News You Can Use

The good news....

Home Builder Confidence Posts Largest Gain in Five Years
Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose five points in April to the highest level since October 2008, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. This gain was the largest one-month increase recorded since May of 2003, and brings the HMI out of single-digit territory for the first time in six months - to 14. Every component of the HMI reflected the boost, with the biggest gain recorded for sales expectations in the next six months. Read more...

First-Time Home Buyer Survey Reveals Increasing Demand Despite Concerns About the Economy
Century 21 Real Estate LLC, the franchisor of the world's largest residential real estate sales organization today announced the results of its recently commissioned first-time home buyer survey. The survey found that m ore than three-quarters (78 percent) of potential first-time home buyers say that now is a good time to buy a home, despite widespread concern about the economy. Out of the 1,000 prospective U.S. first-time home buyers surveyed in early March for the CENTURY 21 First-Time Home Buyer Survey, 68 percent think now is a better time to buy than six months ago. Read more.....



The bad news....

Significant Downturn Seen for Home Remodeling in 2009, According to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies
Reductions in the amount spent on high-end home improvement projects continue to hinder remodeling activity according to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies. For 2009, the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) points to homeowner improvement spending declining around 12%. Read more...

The odd request for news...

Roto-Rooter Seeks Submissions for Upcoming Book
Plumbing and drain cleaning service provider Roto-Rooter is looking for the strangest, wackiest, scariest and just downright oddest plumbing stories for their new bathroom reader. The book, designed to be a quirky, vignette style quick read will include commentary from Ghost Hunters stars Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson - real life Roto-Rooter plumbers - along with some practical plumbing advice and utterly useless trivial knowledge that will impress your friends. Read more, if you dare....