Sales of newly built, single-family homes increased 1.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 719,000 units in November. In a sign that new home sales are on an upward path, this is the fourth consecutive month that sales topped 700,000.
Read more at LBM
Some cities are challenging the new rules.
According to Mercury News, loosening the regulations on ADUs in California—which goes into effect January 1—is expected to help ease the state’s housing crunch, but the city of Pasadena is considering a lawsuit against the state for exceeding its authority. The city is opposed to the elimination of single-family zoning laws.
Read more at Building
December 26, 2019
To the Members of World Millwork Alliance,
Christopher Hayes Wakefield, of Gallatin, TN, passed away on December 21, 2019. 
He was a loving and devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend.
Christopher Hayes Wakefield was born on October 16, 1971, in Nashville, TN, to the late Paula Newsom Wakefield and David Preston Wakefield, Sr. He is survived by his wife, Angie Leath Wakefield; sons Alex, Spencer, and Zachary; sister Claire Wakefield Custred and husband Glynn; brothers Wade Wakefield and David Wakefield; father-in-law Homer Leath and wife Betty; brother-in-law Jay Leath and wife Amanda; nieces Abby and Carly Custred, Maclaine, Lauren, and Camryn Wakefield, and Stuart Ann Leath and Riley Fuqua. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his grandparents, Elmer and Pauline Newsom and James and Jane Wakefield, and mother-in-law, Charlene Sadler Leath.
Hayes was an identical twin to his brother Wade. Growing up, he and Wade would often create mischief by pretending they were the opposite twin. This fun-loving spirit continued throughout Hayes’s life and endeared him to his peers and adults alike.
Hayes was a 1990 graduate of Gallatin High School. He went on to earn a degree in business in 1995 from the University of Tennessee. While attending UT, he was an active member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity where he made many lifelong friends. In 1997, Hayes married the love of his life, Angie. They were married for 22 years and were blessed with three amazing sons.
Hayes began working as a manufacturer’s representative in the millwork industry in 1998 and remained in that profession for the rest of his life. He truly loved his job as evidenced by the way he loved working with his customers […]
The Nasdaq crossed the 9,000-point mark for the first time on Thursday as all three major Wall Street indexes posted record closing highs, boosted by optimism over U.S. – China trade relations and gains in shares of Amazon.com after a report signaled robust online holiday sales.
Read more at Reuters
As Christmas drew near, Deborah Haifley was talking to Casandra Bercaw from Therma-Tru in Howe, Ind. Bercaw mentioned employees usually do something to help community members. Haifley asked Bercaw, “Do you want to adopt the free store?” That started the ball rolling. Therma-Tru employees brought in at least 100 gifts, Haifley said.
Read more at Sturgis Journal
A company that makes metal weather stripping and other building construction components is expanding its facility in central Louisiana and closing its plant in Alabama.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and AFCO Industries President and CEO Don Fowler said Monday that the company will make a $3.62 million investment to expand its facility in Alexandria. AFCO will close its plant in Pell City, Alabama and transfer jobs and operations to the Louisiana location. With this project, the company is adding 93,000-square-feet of production and warehouse space to its Alexandria operation.
Read more at KATC
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have a signing ceremony to sign the first phase of the U.S.-China trade deal agreed to this month.
Read more at Reuters
Fannie Mae on Wednesday upped its GDP forecasts for the fourth quarter of 2019 and full-year 2020 based on strength in labor markets and consumer spending, both of which are expected to lead to further improvement in business fixed investment.
The Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group also said housing-related elements of the ESR Group’s forecast also strengthened considerably, including expected increases in residential fixed investment driven by a significant uptick in the ESR Group’s forecast for new single-family housing starts and sales.
Read more at Builder
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on Sunday that the phase one U.S.-China trade deal reached on Friday is “totally done,” and it will nearly double U.S. exports to China over the next two years.
Read more at CNBC
The U.S. and China will probably announce some form of trade deal ahead of Sunday — when additional tariffs on Chinese goods are due to kick in — and that’s going to boost financial markets, say analysts.
Read more at CNBC
World Millwork Alliance (WMA) 54 TH Annual Convention & Tradeshow will hold its’ premier event at the Memphis Cook Convention Center from September 11-15, 2018. WMA will offer Veterans and Students complimentary access to the exhibit hall during Millwork Career Day on Friday, September 14, 2018 during the show hours of 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
WMA welcomes Veterans and Students to explore a career in the millwork industry. Learn from worldwide millwork professionals while viewing the finest millwork products. Meet with industry distributors and manufacturers about the opportunities in a millwork career.
Pre-registration for a name badge is available by completing a WMA Registration Form. Any local Student or Veteran who has pre-registered will pick up their complimentary “Expo – One Day Pass” with a valid student ID or Veteran ID at the WMA registration desk in the Memphis Cook Convention Center.
Veterans must show a Veteran’s Administration (VA) identification card to receive an “Expo-One Day Pass” and to gain entrance into the exhibit hall on Friday, September 14, 2018.
Students must show a valid Student photo I.D. card to receive an “Expo-One Day Pass” and to gain entrance into the exhibit hall on Friday, September 14, 2018.
Pre-registration is open until August 13, 2018; thereafter, registration is onsite at the WMA registration desk in the Memphis Cook Convention Center.
