Builder Focus
Residential Building Declines In May ............................7/7/04p6
Residential Building Jumps In First Half Of 2004 ..........8/4/04p6
Residential Building Improves In July; SF To Dampen ..9/2/04p8
Remodeling Activity Maintains Strength From 2003 ...9/21/04p7
Customer Satisfaction With Builders Improves ............10/6/04p6
August Building Declines; SF Housing Strong...........10/20/04p8
HUD Rules, Building Codes Don’t Jibe .....................10/20/04p8
SF Construction Will Hit Record In ’04, Slow In ’05...11/3/04p7
CO Upholds Builder Lawsuit Limits.............................11/3/04p7
Remodeling Will Build Upon Strong Market Share ...11/17/04p6
U.S., Mexico Link On Homebuilding .........................11/17/04p7
Sept. Residential Building Holds Steady ....................11/17/04p7
Oct. Residential Building Declines .............................12/16/04p4
Corporate Trends
Interest In Second/Vacation Homes Up ........................7/20/04p7
Cendant May Shed Mortgage Arm................................7/20/04p8
Technology Lets Firms Become More Profitable..........10/6/04p8
Courts
Billing ‘Mistake’ Not A RESPA Violation ...................7/20/04p9
NJ Court Rejects Tweaking Of Wetland Rules ...............8/4/04p6
Eminent Domain Reversal Sets Stage For High Court....9/2/04p7
Court Upholds Accessibility Violations Injunction ......9/21/04p8
Supreme Court Will Hear Eminent Domain Case.........10/6/04p7
Appeals Court Rules RESPA Settlement Fees Hazy...10/20/04p8
Actress Prevails In $7M Lawsuit Against Builder ......10/20/04p9
TX Court Overturns Insurance Reform Bill ................11/17/04p8
Eminent Domain Ruling Awaited ...............................11/17/04p8
Group Joins With State In Eminent Domain Case ........12/3/04p4
Finance
Stock Advisers Blow More Bubbles As Rates Rise ........7/7/04p4
Mortgage Rates Drops Somewhat ...................................7/7/04p4
MBA: Rates To Rise Gradually; Housing Downshifts .7/20/04p6
Mortgage Rate Holds At 6% .........................................7/20/04p6
Tax Credits Remain Attractive ......................................7/20/04p6
HUD Issues Final Rule To Combat Predatory Lending ..8/4/04p4
Mortgage Rate Hops Over 6% Again..............................8/4/04p4
Minority Buyers Least Knowledgeable Of ARMs .......8/17/04p4
Mortgage Rate Slips Under 6% Again ..........................8/17/04p4
Banks Have Plenty Of Finance Money To Spare ............9/2/04p4
Mortgage Rate Remains Under 6%.................................9/2/04p4
MBA: Delinquencies Rise; Foreclosures Drop .............9/21/04p6
Mortgage Rate Falls To 5¾%......................................10/21/04p6
Second-Loan Market Created........................................10/6/04p4
Mortgage Rate Rises Again To Near 5¾% ...................10/6/04p4
Fed Gov’t Takes Aim As Mortgage Fraud Grows.......10/20/04p6
Mortgage Rate Jumps 10 Basis Points ........................10/20/04p6
Illegal Aliens Mean $44B To Housing........................10/20/04p6
Expect Continued Strength In Finance Through ’06.....11/3/04p6
Mortgage Rate Drops Five Basis Points........................11/3/04p6
MBA: NC Anti-Predatory Law A Barrier ...................11/17/04p6
Mortgage Rate Rises To Top 5¾% .............................11/17/04p6
Survey: Consumer Satisfaction Key For Lenders..........12/3/04p6
Mortgage Rate Up 9 Basis Points .................................12/3/04p6
Third-Quarter Delinquencies, Foreclosures Drop .......12/16/04p6
Mortgage Rate Falls 10 Basis Points...........................12/16/04p6
Growth/Planning
Study: Inclusionary Zoning Hurts, Not Helps ...............7/20/04p8
Census: Western States Post Highest Growth Rate.........8/4/04p6
FH Law Problem To Affordable Housing .....................10/6/04p8
Brownfield Liability Law Signed ..................................10/6/04p8
Workforce Housing Must Be Addressed Regionally ..10/20/04p6
Home Buyers Favor Shorter Work Commutes..............11/3/04p8
Voters Approve Land-Use Measure To Pay Owners ..11/17/04p8
Measures Approved For Open Space ............................12/3/04p7
Survey: Affordable Housing Important.......................12/16/04p7
Housing Outlook Panel
Panelists Pop Speculation Of A Nat’l Price Bubble........7/7/04p1
Rising Property Taxes Threaten Affordability ................8/4/04p1
Split Panel: Oil Spike, Material Shortage Big Deal ........9/2/04p1
FL Hurricanes Will Hurt Economy, Boost Building .....10/6/04p1
Insurance Industry Probe Has No Impact On Housing..11/3/04p1
Rising Deficit; Higher Rates Threaten Economy ..........12/3/04p1
Housing Starts
June Housing Starts Decline To One-Year Low ...........7/20/04p1
Starts Jump After Big Decline; Rates Remain Key.......8/17/04p1
Aug. Housing Starts Rise Slightly To Top 2M Pace .....9/21/04p1
Housing To Dial Down Through 2005........................10/20/04p1
Oct. Starts Jump To 2M Pace Again ...........................11/17/04p1
Nov. Housing Starts Post Unexpected Plunge ............12/16/04p1
Insurance
Specialty Contractor Coverage Offered ..........................7/7/04p6
Insurance Industry Outlook Improves In 2004 ................8/4/04p8
WV Market Tight After Disasters, Lowballed Rates ....8/17/04p6
Hurricane Charley Payments To Near $7.4B ..................8/2/04p6
New CA Laws Increase Wildfire Protections................8/21/04p7
Hurricane Insurance Probe Sought................................9/21/04p7
House Moves TRIA Renewal Bill, Senate No Hurry....10/6/04p9
Hurricane Insurance Payments To Top $22B................10/6/04p9
Liability Insurance A Top Builder Worry ...................10/20/04p9
Less-Than-Satisfied Policyholders Shop Around..........11/3/04p7
Insurers Return Rates Slowly Improve..........................11/3/04p8
Hurricane Losses Make For Worst 3Q Ever................11/17/04p9
Cost Of Water Damage Claims Rising..........................12/3/04p6
TX Regulators, Farmers Make Deal To Cut Rates ......12/16/04p6
Market Outlook
Bubble-Schmubble Again: Study Refutes Bubble Talk ..7/7/04p3
May Consumer Confidence Jumps..................................7/7/04p3
NAHB: Home Demand Slips In June..............................7/7/04p4
Housing To Set New Records Over Next Decade.........7/20/04p3
Expert Forecasts ‘Normal’ Growth ...............................7/20/04p3
NAR: Higher Rates Won’t Hurt Housing Market .........7/20/04p4
HUD: Housing Performed ‘Superbly’ In 1Q.................7/20/04p4
Homeownership Hits All-Time High At 69.2% ..............8/4/04p3
July Consumer Confidence Jumps Again .......................8/4/04p3
NAHB: July Builder Demand Edges Down ....................8/4/04p3
Long-Term Forecast Upticked.........................................8/4/04p4
Fed Hikes Rates Again; Ready For More......................8/17/04p3
IMF: Economic Growth To Continue Through 2005....8/17/04p3
NAR: Affordability Declines In 2Q; Remains Strong ..8/17/04p3
Housing To Heat Record ’04 Before Cooling In ‘05
......9/2/04p3
NAHB: Builder Confidence Rises ..................................9/2/04p4
Consumer Confidence Falls In August ...........................9/2/04p4
Greenspan: Government Must Cut Spending ...............9/21/04p3
Survey: 4Q Hiring Remains Consistent ........................9/21/04p3
Forecasters Downshift Growth Expectations ................9/21/04p4
Housing Continues Strong Performance In 2004 .........10/6/04p3
Sept. Consumer Confidence Falls Again ......................10/6/04p3
NAHB: Builder Confidence Dips In Sept. ....................10/6/04p4
Asian American Homeownership Lags.........................10/6/04p4
Housing To Downshift; Bubble Talk Overblown .......10/20/04p3
SF Bay Area Home To Expensive Houses ..................10/20/04p3
Housing To Take Breather; This Time They Mean It..10/20/04p3
Home Sales To Hit Another Record In 2004 ..............10/20/04p4
Oil Worries Slow Consumer Confidence....................10/20/04p4
Growth Momentum Will Carry Housing Into ’05 .........11/3/04p3
Homeownership Drops Slightly To 69% ......................11/3/04p3
Economy Keeps Limping To Recovery.........................11/3/04p4
Oct. Consumer Confidence Falls Again........................11/3/04p4
Homebuilder Confidence Rebounds In Oct. .................11/3/04p4
Expert: Economy Recovering Slowly .........................11/17/04p3
Uneven Job Growth To Spur, Inhibit Housing............11/17/04p3
Long-Term MF Outlook Good ....................................11/17/04p4
More Oil Worries Depress Consumers........................11/17/04p4
Fed Hikes Rate 25 Basis Points To 2% .......................11/17/04p4
Experts Downshift Growth Forecast Again...................12/3/04p3
Nov. Consumer Confidence Down Again.....................12/3/04p3
NAHB: Homebuilder Confidence Holds In Nov. .........12/3/04p4
Survey: First-Quarter Job Prospects Strong ................12/16/04p3
Slow Growth Could Weaken Housing ........................12/16/04p3
Consumers Regain Some Confidence, Spend More....12/16/04p4
Fed Hikes Rate 25 Basis Points To 2.25% ..................12/16/04p4
Market Strategies
‘Do-Not-Spam’ Registry Canned By FTC Ruling.........7/20/04p8
Lifestyles, Demographics Determine Home Purchase ..12/3/04p8
Military Housing
Kerry Pledges To Boost Construction, Standards .........7/20/04p9
House Boosts Military Housing Budget..........................8/4/04p8
Privatization Just Beginning To Reach Potential ..........8/17/04p7
Bill Moves, Family Housing Cap Remains Issue ..........9/21/04p8
Mold
New HUD Rule Requires Mold Warning, Waiver........7/20/04p7
Court Denies Mold Class-Action Attempt, This Time....8/4/04p7
Risk Management Key To Avoiding Mold Claims .......8/17/04p6
Proposed $24M Settlement Would Fix 2,100 Homes .....9/2/04p6
Congressman Seeks Attention For Inert Mold Bill .......10/6/04p7
Court Approves $24M Class-Action Settlement ...........11/3/04p8
Mold Kills Deals; Lenders Mandate Prevention ...........12/3/04p7
National Trends
MGIC 2Q MTI Stable; Northeast, South Improve ........8/17/04p8
MGIC: Index Unchanged In 2Q; West Declines ...........9/2/04p10
Third-Quarter MTI Rises; Northeast, South Flat.........12/3/04p10
Nat’l Index Improves; Midwest Down, West Jumps...12/16/04p8
On The Beat
Fed: Home Construction, Real Estate Strong .................7/7/04p7
GAO: Buyers Benefit From Home Inspections...........7/20/04p10
Construction, Real-Estate Remain Strong.......................8/4/04p9
Workforce Income Lags Behind Housing .....................8/17/04p7
Construction, Sales Strong But Slight Cooling Seen ....9/21/04p9
MF Developments Don’t Lead To Overcrowding.......10/6/04p10
Feds Support No Lawyers In Real Estate ..................10/20/04p10
Construction, Sales Remain Strong But Softening .......11/3/04p9
Voters Approve CO Builder Lawsuit Limits.............11/17/04p10
Fed: Home Sales At High Levels But Cooling Seen ....12/3/04p9
Subdivision Arson Or Ecoterrorism? ..........................12/16/03p7
Supplier Focus
Cement Shortage Adds To Construction Costs ...............7/7/04p6
Western Lumber Production Hits 11-Year High In ’03 ..7/4/04p7
Materials Shortage, High Prices Threaten Housing ......8/17/04p6
Sorry Charley, Cement Supply Not Interrupted ..............9/2/04p7
Opponents Of Lumber Duties Bat 3 For 3 ....................9/21/04p6
USDA Restricts Mexican Wood Articles......................9/21/04p7
World Cement Demand To Hit 2.5T In 2008................10/6/04p6
Cement Market Will Remain Tight In 2005................10/20/04p7
U.S. Appeals Canada Ruling, Keeps Case Alive ........10/20/04p7
Lumber Price Volatility To Moderate In 2005 ..............11/3/04p6
Building Material Prices Will Moderate Next Year ....11/17/04p7
Washington Watch
Congress, Treasury Extend Flood, Terror Coverage .......7/7/04p7
GOP Leaders Against Lame-Duck Session .................7/20/04p10
Kerry Advances Housing Agenda, Pledges Ownership ..8/4/04p9
Candidate Kerry Targets Predatory Lending ...................9/2/04p8
Mayors, Homebuilders Push Housing As Priority ..........9/2/04p9
HUD Mortgage Loans For Sale.......................................9/3/04p9
House Uphold Ban On Banks In Real Estate ................9/21/04p9
Officials Launch Call For Nat’l Housing Policy .........10/6/04p10
Stopgap Spending OKed To Mid-November ..............10/6/04p10
SEC Sets Sights On FNMA.........................................10/20/04p9
Bush Signs Indian Homeownership Bill .......................11/3/04p9
GOP Committee Seat Gains Anticipated ....................11/17/04p9
Congress Approves Omnibus Bill.................................12/3/04p8
Jackson: Housing Still A Priority................................12/16/04p7
