NORTHWEST NEWS

CHUCK LINK executive director

LIOUSING starts in the next l0years I Iwill top those of the past decade, predicts the American Bankers Association, but mortgage rates will not drop much.

Between 1972 and I 98 I the annual rate of housing starts was 1.668 million; between 1982 and 1991. the ABA forecasts an annual rate of 1.733 million housing starts.Of the latter number, 1.2 million are expected to be single-family units while 533,000 will be multifamily.

The bankers association says the real interest rate on mortgages will average

5 9o through 1991, far above the l.5 q0 real rate from 1972 to 1981, but far below the current real rate of ll.7 Vo , The real rate is the going rate minus inflation.

ABA looks for an average mortgage rate of l4.2Vo over the next decade. The association thinks thrifts will only be able to supply about a third of mortgage credit. but that commercial banks won't pick up much of the slack. The new money will probably come from the secondary market-pension funds, private investors and insurance companies.

The 79th annual WBMA convention/ building products showcase was just getting started as this issue went to press. See the Jan. issue for full coveroge with photos.-ed.

SUPERSTRUCTURE lrtth '80 't g J ar a"cles su0p0rls the Irldge a three egged pedestlan bridge bui t over tw0 rivers in Midland, N4i., t0 l0in three previously unjo ned areas. S0uthern pine pressure treated with pentach 0r0phen0l was used in the arch. deck. beams and rai ings

HIGHWAY FIRST, a high tensile smooth wire fence system, claimed t0 be the most signilicant lencing development since barbed wire, has been c0mpleted near l\4ina, Nv, The "HTF" system from Koppers Co,, Inc. can be pulled up tighter al0ng an entire fence line, resulting in a straighter, more eflective barrier with n0 l00se 0r saggrng wrres.

May health,happiness and goodfortune shine on you and yours throughout this holiday season and the coming year.