April is new homes month. And one of the virtues of a newly constructed home is the savings that come from reduced energy and maintenance expenses.

NAHB this week called on Congress to take measures to prevent taxation on “phantom income” in order to help small businesses to avoid major tax liabilities on income never received.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers commended Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) for introducing the Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act of 2012 (S. 2148) to improve the lead paint rule for home owners and remodelers who must comply with the costly work practices and record keeping requirements of the rule. The bill was introduced with five original co-sponsors: Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), David Vitter (R-La.), Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).

Nationwide housing affordability, as measured by the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), rose to a record level during the fourth quarter of 2011, while prospective home buyers continued to feel the constraints of tighter credit standards and a soft economy.

N. Claiborne Porter, CGP, CGR, has been named the 2011 Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in recognition of his successful efforts to raise awareness of this educational designation for remodelers.