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Single-family housing starts increased 3.9 percent in October to 430,000 units compared with September’s figure of 414,000, the U.S. Census Bureau and Dept. of Housing and Urban Development announced last week.
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Congress failed to extend GSE and FHA conforming loan limits, allowing them to drop dramatically on Oct.1.  Unless Congress takes action, this move will negatively impact both the recovery of the housing market and the overall economy.  Recently, the Senate included an amendment to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill that reinstates the previous loan limits through December 2013.  The Senate passed that bill, but the House passed its own version of the same bill without the amendment.  A conference committee now must reconcile the two bills. C.A.R. and NAR will continue to work with the members of the conference committee and fight to include the loan limits provision in the final legislation that will be sent to the President.  We will continue to keep members updated on this important issue. In the meantime, members can do their part by responding to the NAR Call-for-Action to urge House members to support the reinstatement of the loan limits. Please urge your Member of Congress to support reinstatement of the FHA and GSE loan limits by responding to NAR’s Call-for-Action: http://www.realtoractioncenter.com/realtor-party/click-to-call-senate-ll.html

HUD has awarded more than $28 million to 84 fair housing organizations and other non-profit agencies in 33 states and the District of Columbia to assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination.  Six of the recipients are located in California.
The grants are funded through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and will be used to investigate allegations of housing discrimination, and work to promote equal housing opportunities.
HUD is awarding FHIP grants to the following California agencies:
Inland Mediation Board, Rancho Cucamonga
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., San Francisco
Fair Housing Council of Central California, Fresno
Southern California Housing Rights Center, Los Angeles
Greater Napa Fair Housing Center, Napa
Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, Oakland
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Building permits for single-family homes declined 1.8 percent in April to a rate of 385,000 compared with March’s figure of 392,000, the U.S. Census Bureau reported this week.

Single-family housing starts declined 5.1 percent in April to a rate of 394,000 compared with the revised March figure of 415,000.

Single-family housing completions rose 14.4 percent in April to a rate of 420,000.

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