| December 8, 2008 |
By Sandy Dunn
NAHB Chairman and
Jerry Howard
NAHB President and CEO |
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NAHB is leading a powerful coalition called "Fix Housing First"
that is drawing lawmaker and public attention to the need for a bold and decisive new housing stimulus as a means of stabilizing the nation's economy.
 Comprised of NAHB, its high production builders, other members and housing groups and businesses nationwide, the coalition is generating a major industry push to have substantial home buyer incentives included in a new economic stimulus package that will be the first order of business for the incoming Obama Administration and 111th Congress. With an Internet presence at www.FixHousingFirst.com, the group is specifically advocating for significant enhancements to the first-time home buyer tax credit, including an expansion of the amount and timeframe of the credit, elimination of its recapture provisions, allowing for its use at the closing table and expansion of eligibility to all home buyers – not just first-timers. The Coalition is also telling Congress to couple the enhanced tax credit with a below-market 30-year fixed rate mortgage for home purchasers. This would amount to a 2.99% rate available for contracts closed between now and June 30, 2009 and a 3.99% rate for contracts closed between June 30, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2009. Additionally, the Coalition is advocating for the continuation of foreclosure prevention measures to keep people in their homes, help stabilize home prices and bolster the economy. Look for Fix Housing First ads to run prominently in several Capitol Hill publications this week. Contact: Greg Brown, x8421.
In related efforts, NAHB has reached out to President-Elect Obama and his transition team, providing them with a comprehensive document titled "Housing at a Critical Turning Point" that presents a detailed analysis of the housing market and NAHB priorities going forward. In addition, the document outlines how our industry and the Administration can work together to achieve our mutual goals. An upcoming edition of NBN Online will have more on this document, including information on how members can access it when it becomes available on nahb.org.
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Explicit federal backing of the GSEs will reduce mortgage rates,
 NAHB told federal officials last week. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and FHFA Director James Lockhart, NAHB President & CEO Jerry Howard urged the Treasury to resolve investor uncertainty about the GSEs by explicitly guaranteeing their debt in the same way the FDIC has provided guarantees for bank debt. He also said that Treasury should increase its purchases of mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac as it was authorized to do under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Such moves are key to lowering interest rates on home mortgages, Jerry said. In a very good turn of events following Jerry's letter, Treasury and the Federal Reserve announced that the Fed would purchase $100 billion of Fannie/Freddie debt and $500 billion of their mortgage-backed securities – a move that had an immediate positive effect of lowering mortgage rates to below 6%. Read our press release, or contact: Chellie Hamecs, x8425.
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The "navigable waters" debate raged on this week
 at the federal level. On Dec. 2, the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers issued a long-awaited supplement to their guidance interpreting the Supreme Court's 2006 Rapanos decision. The results of the guidance appear to be a mixed bag. On the one hand, the agencies have declared they will generally not assert Clean Water Act jurisdiction over upland roadside drainage ditches or certain desert washes that have infrequent water flow. On the other hand, the agencies appear to adhere to a broad definition of waters that should be considered navigable in the "traditional" sense. Indeed, the EPA has already implemented this expanded definition, by declaring certain reaches of the Santa Cruz River in Arizona a traditional navigable water. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition to review a Clean Water Act case this week in United States v. McWane, sending a strong signal that the nation's highest court wants to leave questions on Clean Water Act jurisdiction to the regulatory agencies. As a result, the Obama Administration will be left with the responsibility of implementing the new guidance document. We can also expect more litigation in the lower federal courts, and calls for the new Congress to get involved are highly likely. For more info, please contact Susan Asmus (x8538) or Duane Desiderio (x8146).
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NAHB's Quick Issues Index
 documenting the latest advances on our top Advocacy issues was updated for the Winter Executive Board meeting that just took place this week, and it's now available to you online. This document is meant to give you a quick summation of issues on which there has been recent movement, as well as directions on where to go for more information. It is viewable by members only (note: you must be logged onto the NAHB Web site with your username and password) at www.nahb.org/issuesindex. Contact: Samantha Silver (x8450).
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25% of baby boomers plan to move at some point,
says a new survey. The poll, which was conducted by Opinion Research Corp. for AARP, was released to coincide with the announcement of the 2008 Livable Communities Awards from AARP and NAHB. It found that one in four baby boom generation households expects to move from their current home, with the majority seeking a single-level home that is more comfortable or convenient. Meanwhile, as past surveys have frequently found, most baby boomers (79%) say they would prefer to stay in their current home for as long as possible, while about 10% say they'd like to stay in their home but don't think they'll be able to do so. Of those who do expect to move, many said they would be looking for a better house, a better climate, or a home that is closer to family and friends. More than half of those planning to move expect to look for a home that's all on one level (59%), while half said they would look for a new home (50%) or a smaller home (49%). Read more about it and the 2008 AARP and NAHB Livable Communities Award winners in our press release. Contact: Blake Smith, x8583.
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NAHBGreen verification is now available for modular homes,
.jpg) bringing the green building certification process to the industry that produces a fifth of the nation's housing stock. Unveiled on Nov. 25 by NAHB, the NAHB Building Systems Councils (BSC) and the NAHB Research Center, the Modular Green Approved program is a new service offered by the NAHB Research Center, which also administers the National Green Building Certification program for traditionally built homes that was launched in February 2008. This great new development is due in large part to the modular home manufacturers who piloted the certification process in preparation for the BSC's SHOWCASE event in Memphis last month. The program is all that much more important at a time when consumers have become somewhat wary of vague, unverifiable green claims, noted BSC Modular Council President Bret Berneche. For details, read our press release or contact Calli Schmidt, x8132.
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Two new safety products from NAHB
 are aimed at reducing the incidence of job-related accidents. NAHB just rolled out its new Trenching and Excavation Safety Video and also the NAHB-OSHA Trenching and Excavation Safety Handbook, both of which are offered in English and Spanish and available via BuilderBooks. The 30-minute video can be used by builders to train workers on how to safely perform the most common trenching and excavation operations in residential construction. It highlights general requirements for complying with OSHA's Excavation Standard and identifies key prevention measures that address the most common hazards on the job. The handbook explains In simple language and pictures how to comply with OSHA excavation standards on residential job sites; it also identifies safe work practices that can prevent serious accidents and injuries. NAHB members qualify for the discounted price of $29.95 for the DVD (regular cost is $49.95) and for the discounted price of $12.50 for the handbook (regular cost is $14.50). To purchase either resource, visit www.BuilderBooks.com or call 800-223-2665.
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Time is running out to register for discounted hotels at IBS!
 The housing deadline for the 2009 International Builders' Show is Friday, Dec. 12. This means you must register now to take advantage of drastically reduced rates for rooms in Las Vegas. NAHB's staff also continues to negotiate for even lower hotel rates, and any savings will automatically be passed along to you, regardless of when you booked your room. Register now and secure your housing for the premier industry event of the year. Also, be sure to visit the www.BuildersShow.com site for more information on what's in store for you in Vegas!
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NAHB mourns the death of 1998 President Don Martin,
 who suffered a stroke and passed away very suddenly this week. Don was a second-generation home builder whose company, Martin Development Corp., operated in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM. Active in home builder associations for more than 20 years prior to becoming NAHB president, he was one of only a few people to have ever served as president of HBAs in two states. In 1979, he was president of the Central New Mexico HBA and was named Albuquerque Builder of the Year. In 1981, he became president of the New Mexico (state) HBA and later, in 1986, he was president of the Metro Denver HBA. Don was still actively involved in the NAHB federation when he passed, and the New Mexico HBA's Don Martin Leadership Award was named for him. He will be sorely missed by the NAHB community, and our hearts go out to his wife, Willa, and the rest of Don's family and close friends during this very sad time. A memorial service will be held on Friday, Dec. 12 in Don's hometown of Albuquerque. Contact: Cindy Brown (x8346).
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