prototype costs

prototype costs Sec. 904. (a) Beginning in calendar year 1979, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall prepare and publish annually prototype housing costs for one-to four-family dwelling units for each housing market area in the United States, as determined by the Secretary. Prototype housing costs for an area shall be determined on the basis of the Secretary’s identification and estimate of reasonable construction and other costs (including reasonable allowances for the cost of land and site improvements) for that area of various types and sizes of new one-to four-family dwelling units designed for various segments of the housing market of the area, as determined by the Secretary. In determining prototype housing costs, the Secretary is authorized to take into account the need for durability required for economic maintenance of housing, the need for amenities suitable to 91 STAT. 1150assure a safe and healthy family life and neighborhood environment, the application of good design and quality in architecture, and the need for maximum conservation of energy, as well as the advice and recommendations of local housing producers. (b) The Secretary is authorized to take such action as may be necessary to develop, aggregate, and evaluate data and other information required for the timely development, implementation, and maintenance of the prototype housing cost system referred to in subsection (a).