Brad Pitt and celebrities join the housing industry

If celebrities are willing to put their money on the housing industry, then maybe there's hope for us after all. Here are just a few stars who have a name tag attached to a home building project:

Brad Pitt

He has movies to his name, but his newest project isn't a film. It's rebuilding New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward with energy-efficient homes. Pitt partnered with Make It Right, an organization that helps rebuild the area and so far has raised money for 81 of the 150 homes planned.

Would you like a house to go with that bath towel? KB Home has partnered with lifestyle expert Martha Stewart to create high-style home designs inspired by her own homes. For one home design, Lily Pond, she borrowed ideas from her beach cottage in Long Island. Another design, Skylands, is a tribute to her own 1925 stone house in Maine. Home buyers can even choose landscaping packages designed by her personal gardener.

The actor-turned-producer is working on a 13-part series with his production company, Appian Way, on the rebuilding of tornado-ravaged Greensburg, Kan. The entire town will be energy-efficient, and you'll be able to see how it came together on Discovery Channel's new network, Planet Green.

Shaw Floors has paired up with Kathy Ireland, supermodel/designer extraordinaire, on more than 236 rugs with her designs. From the Home Essentials to the Young Attitude, there's a rug for every homeowner.