration today for the 2019 NAHB International Builders' Show® (IBS), the largest annual light construction trade show in the world. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the show will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center, Feb. 19-21, after a two-year stint in Orlando, Fla. The 2019 IBS will again co-locate with the National Kitchen & Bath Association's (NKBA) Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS) for the 6th annual Design & Construction Week® (DCW). The two shows are expected to host more than 2,000 exhibiting brands spanning over a million net square feet of exhibit space, for the largest annual gathering of the residential design and construction industry. "As we kick off our 75th anniversary of the International Builders' Show, we are thrilled to bring even more exciting offerings to our attendees than ever before," said NAHB Chairman Randy N...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) last night honored eight individuals who have excelled in teaching NAHB education courses and who have displayed professionalism as NAHB educational designation holders as the 2017 Designees and Educators of the Year. The awards were given during the 2018 International Builders' Show® (IBS) this week in Orlando, Fla. "Ongoing education often means the difference between being good at what you do and being great at it," said NAHB Education Committee Chair Beverly Koehn, CAPS, GMB, CSP, MIRM. "These seasoned and accomplished professionals show their dedication to improving their own craft, and also encourage others to take the same opportunity." Honorees include: Builder Designee of the Year. Chuck Miller, GMB, CGB, CGR, CGP, CAPS, MIRM, CMP, Master CSP, CSP, owner of Chuck Miller Consulting LLC, in Boise, Idaho, is a nationally recognized design-build custom home builder and remodeler co...

ORLANDO, Fla. - The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has named 12 winners of the 12th annual NAHB/Builders Mutual Insurance Company Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE) for their commitment to strong safety programs. The awards program recognizes member companies, workers and other individuals for outstanding safety programs that make them leaders in the residential construction industry. "Safety permeates all aspects of home construction, and is an ever-present factor whenever a builder, remodeler, subcontractor, or multi-unit home builder steps onto the jobsite," said David Miller, chairman of the NAHB Construction Safety and Health Committee and a multifamily developer from Lubbock, Texas. "Safety is a culture that home builders must actively cultivate. It's about thorough onboarding training and stopping and taking the time on a routine basis to have these important conversations and keep safety top-of-mind. "These excellent builders and ...

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. - Members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) are celebrating Professional Women in Building (PWB) Week highlighting the many contributions women make to the residential construction industry. St. Augustine’s Cora Johnston tops the “A” list of area industry leaders. Starting in traditional residential sales, then as a builder’s sales representative, followed by management positions and now as owner of her custom construction firm, Generation Homes. “I always say, ‘Be conscious of the conscious and subconscious goals you set for yourself,’" Johnston said in a recent interview. “I was 12 years old. I’ve loved homes my whole life. And since I got into the homebuilding industry, there has never been a day when I didn’t want to go to work.” Now building distinct coastal style homes in Sea View on 28 lots on AIA in St. Augustine Beach, Generation Homes also builds custom homes in premier communities along the First Coast from Ponte Vedr...

(REAL ESTATE WIRE) - Gene Sperling, a top economic advisor to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, today said that housing will play an important role in a Clinton administration. "For Hillary Clinton, growing middle class jobs and middle income security is the single lens in which she will judge economic policy," Sperling said in an address to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Board of Directors at their Midyear Meeting in Miami. "What better helps the middle class than housing? Housing creates jobs in the United States. There is probably no other sector that creates jobs throughout income levels - from construction jobs to professional and servicing jobs." Noting that the credit pendulum has swung too tight in the aftermath of the Great Recession, Sperling cited a study from the Urban Institute that compared credit availability during the pre-crisis levels to the standards of today. The study found that 5 million fewer home loan...

Nationwide housing starts rose 4.8 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.19 million units, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department. Overall permit issuance increased 1.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.15 million. "This month's uptick in production is an indicator that the housing market continues to move forward," said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady, a home builder and developer from Bloomington, Ill. "At the same time, builders are adding inventory at a cautious pace as they face lot shortages and regulatory hurdles." "The June report is consistent with our forecast for a gradual but consistent recovery of the housing market," said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. "Single-family production should continue to strengthen throughout the year, buoyed by job growth, new household formations and low mortgage interest rates."  Sin...

WASHINGTON, July 21 - The National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 53 in the second quarter of 2016. Although it slipped one point from the previous quarter, it is still the 13th consecutive quarter with a reading above 50. An RMI above 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is higher (compared to the prior quarter) than report it is lower. The overall RMI averages ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future remodeling activity. "Overall, remodelers are reporting steady work in the second quarter," said 2016 NAHB Remodelers Chair Tim Shigley, CAPS, CGP, GMB, GMR, a remodeler from Wichita, Kan. "With an increase in calls for bids, we should see the market pick up slightly moving forward." The RMI's current market conditions index came in at 54, decreasing by a single point from the previous quarter. Among its components, major additions and alterations dipped...

WASHINGTON ED BRADY -- As the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) celebrates National Homeownership Month in June, builders continue to demand affordable housing for all Americans, calling for sensible reforms to burdensome regulations that increase the cost of housing. "The aggressive over-regulation of the housing industry is putting the American Dream of safe and affordable housing at risk," said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady, a home builder and developer from Bloomington, Ill.   In May, NAHB released a study, Government Regulation in the Price of a New Home, which showed that on average, government regulations account for 24.3% of the final price of a new single-family home. In fact, the regulatory costs for an average single-family home went from $65,224 in 2011 to $84,671 in 2016 - a 29.8% increase in five years. "Regulators at all levels of government - local, state and federal - must understand that their actions have real consequences," said NA...

WASHINGTON, March 24--The Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC) has concerns with the final rule on respirable crystalline silica released today by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  It appears, upon initial review, that the 1,772-page final rule contains some of the same problematic provisions that the CISC previously identified and shared with the agency. CISC has been a highly engaged participant in the rulemaking process since OSHA put forth the proposed rule two and a half years ago. "NAHB has long advocated the importance of the rule being both technologically and economically feasible," said Ed Brady, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and home builder and developer from Bloomington, Ill. "While we're still reviewing the final rule, we're concerned that it may not adequately address these issues and take into consideration real-world application." "The construction industry submitted...

WASHINGTON, DC -Nationwide housing starts rose 5.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.178 million units in February, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department.  Single-family production increased 7.2 percent to 822,000 units--its highest level since November 2007--while multifamily starts remained virtually unchanged, inching up 0.8 percent to 356,000 units.   "This month's report is consistent with positive builder sentiment and other economic indicators showing that the housing market continues to recover at a gradual pace," said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady, a home builder and developer from Bloomington, Ill.  "February's single-family gains indicate that this sector is strengthening in line with our forecast," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "As the U.S. economy firms, job creation continues and mortgage interest rates remain low, we should see further...

BRADY WASHINGTON, March 15 - Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes was unchanged in March at a level of 58 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). "Confidence levels are hovering above the 50-point mid-range, indicating that the single-family market continues to make slow but steady progress," said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady, a home builder and developer from Bloomington, Ill.  "However, builders continue to report problems regarding a shortage of lots and labor." "While builder sentiment has been relatively flat for the last few months, the March HMI reading correlates with NAHB's forecast of a steady firming of the single-family sector in 2016," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "Solid job growth, low mortgage rates and improving mortgage availability will help keep the housing market on a gradual upward trajectory in the coming months." Derived from a m...

ED BRADY By MIKE BONTS EDITOR The industry been looking for some acknowledgement from the field of presidential candidates that they understand the role housing plays in the success of the economy and welfare of Americans. According to the Housing Wire part of Hillary Clinton’s $125 billion Economic Revitalization Initiative  program is a $25 billion housing investment program that aims to “lift more families into sustainable homeownership.”  This will be accomplished by offering down payment assistance, increasing housing counseling programs, expanding beyond traditional credit scores, building more affordable rental housing, clarifying lending rules and other changes. Ed Brady, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, favors the housing impact of the former Secretary of State's recently economic revitalization agenda. "We applaud Secretary Clinton for recognizing the significant role that housing plays in our local communities and economy and ...

Ed Brady WASHINGTON  -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 14.5 percent to 501,000 units in 2015, the highest level since 2007, according to newly released data from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau.  Meanwhile, sales in December increased 10.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 544,000 from an upwardly revised November reading.   "The December sales report is a great end to a very strong year," said Ed Brady, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and home builder and developer from Bloomington, Ill. "As we move forward in 2016, we should see the housing market continue to make lasting gains." Sales increased in all four regions in December. The Midwest, West, Northeast and South all posted respective gains of 31.6 percent, 21 percent, 20.8 percent and 0.4 percent.  "Relatively low interest rates and an improving economy are motivating buyers to make a new-home purchase," said NAHB Chief Economist ...

The expo halls and education sessions were packed at the Las Vegas Convention Center Jan. 20-22 for the NAHB International Builders’ Show® – another indication that the home building industry is one more leg up on its climb out of the doldrums. More than 60,000 attendees walked through the doors, part of the more than 100,000 who attended this third annual Design & Construction Week, which included exhibits and education from the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, The International Surface Event and International Window Coverings Expo. New products focused on home technology and increased energy efficiency: two factors boosting the return of buyers to the new home market. All together, IBS boasted nearly 1,400 exhibitors and more than 500,000 square feet of real estate, including a record-breaking 30,000 square foot outdoor exhibit space. Show organizers also noted an increase in international exhibitors, led by China, whose participating businesses made up more than 35,000 ...

LAS VEGAS - A record 117 single-family, multifamily, remodeling and community projects were honored at the 2015 Best in American Living Awards (BALA) Gala held during the 2016 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas. These award-winning projects represent the nation's best in home and community design, interior design and remodeling. "BALA continues to be a snapshot and a directional for the way forward in home building and design," said Heather McCune, co-chair of the Best in American Living Awards Subcommittee and director of marketing at Bassenian | Lagoni. "Something in each year's winners will help you do your next project better - no matter who you are. That's the power of a program like BALA." This year's BALA winners also showcase design trends that home buyers can expect to see in homes and communities over the next several years. Some of the most prominent trends include: Intimate Outdoor Spaces: Many single-family custom and p...

By MIKE BONTS LAS VEGAS - Sweden’s Bluewater launched a new range of second generation residential water purifiers at 2016 Kitchen and Bathrooms Show in Las Vegas that address consumer concerns about tap water quality and safety. “Bluewater’s latest point-of-use Spirit and Pro water purifiers harness unique, patented new-generation SuperiorOsmosis™ reverse osmosis technology, which is designed to remove practically all waterborne contaminants, including microorganisms and toxic metals such as the lead plaguing the residents of Flint, Michigan,” said Mr. Niclas Wullt, Bluewater managing director. Designed to fit under a kitchen sink, the compact, contemporary Bluewater Spirit and Pro water purifiers address consumer concerns about contaminants in drinking water, including lead, chlorine, pesticides and herbicides, prescription drugs and detergents. Clare Controls Introduces Smart Home Display for Design Centers To help builders take control of the home technology sales proces...