Builder - December 2008 - (Page 53) NAHB BRIEFS New Face D avid Crowe, who has been the NAHB’s senior staff vice president for regulatory and housing policy since 2002, has been named the association’s chief BEAT NEWS FROM HOUSING’S GROUND ZERO ■ NATIONAL EDI T ED BY CL A IR E KOLT KO economist, effective last month. He replaces David Seiders, who recently announced his retirement after serving at the NAHB for more than 20 years. Crowe, who has held several senior-level positions in economics, housing policy, and housing finance at the NAHB, holds a doctorate in economics from the University of Kentucky. FROM THE CHAIRMAN Big Wins T dave clark he historic elections on Nov. 4 brought home signifi cant election wins for the building industry. To build support for housing on Capitol Hill, the nation’s home builders launched a targeted voter mobilization campaign in fi ve Senate races and 28 competitive House districts. The eff ort resulted in wins for 26 of the 33 candidates the NAHB supported. In local grassroots eff orts, NAHB members ▶ The Right Reasons It’s time to remind potential buyers of the many benefits of homeownership. ith the unprecedented pounding are concerned, I think we need to remind people the housing market has taken this year, that interest rates change and that even a 1 percent it’s easy to lose sight of the important increase can add significantly to a monthly payment. fundamentals about housAnother reason it’s a good time to buy is ing and homeownership that that inventory of new and existing homes we should be sharing with the public and is excellent, and buyers will find they have potential home buyers. many choices. Also, owners of existing Most important: It’s a darn good time homes who are looking to trade up or reloto buy a home. In fact, this is probably the cate are ready to bargain. best buyer’s market the nation will ever If there’s a silver lining to the housing see, and it provides an extraordinary windownturn, it’s that homes are more afforddow of opportunity for home buyers. able. Prices have moderated significantly One reason it’s a good time to buy is SANDY DUNN in many areas, especially in the super-hot that mortgage interest rates are still at chairman of the board, major markets where they increased the nahb near-record lows. Where interest rates washington, d.c. most during the boom that (see page 54) W W W W.BUILDERONLINE.COM de c e m ber 2 0 08 BUILDER ■ 53 http://WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM
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