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The list of housing markets continued to show improvement, according to a measurement by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), which expanded its “Improving Markets Index” to nearly 100 metro regions in February 2012. A total of 29 markets were added, bringing the total to 98 entries on the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI). Thirty-six states are now represented by at least one market on the list. 

True Value Co. and Husqvarna completed their first southeast regional Rental Demo Day event, held earlier this month at BullHorn Ranch in Liberty, N.C. 

More than 100 suppliers, rental operators and their associates participated in the event, kicking off the buying season and demonstrating a renewed interest in the industry despite the challenging economy, according to the companies.

Under the umbrella of True Value, a handful of the co-op’s brands represent niche businesses beyond the nuts-and-bolts of DIY hardware retailing. In the rental business, they are Grand Rental Station, Taylor Rental and Just Ask Rental. Commercial businesses are more familiar with Induserve Supply. Party Central and Home & Garden Showplace round out the specialty brands. 


An article in yesterday's Home Channel News Monday described an idea from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to turn government-owned foreclosures into rentals. The idea received a chilly reception from readers.

“In a word, Geithner’s idea is ‘stupid’.

As housing starts fell 10.6% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 523,000 units, the National Association of Home Builders said the numbers point to a lack of confidence in the housing market.

“While mortgage rates are low and house prices are as affordable as they’ve been in a generation, the decline in April’s housing starts is indicative of the low level of confidence that consumers have in the housing market,” said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev.

If housing starts are going to gain 20% in 2011 as recently predicted, they're going to have to pick up the pace.

Data released Wednesday morning show housing starts in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 529,000 -- that's down 4.3% from November and down 8.2% from the December 2009 rate. 

For the full year, the total number of starts finished at 598,200, slightly ahead of 2009's record low of 583,000.

Sales of existing, single-family homes in California rose 9.2% in November, compared with the previous month, although overall sales were down from November 2009.