Construction Stories | Housing Affairs Letter

Dam Repairs In 26 States Affect Homes

A $262 million allocation from the Agriculture Department provides the financing for rehabilitation of 150 dams in 26 states that have an effect on 250,000 people and thousands of homes in floodplains downriver from those dams.

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Building Materials Shortage Grows

Significant shortages of crucial buildings materials such as lumber and wall board are surfacing around the country, adding to the crunch homebuilders are facing trying to emerge from a five-year construction slump.

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Construction Material Costs Up In 2012

Continuing increases in the prices of key building materials could put a damper on the new-home market with the cost of cement, drywall and lumber up 35% for the year while inflation is running at about 2%, data from the National Association of Home Builders show

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Home Building Spending Up

While overall U.S. construction dipped 0.7% in August from a month earlier, financing of home construction increased 0.9%, pushing residential spending to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $273.5 billion. That is nearly 18% higher than a year ago and another indication the housing market

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Asbestos Red Tape Slows Demolitions

Ohio cities and the state's congressional delegation want the Environmental Protection Agency to ease asbestos remediation rules they contend are slowing efforts by cities and land banks to raze and rehabilitate abandoned properties for neighborhood stabilization and redevelopment.

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Home Construction Boosting GDP

Steady job growth and improved consumer confidence help to increase home sales and home prices could bottom out this year says the latest State of the Nation’s Housing report compiled by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

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Energy Codes New Housing Cost Woes

New energy codes could dramatically increase the construction costs of each unit in a multifamily apartment building says a new study from the National Multi Housing Council and the National Apartment Association.

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(INDICATORS) Construction Sector Adds 5,000 Jobs in April

The construction industry continued to struggle on the job front in April, adding a cumulative 5,000 positions. ...

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(INDICATORS) Construction Spending Rises In March

Construction spending during March 2011 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate ...

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(VETERANS HOUSING) Home Depot Aids Veterans Housing

The charitable arm of Atlanta-based Home Depot pledges $30 million over three years to address veterans' housing needs. Home Depot volunteers also will help on projects aided by the firm.

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