Welcome to this week's BUILDER Blocks, which highlights top housing stories from BUILDER Online and other sources. (Please note: some sites, such as the New York Times, do require registration.)  

Top Headlines

New HUD Secretary Announced

Bush Picks Executive for HUD

Preston is Picked to Run HUD, Despite Little Housing Experience

Housing Starts Tumble 11.9 Percent

Former Fannie Chief Settles

Scandal to Cost Ex-Fannie Officers Millions

Housing Crisis

Foreclosures Keep Locksmiths in High Demand

The Worst May Be Over, But ...

States Try to Help Borrowers

Foreclosures Continue to Rise

Poll: 60 Percent Won't Buy Home Within Next Two Years

Big Tax Breaks for Businesses in Housing Bill

Condo Glut

America's Worst-Selling Housing Markets

Public Builders

Fulton Takes Over as CEO at Weyerhaeuser

Beazer Launches New Building Program

The Business of Building

Builder Sentiment Holds Steady

Have You Heard?

Floridian One to Call When Bees Move In

A Million Here, a Million There

Blog: Boyce on Building

Dammed If You Do, Damned If You Don't

Got Feedback?

Please e-mail any comments, questions, suggestions, and news tips to Denise Dersin, Builder's Editor in Chief: ddersin@hanleywood.com.