Nation's Building News Online: January 22, 2007Print All Articles Text Version |
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New American Home Follows NAHB Green Building ModelHome builders who tour this year’s New American Home during the International Builders’ Show in Orlando will find a working version of cutting-edge green building technology, design and materials that they can apply on a more modest scale to their own product line once they get home. The National Council of the Housing Industry's showcase home has been once again developed in partnership with Building America, the U.S. Department of Energy program that researches and certifies energy-efficient home building to provide a catalyst for the development of high-performance homes. In addition to stellar ratings from Energy Star® and the Florida Green Building Coalition, the home has a preliminary score of 400 points in the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines certification system — a gold rating. The home uses 73% less energy for heating and cooling and 54% less for hot water than a central Florida home of comparable size, according to certification figures. This represents annual savings of $1,132, said John R. Broniek, senior building performance specialist for IBACOS, the Pittsburgh-based building science and consulting firm that provided technical assistance for this year’s home.
Additionally, the home has a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rating of 51, putting it halfway between a rating of 100 for a typical home and zero for a zero-energy home that produces at least as much energy as it consumes. The New American Home represents “all the products and techniques that are out there,” Broniek added. Some examples:
Builders and others attending the International Builders’ Show can tour the home from Wednesday, Feb. 7 through Saturday, Feb. 10. For additional information on the home, e-mail Tucker Bernard at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8519. For more information on NAHB’s green building resources, contact Calli Schmidt, x8132. Green Building Seminars at the Builders' Show Several seminars on all aspects of green building — from NAHB’s green building guidelines to designing green, selling green, zero energy homes, green building on a budget and more — will be held at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando. The green building seminars begin Wednesday, Feb. 7. For green building seminar descriptions, and to register, visit the green building track of the educational seminars on the International Builders' Show Web site, www.buildersshow.com. Use the "My Show Planner" tool to register for specific courses. Kitchens and Baths Remain the Most Common Remodeling JobsKitchen and bathroom remodeling remain the top two most common remodeling jobs, and master bedroom suites and great rooms are the two most popular home additions, according to remodelers who were surveyed by NAHB during the first three quarters of 2006. The bulk of the demand for remodeling jobs continued to come from the baby boom generation, according to the NAHB research, which was conducted in conjunction with the quarterly surveying used to produce the Remodeling Market Index and is being presented this month in a special report by HousingEconomics.com. However, work requests from 30- to 40-year-old members of Generation X are on the rise, and they are turning out to be bigger spenders than the generation preceding them. Rising energy prices last year appeared to have little impact on the demand for jobs related to improving residential energy efficiency, and a majority of remodelers were involved in making modifications for aging-in-place, although they said that most consumers aren’t familiar with the concept. In the first quarter of last year, when remodelers were asked about their most common jobs during 2005, three-out-of-four reported being hired to remodel kitchens, 67% remodeled bathrooms, 57% added rooms, 44% provided whole house remodeling and 40% replaced doors and windows.
The most commonly performed remodeling jobs were found to be consistently the same across the country, and they remained unchanged from 2001, when NAHB first asked remodelers this question. The most popular additions or alterations in 2005 remained unchanged from the results of NAHB surveys in 2003 and 2004, with master bedrooms cited by 57% of the respondents, followed by great rooms, 49% and sunrooms, 26%. Generation X Is on the Rise Responding to questions geared to identifying the extent to which various age groups have increased their demand for remodeling jobs over the past five years:
The Joint Center analysis also shows that as the share of home-owning households headed by minorities continues to grow, to a projected 25% by 2015, this group can be expected to account for a commensurate share of the remodeling market. Aging-in-Place a Growing Trend Asked during last year’s second quarter if their company was involved in home modification work related to aging-in-place, about 60% responded in the affirmative, basically the same as in 2004. Forty-three percent of the companies were undertaking aging-in-place work for 45- to 54-year-olds, up from 20% when the same question was asked in 2004. Only 8% of the remodelers surveyed thought that “most” consumers seem to be familiar with the concept of aging-in-place, 70% thought that “some” were familiar with it and 23% believed that “none” were. The findings were similar to those from a 2004 survey. The installation of grab bars was the most common type of aging-in-place project identified in the most recent survey; it was provided by 89% of the respondents in the 12 months preceding the survey, followed by higher toilets (73%) and wider doorways (58%). The popularity of these jobs was consistent across the country and they were the same top projects reported in 2004. About 63% of the remodelers said they had seen some increase in requests for aging-in-place features over the past five years; 12% had seen a significant increase and roughly a quarter perceived no change. Little Surge in Demand for Energy Efficiency Asked during the third quarter of last year to rate demand for energy efficiency improvements during the previous three months, 70% reported no change in the level of calls despite high and rising energy prices. About 22% said that demand had increased somewhat. The most commonly identified energy-saving products installed in the three-month period were:
Want to Know the Long-Term Forecast Through 2015? Find out in HousingEconomics.com’s Long-Term Forecast. HousingEconomics.com includes downloadable Excel tables featuring the housing starts forecast, GDP, demographics and more. To learn more, visit www.housingeconomics.com. NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Changing Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242.
Avoid the Long Lines, Register Online for IBS by Jan. 25
Discounted online registration for the 2007 International Builders’ Show in Orlando ends this Thursday, Jan. 25. The show will run from Feb. 7-10, with pre-show education beginning Saturday, Feb. 3. More than 100,000 visitors are expected to attend and see the more than 1,900 exhitors — a new IBS record. (To read about the exhibitors, click here.) Register online now and save $25 on onsite registration fees. Register online now and avoid the long lines at registration. Register online now and all you will have to do once you're in Orlando is walk up to one of the Advanced Registration Counters and pick up your badge. Register online now because, after Jan. 25, you will have to register onsite. Click here to register online today. Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Cooling Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Read the Special IBS Preview Issue of Nation's Building NewsRead the Jan. 8 edition of Nation’s Building News, the special preview issue of the 2007 International Builders’ Show in Orlando from Feb. 7-10, and use it as a reference until you get to the show. The preview issue contains information about more than 40 new products and technologies that you can see and sample, as well as classes and events that you can attend. Plus, find photos and floor plans of The New American Home and The Renewed American Home, a remodeled showcase house, in preparation for your visit. To read the special International Builders' Show issue of Nation's Building News, click here. Extensive reports from IBS will appear following the show, beginning with the Feb. 19 edition. Visit the Builders' Show Web Site for More Information For more information about the 2007 International Builders' Show and its more than 1,900 exhibitors, and to register, visit www.BuildersShow.com. Register now. Discounted online registration ends Thursday, Jan. 25. Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Cooling Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Share Nation's Building News With Your Staff. It's Free.Make your business click. Subscribe your employees and trade partners to Nation's Building News — the free, online e-newspaper of NAHB. Each issue is filled with valuable news and information on every aspect of the home building industry — business and builders tips; the latest materials prices and mortgage interest rates; new technologies; cutting-edge design; state and federal regulations and how they affect the industy; and more. Information your entire company needs to stay ahead of your competitors. Forward this issue to your employees and trade partners and ask them to subscribe. Nation's Building News, it's free to them — invaluable to you. Don't delay, have your employees subscribe today. To subscribe, go to www.nahb.org/nbn . NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Cooling Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. ‘Vasectomy Housing’ Surges as New Jersey Tax RemedyWith the cost of educating a child in New Jersey’s public schools averaging $12,567 a year, the highest in the nation and more than double the property tax parents typically pay, local governments in the state are pursing age-restricted housing to expand the tax base without the expense of higher enrollment. New Jersey developers have responded by building an estimated one-fifth of the country’s adults-only housing, making the state the leader in the national trend fueled by baby boomers seeking new homes after their children move out. Nationwide, 2.8 million households were part of age-restricted communities in 2005, up 29% from 2001. The number in New Jersey grew 37% in the same period. More than half the housing units started in the state in the past two years have excluded children, data compiled by the New Jersey Builders Association show. Developers, who can make more money building unrestricted housing, sometimes find it’s more difficult to get those plans approved, said Patrick O’Keefe, chief executive officer of the association. “It’s almost a prerequisite that a project pass the child-exclusion test before a planning board will consider it,” he said. Some builders see “vasectomy housing,” as Massachusetts State Sen. David Magnani calls it, as protection against the wider housing slump. NAHB estimates that profit from age-restricted housing was $1.2 billion in 2006. Thirty-nine percent of the homes sold in 2005 by Pulte Homes had age restrictions, up from 33% in 2004. In 2001, Pulte was selling homes in 15 age-restricted communities in seven states; today it has 56 of these developments in 20 states, with eight more scheduled to open this year. “Age-restricted housing is growing more than the general housing market,” said Ara Hovnanian, chief executive of Hovnanian Enterprises, New Jersey’s largest home builder. Hovnanian will have 16 adults-only developments on the market this year, including 309 condominiums overlooking the Hudson River in the town of West New York, N.J. About 8% of homes sold by Toll Brothers, the biggest luxury home builder in the U.S., are in age-restricted communities; the number has doubled in the past five years. (www.bloomberg.com)
Putting the Lid on Water Waste — New Toilets Are Going GreenConsumers, who have already embraced eco-friendly living in kitchens, gardens and cars, are targeting the bathroom, the largest drain on indoor water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average family of four uses 280 gallons of water a day indoors, and toilets account for about 27% of that. Toilets made before 1994 guzzled 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. A new federal law that year mandated 1.6 gallons. The quest for improvement has led to dual-flush technology that can use as little as 0.8 gallons to dispose of liquid waste and 1.6 gallons for solids. Ranging in cost from $200 to $500 for most models, dual flush toilets have doubled in sales over the past year. The EPA is releasing a voluntary 1.28-gallon-per-flush-or-less specification for high-efficiency toilets, and manufacturers who meet the new standard will be eligible to display the Water Sense logo. Dual-flush toilets are also going upscale. Last year, Toto USA, a pioneer in the development of efficient toilets, introduced the dual-flush Acquia, a stylish two-piece “skirted” design (smooth porcelain from rim to floor) available in six colors, including black and biscuit. According to the company, a family of four using the dual-control model could save 7,000 gallons of water a year beyond what is already saved by the standard 1.6-gallon models. Dual-flush toilets once were available mainly through plumbing wholesalers and kitchen and bath showrooms, but Home Depot says it carries several models in its stores and Lowe’s carries two that are available by special order. (www.washingtonpost.com)
Energy Efficiency Should Be the Foundation for All BuildingsRecognizing the connection between global warming and the built environment, architects have stepped up to the plate and adopted the “2030 Challenge.” Originally drafted by Santa Fe architect Ed Mazria and adopted by the American Institute of Architects last year, the challenge calls for an immediate 50% reduction in fossil-fuel consumption in all new buildings, including homes. By 2010, the fossil-fuel-reduction standard for new buildings increases to 60%, and it will be increased by an additional 10% every five years, resulting in all newly constructed buildings being “carbon neutral” by 2030 and operating without relying on any energy sources that emit greenhouse gases. Gopal Ahluwalia, a researcher with NAHB, said that home buyers have some concerns about the environment, but in most cases these are not affecting their home-purchase decisions. When Ahluwalia asked focus groups of prospective new home buyers whether they would spend an additional $5,000 to make a $100,000 home more environmentally friendly, only 17% of the respondents enthusiastically embraced the idea. Half said they wanted a more environmentally friendly home but wouldn’t pay for it, a quarter said their environmental concerns would not affect their housing purchase and 11% said they had no concerns about the environment. At the same time, Ahluwalia said, the “must-have” features for most new-home buyers increase energy use. For example, most buyers want higher ceilings even though raising the ceiling from 8 feet to 9 feet increases the volume of space to be heated by 12.5%. Buyers do pay attention to conventional energy-saving features such as dual-pane windows, low-emission glass and added wall insulation, he said, but their interest does not extend to features they consider exotic — for example, a 90% efficient gas furnace or blown-in cellulose insulation that will plug up air leaks that cause drafts in the winter. (www.washingtonpost.com)
The Next Big Kitchen ThingNAHB surveys have shown that buyers of new houses are willing to forgo space in other rooms for additional square footage in the kitchen. But survey results released last year by GfK Roper Consulting indicate that consumers may be reluctant to spend more money on new and improved appliances than they think the products are worth and “bells and whistles” could convey the impression that something is “cool but unnecessary.” This hasn’t deterred the research and development divisions of product manufacturers. Swedish household-appliance manufacturer Electrolux solicits ideas for innovative products from students all over the world. In its fourth Design Lab competition last year, it sought food-preservation and preparation solutions that would promote healthy eating habits for consumers in 2016. A student from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia came up with SpiceHood, which combines existing range-hood technology with an automated spice rack to reduce kitchen clutter while encouraging the use of spices. The hood filters and recycles extracted air from cooking to meet the storage requirements of the herbs inside. Working like a dehumidifier, the appliance condenses moisture from the extracted air and keeps spices in a dry environment. Cool, ambient air is sucked into the chamber from the top of the appliance to maintain a constant temperature. First prize in the competition went to a Turkish university student, whose design took its cues from a “sefertasi,” a food container that has been used in Middle Eastern countries for centuries. The Nevale is a personal food carrier that serves hot and cold meals when the user wants them. Built in layers, with a hood featuring a digital control screen, the Nevale can store as many as four different meals. A digital display provides information on the food’s storage conditions and can be programmed to start an automated reheating process at a specific time. Alternatively, for cold foods, the Nevale maintains a perfect preservation temperature. Each container works independently, so both hot and cold food items can be stored in the same appliance. The food is preserved through a vacuum system. You can take a portion of soup, a main course and a dessert with you, and the appliance will keep them free from bacteria throughout the day. “Nevale has been designed to help encourage a new age of homemade food,” said Metin Kaplan, a student at Istanbul Technical University. “It is an important step toward offering consumers an easy and effective way of bringing healthy meals with minimal fuss.” Power comes from a plug or a rechargeable battery at the bottom of the appliance. (www.capitalonline.com)
Realty Q&A: How Mortgage Scams Snare Unsuspecting SellersIn a recent column, real estate columnist Lew Sichelman advised home sellers on how to guard themselves against mortgage fraud. “Don’t jump at a contract offer that…involves a kickback of the overage to the buyer at closing. Chances are the buyer wants an inflated price on the property so he can take the additional money and run without ever making the first payment.” Responding to a reader who asks how the seller could be held responsible, he elaborates: Home sellers can be charged with conspiracy or perhaps as the accessory to a crime if they knowingly sell a property at far more than it is worth and then hand the overage over to the buyer at closing or shortly thereafter. The buyer in this case may or may not obtain a mortgage on the property, and sometimes the bad guys are satisfied with the overage, but most often they must obtain a mortgage or they won’t have the money to buy the house. So they get a loan at the inflated price — using a faulty appraisal – pay you what you want and take the rest. Then they flee without ever making a payment or they turn around and resell the property to an unsuspecting buyer and take off with even more cash in their pockets. The latest con artist scheme is called “shotgunning” in which a property owner applies for several home equity loans with multiple lenders at the same time. “In one recent documented case,” he writes, “a would-be borrower applied with three different lenders over a 48-hour period. Because the lenders did not all report to the same credit bureau, none were aware the same owner had simultaneously applied elsewhere as well. Fortunately, the folks at the First American Title Insurance Co. noticed the attempted sham when they received multiple title orders on the same property and notified the lenders of the suspicious activity before they funded the loans. The owner was not deterred however. A few days later, the title company noticed two more orders on the same property with two new lenders and was able to alert them in time to avert a loss.” (www.wsj.com)
Scrub That Credit Score — This Important Figure Can Shape Your Financial FutureAlthough a credit score is the most important number for someone considering buying a house, and can make a significant difference in their ability to obtain a loan with the lowest possible interest rate and the best terms, about 97% of people have no idea what their credit scores are, and 86% did not check their credit reports last year even though doing so is free, according to an informal survey by Credit.com Educational Services in San Francisco. “Many people don’t know where they stand and they don’t know that they can improve their standing,” said John Ulzheimer, the group’s president. “Some think their credit is good and it’s not, and others think their credit is bad and it’s not.” The nation’s most widely used scoring formula, called FICO, became commercially available in 1989 and was adopted widely by mortgage lenders in the late 1990s after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac endorsed it. The nation’s three largest credit reporting agencies — Equifax, TransUnion and Experian — use FICO software to calculate credit scores, which are then sold to lenders that underwrite car loans, credit cards and mortgages. As many as 50 million Americans are difficult to peg because of their credit histories; this group includes college students, consumers who pay their bills with cash and people who haven’t tapped into their credit for a long time. For everyone else, there are standard FICO scores, which range from 300 to 850, with a median of 723. To get the most accurate picture, mortgage lenders pull FICO scores from all three agencies and most base their lending decisions on the middle one of the three scores. In FICO’s estimation, whether someone pays their bills on time is such a good predictor of creditworthiness that payment history makes up 35% of the score. That’s followed by the amount owed, the length of credit history, the types of credit involved and new credit opened. Just one late payment can drag down a score by at least 100 points. Among other things, prospective home buyers are advised that having credit cards open does not harm their credit score and can even help if they are in good standing. Having them maxed out hurts. Also, according to Freddie Mac’s CreditSmart program (MyFICO.com), “ask creditors to raise your credit limit so that you do not appear to be overextended. Do not open new accounts, because it shows an interest in acquiring new debt, which can lower your score. Aim for a rich mix of credit, with revolving credit (credit cards) and installment debt (car loan, student loan). Correct errors on your credit report. Do not assume that a high salary guarantees a good credit score. Find out the key factors that are dragging down your score so you can fix them.” (www.washingtonpost.com)
New Process for Appointing Federal Home Loan Bank Public Interest DirectorsNAHB members who are interested in being appointed as public interest directors on the 12 boards of the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBank) should be aware that a new rule on the procedures for filling vacancies was approved by the Federal Housing Finance Board (FHFB) on Jan. 18. The rule makes each FHLBank board responsible for conducting a preliminary assessment of candidates in its district and forwarding the most qualified candidates to the Federal Housing Finance Board for its consideration. The FHFB can reject or accept any of the candidates and can also call upon the bank boards for additional candidates. Under the rule, interested parties such as NAHB are allowed to make recommendations to the boards on behalf of individuals they believe are well-qualified for the position. However, candidates are required to complete and submit new eligibility forms before those recommendations can be considered by the FHLBank boards. The eligibility form is intended to help the boards determine if the candidate has the knowledge and experience required by the position in such areas as capital market transactions, management of assets and liabilities, the use of derivatives, accounting and financial modeling, mortgage markets, affordable housing, community investment and legal and regulatory compliance. (The form is available at www.fhfb.gov). Under the new rule, candidates can also attach a resume to the form to provide information on additional business, professional or educational achievements that are not included in the responses to answers on the form. Interested candidates for the 57 seats currently vacant on the 12 boards should submit their forms and resumes to the appropriate district board for consideration as soon as possible. The bank boards are required to submit to the Federal Housing Finance Board a list of individuals for the directorship positions by March 31, and they are allowed to include twice as many candidates as there are directorships to fill. In the future, the bank boards will forward to the FHFB the names of well-qualified candidates for future vacancies every Oct. 1. For more information and questions on filling out the form, e-mail Donna Ely at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8529. Single-Family Starts Drop in December, But Total Was UpAs the nation basked under unseasonably warm winter weather, housing starts rose 4.5% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.642 million units, according to a Commerce Department report released on Jan. 18. The upswing was entirely in the multifamily sector, however, and single-family construction turned downward for the month as builders continued to concentrate on reducing their inventories. Single-family housing starts dropped 4.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.230 million units in December, which was 24.7% below their pace a year earlier. “The improvement in market conditions, coupled with the drop in single-family housing starts, indicates that builders are working to control their inventories and positioning themselves for the upcoming spring buying season,” said NAHB President David Pressly. “With improving affordability measures, strengthening consumer assessments of home buying conditions and an upswing in applications for mortgages to buy homes, builders are starting to see that the worst is behind them,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. December’s housing starts were up 25.6% in the Northeast, 12.4% in the West and 1.8% in the Midwest. Production declined 2.0% in the South. Regionally, construction was substantially below its pace of a year earlier, with the exception of the Northeast, which was building homes at a faster clip. Housing starts for 2006 totaled an estimated 1.801 million units, the Commerce Department reported, which was 12.9% below the 2.068 million homes started in 2005. The number of building permits issued rose 5.5% in December to a yearly rate of 1.596 million, but that was 24.3% below a year ago. Single-family permit issuance rose 1.2% to a pace of 1.164 million units, 29.1% below a year earlier, while multifamily permits were up 19.0%, to 432,000 units, which was 7.1% below the December 2005 pace. Want to Know the Long-Term Forecast Through 2015? Find out in HousingEconomics.com’s Long-Term Forecast. HousingEconomics.com includes downloadable Excel tables featuring the housing starts forecast, GDP, demographics and more. To learn more, visit www.housingeconomics.com. NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Changing Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Rise in Builder Confidence Bodes Well for SpringContinuing an upward trend that began in the final quarter of 2006, builder confidence rose two points to 35 in this month’s NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), its highest level since last July. “Builders are responding to increased buyer interest at the end of 2006 and beginning of 2007,” said NAHB President David Pressly. “This bodes well for the upcoming spring buying season.” “The same factors that were evident at the end of 2006 continue to hold true in today’s housing market — improving affordability measures, strengthening consumer assessments of home buying conditions and an upswing in applications for mortgages to buy homes,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. “Builders are starting to see that the worst is behind them and that buying conditions have improved to the point that greater optimism is warranted.” Seiders added that the recent stabilization of home buyer demand largely reflects reductions in mortgage interest rates since mid-year, lower energy prices following record highs and solid growth in employment and household income. Reductions in home prices and widespread sales incentives offered by builders also have helped resuscitate buyer demand. Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 20 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales, sales expectations for the next six months and the traffic of prospective buyers. Scores for each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor. Two out of three component indexes registered improvement in January, with current single-family home sales and the traffic of prospective buyers each gaining three points, climbing to 36 and 26, respectively. The index gauging sales expectations for the next six months remained unchanged at 49. Confidence this month was up in the Northeast, at 39; the Midwest, 24; and the South, 41. In the West it remained at 32, unchanged from the previous month. Want to Know the Long-Term Forecast Through 2015? Find out in HousingEconomics.com’s Long-Term Forecast. HousingEconomics.com includes downloadable Excel tables featuring the housing starts forecast, GDP, demographics and more. To learn more, visit www.housingeconomics.com. NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Changing Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Recent Reports to Fed Show More Cooling in Housing MarketsA Jan. 17 Federal Reserve Board “Beige Book” compilation of anecdotal reports on the recent state of the economy finds the housing market continuing to soften in most parts of the country, with high inventories of unsold new homes reducing residential construction. However, a common refrain on markets represented in the Fed’s regional districts is that the downturn may be bottoming out and that the direction of housing activity will become clearer this spring with the arrival of the peak home buying season. Home sales were spotty in just about the entire nation, with the exception of some parts of Virginia and North Carolina, and appreciation in home prices continued to slow. More specifics are included in the rundown of reports to the fed districts:
Want to Know the Long-Term Forecast Through 2015? Find out in HousingEconomics.com’s Long-Term Forecast. HousingEconomics.com includes downloadable Excel tables featuring the housing starts forecast, GDP, demographics and more. To learn more, visit www.housingeconomics.com. NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Changing Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Builders' Tip: Coping With Mini-Grinders
Instead of using the backing pad, I put a pair of sanding disks back-to-back so I can cope the whole profile of a molding without turning over the grinder. I can cut to the left or right and the dust keeps heading away from me.
Another use for the top disk is removing extra material from the bottoms of casings so that flooring will slide under. — Gregg Roos, San FranciscoTips & Techniques provided by Fine Homebuilding.
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Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Cooling Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar on the NAHB Web site. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Secrets to Growing, Improving Your Company Revealed at IBSEven in a down market, there are opportunities for growth and business improvement, according to Bob Whitten, a former building company executive and now a partner in SMA Consulting, which provides financial and operational management consulting for the building industry. Trying to grow too fast may not be one of them. “There is a world of difference in building 20 homes per year and moving into the 50-150-per-year range,” said Whitten, who will be presenting “The 10 Secrets to Growing Your Company and Improving Profitability Even in a Down Market” business management session at the upcoming International Builders’ Show in Orlando. In this popular education session, Whitten explains why builders should not move their companies blindly toward building an ever-increasing volume of new homes. “The 10 Secrets to Growing Your Company and Improving Profitability Even in a Down Market” will be held from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, in room West 320 in the Orange County Convention Center. Other popular business management sessions include:
To Register
NAHB Biztools™ Has Nearly 300 Resources to Help You Run Your Business More Profitably Go to NAHB's Business Management Tools Web pages (available to members only) for instant access to nearly 300 timesaving, moneymaking and cost-cutting business resources to help you run your business more profitably. Get guidance on accounting and financial management, business strategy, computers and information technology, customer service, human resources and more. Resources are added weekly, so bookmark www.nahb.org/biztools to go directly to these vital business management resources. Local and state home builders associations can link directly to www.nahb.org/biztools from their Web site and give their members instant access to these resources. It will make your HBA's Web site the place to go for the information and guidance that members need to succeed. NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Cooling Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Subscribe to NAHB’s Business of Building e/Source NAHB’s Business of Building e/Source is your monthly electronic guide to the hot issues and emerging trends in home building business management. You’ll find practical advice, tricks of the trade and sound business guidance — all delivered monthly, straight to your desktop, in a quick and easy-to-read format. Business of Building e/Source is available free to NAHB members and their employees. To subscribe, click here on the Members Only side of the NAHB Web site. Learn About Fair Housing, 50+ Rental Market OpportunitiesTo age-restrict or not is a tricky decision for builders. Builders considering building an age-restricted community must understand the Fair Housing Act and all its ramifications, and how the act will impact their operations. It is equally important that builders understand how to market their property correctly. Otherwise, they could run afoul of the law. "Fair Housing for the Active Adult Builder" will teach those in the adult market who are considering building an age-restricted community that marketing lifestyle is not enough, and that age-targeting a community may not be a risk worth taking "Fair Housing for the Active Adult Builder" will be held Thursday, Feb. 8, from 1:30-3:00 p.m. in rooms South 330 E-H in the Orange County Convention Center. Attendees will learn what words to avoid, how to portray their potential buyer base in advertising and marketing campaigns and more. An attorney specializing in fair housing will simplify the act and an active adult builder who learned the hard way and a marketing professional will provide pointers and examples. Evelyn Howard, of Howard & Associates, Bethesda, Md., will moderate the session. Panelists include Kathi Coughlin Williams, Fair Housing Institute, Norcross, Ga.; Ken Simons, Leewood Real Estate Group, Staten Island, N.Y.; and Nikki Liesse, Howard Hughes Corp., Las Vegas. Opportunities in Rental Housing Two nationally recognized, award-winning architects will discuss the growing opportunities available in 50+ rental housing, especially market-rate rental housing. Manny Gonzalez, AIA, of KTGY Group, Irvine, Calif., and Bill Warwick, CAASH, of BartonPartners, Norristown, Pa., will discuss the latest trends in design, amenities, market opportunities and more during "Rental Seniors Housing — New Opportunities for Builders" at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando. Evelyn Howard, of Howard & Associates, will moderate the session. "Rental Seniors Housing — New Opportunities for Builders" will be held Monday, Feb. 5, from 2:30-4:00 p.m. in West 224 C in the Orange County Convention Center. Both programs are presented by the NAHB 50+ Housing Council’s Advocacy, Legislative and Rental Seniors Housing Committee. To Register To register for the seminars, visit the 50+ housing track of the educational seminars on the International Builders' Show Web site, www.buildersshow.com. Use the "My Show Planner" tool to register for specific courses. Save the Date for 2007 50+ Housing Symposium Mark May 30-June 1, 2007 on your calendars to attend the 50+ Housing Symposium. The seniors housing symposium is the premier educational and networking event for industry professionals who serve the burgeoning 50+ market. Visit www.nahb.org/build4boomers for more information. “Boomers on the Horizon: Housing Preferences of the 55+ Market,” available through BuilderBooks.com, can help you better build and market homes to this age group. Capitalize on the niches, needs and opportunities of this rapidly growing market by learning their preferences. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. New 50+ Designation Coming in 2007 Coming in 2007 is a new designation from NAHB specifically for individuals in 50+ housing. The Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH) designation gives housing professionals serving this rapidly burgeoning market the essential knowledge, tools and skills that will help them succeed — from conducting initial research to design considerations and features to closing the sale and servicing the customer. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/CAASHinfo. NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Cooling Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242.
Learn 'How to Flourish in a Changing Market' at 50+ Dinner
Montelongo will present “Don't Just Survive, Thrive: How to Flourish in an Ever-Changing Market.” “It will be a motivational, inspirational and content-rich program,” said Montelongo. “I’ll talk about how to be memorable and unique in order to attract the 50+ buyer, and how we can improve and challenge ourselves to be at the leading edge of change in the industry.” The CAASH induction ceremony will acknowledge industry veterans in the 50+ housing industry. The CAASH designation is a new educational tract and designation specifically for housing professionals in the active adult market to provide the knowledge, tools and skills to help them succeed. The dinner and induction ceremony will be from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at the Rosen Center Hotel. To Register Tickets are $85 per person through Wednesday, Jan. 24 and $95 after. Onsite registration is $95. To register and order tickets online, click here. To register by mail or fax, use this form and send it to the NAHB University of Housing, as indicated. Save the Date for 2007 50+ Housing Symposium Mark May 30-June 1, 2007 on your calendars to attend the 50+ Housing Symposium. The seniors housing symposium is the premier educational and networking event for industry professionals who serve the burgeoning 50+ market. Visit www.nahb.org/build4boomers for more information. “Boomers on the Horizon: Housing Preferences of the 55+ Market,” available through BuilderBooks.com, can help you better build and market homes to this age group. Capitalize on the niches, needs and opportunities of this rapidly growing market by learning their preferences. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. New 50+ Designation Coming in 2007 Coming in 2007 is a new designation from NAHB specifically for individuals in 50+ housing. The Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH) designation gives housing professionals serving this rapidly burgeoning market the essential knowledge, tools and skills that will help them succeed — from conducting initial research to design considerations and features to closing the sale and servicing the customer. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/CAASHinfo. NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Cooling Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. 50+ Awards Judge Gives Tips for Submitting Winning EntriesEach year, a panel of judges sorts through hundreds of entries to the Best of 50+ Housing Awards. With the entry deadline for the 2007 Best of 50+ Housing Awards fast approaching ― this year the deadline is Feb. 23 — what is the best way to get your entry to stand out and give you the best opportunity to win? One past judge for the awards program, Steve Wattenbarger, AIA, chairman of Wattenbarger Architects, LLC, in Bellevue, Wash., provides the following tips:
Awards Ceremony at Boomers & Beyond This year’s awards ceremony will be held in Denver on Thursday, May 31, during Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium 2007. For more information about the awards, including categories and entry criteria, click here, or call 800-368-5242 x8220. Save the Date for 2007 50+ Housing Symposium Mark May 30-June 1, 2007 on your calendars to attend the 50+ Housing Symposium. The seniors housing symposium is the premier educational and networking event for industry professionals who serve the burgeoning 50+ market. Visit www.nahb.org/build4boomers for more information. “Boomers on the Horizon: Housing Preferences of the 55+ Market,” available through BuilderBooks.com, can help you better build and market homes to this age group. Capitalize on the niches, needs and opportunities of this rapidly growing market by learning their preferences. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. Learn More About New 50+ CAASH Designation The NAHB 50+ Housing Council has launched the new Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH) designation specifically for individuals in 50+ housing. The new CAASH designation gives housing professionals serving this rapidly burgeoning market the essential knowledge, tools and skills that will help them succeed — from conducting initial research to design considerations and features to closing the sale and servicing the customer. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/CAASHinfo. NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Cooling Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Enter the 2007 50+ Housing Design, Marketing Competition
Enter the 2007 Best of 50+ Housing Awards, the premier design and marketing competition for the 50+ housing industry. Entries are due by Feb. 23. Sponsored by the 50+ Housing Council, the award program honors the best in more than 50 categories covering all aspects of the 50+ housing industry. “Anyone who is involved with the design, marketing, building and development of 50+ housing products ought to enter,” said Bob Tippets, of Village Communities of Midvale, Utah and incoming chairman of the NAHB 50+ Housing Council. “The Best of 50+ Housing Awards offers its winners not only recognition, but a great way to promote their business.” Active Adult Active adult categories include overall community, clubhouse design, condominium unit design and model home merchandising. Design Other design categories include aging-in-place, assisted living, congregate-living community, continuing care retirement communities, mixed-use, multifamily housing, renovated housing and special-needs housing. Marketing Marketing categories include logo, community brochure, direct mail piece/campaign, Web site, black-and-white and color print advertisement, radio and television commercial, sales center and special promotion. “The 50+ housing arena is constantly evolving and changing for the better,” said Doug Van Lerberghe, chairman of the awards committee and an architect with Denver-based design and community planning firm, KEPHART. “The Best of 50+ Housing Awards is an opportunity to recognize builders and other professionals who contribute their most inspired efforts to meet the needs of this unique market.” Winners will be announced at the Best of 50+ Housing Awards gala during the Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium 2007 in Denver from May 30-June 1. Winners will also be featured on the NAHB Web site and in “50+ Housing Magazine.” The Call for Entries, contest rules and list of categories are available online at www.nahb.org/50plusawards, or by calling 800-368-5242 x8220. Tips on Preparing Winning Entries To read an award judge's tips on how to prepare award-winning entries, found elsewhere in this issue, click here. Save the Date for 2007 50+ Housing Symposium Mark May 30-June 1, 2007 on your calendars to attend the 50+ Housing Symposium. The seniors housing symposium is the premier educational and networking event for industry professionals who serve the burgeoning 50+ market. Visit www.nahb.org/build4boomers for more information. “Boomers on the Horizon: Housing Preferences of the 55+ Market,” available through BuilderBooks.com, can help you better build and market homes to this age group. Capitalize on the niches, needs and opportunities of this rapidly growing market by learning their preferences. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in Cooling Market With the current cooling of the nation’s housing market expected to persist into the middle of next year, NAHB has developed a comprehensive online toolkit geared to providing association members with information that will help them prosper in today’s changing business environment. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Multifamily Builders Buckle Up for a Bumpier 2007Demand for rental apartments slowed substantially in last year’s third quarter, complicating the picture for multifamily builders this year, according to industry analyst Ron Witten, in a market update last week to NAHB’s Multifamily Leadership Board. The slowdown in the demand for rentals, he said, coincided with slower job growth and household formations, which was compounded by a decline in mortgage interest rates. And some of the condominiums that haven’t been sold are winding up in the rental pool. Demand for rental apartments will continue to outpace the available supply only until about the middle of this year, he predicted, which will lead to a drop in the rate of rent increases. Rents will continue to rise, but not as fast as last year. In the meantime, the sales rate for condominiums, the beleaguered sector of the multifamily industry, has stabilized, Witten said. The annual sales pace of existing condos rose to a high of 943,000 last June, declined to a pace of 741,000 by October and then climbed to 750,000 in November. While there is an 8% inventory of empty multifamily for-sale units, a 15-year high, the market should do a better job of absorbing them than in the 1980s, when there was also a notable oversupply, because builders have slowed the pace at which new units are coming through the pipeline. After peaking during the second quarter of 2006, “the sector has made the first steps toward recovery with a drop in for-sale starts to a 155,000 annual rate for the third quarter,” he said. The industry is also deriving some encouragement from a significant slowdown in the rate at which building costs are rising. NAHB forecaster Bernie Markstein and three of the industry’s leading developers — Ron Lockwood, Lockwood Companies; Bill Donges, Lane Company; and Steve Patterson, ZOM — will provide a more in-depth forecast at the “Multifamily Economic Forecast and State of the Industry” session during the International Builders’ Show on Thursday, Feb. 8, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Why Wait Until the Phone Stops Ringing?There is plenty of talk these days about how to survive in a “slowing” market. I’m not sure that we, as remodelers, are in a slowing market. But many of the business tips that are being offered to builders right now are just as applicable to our businesses. But for us, there is absolutely no reason to wait until a downturn. The time to implement these suggestions is now. For instance, you probably have heard about new and improved marketing strategies. Implement the ones that make sense to you, especially if something you’re currently doing isn’t yielding the results you’re expecting. Don’t wait until the phone stops ringing, because if you do, guess what? You’re already too late. The key to successful marketing is to diligently find out what is working, where your leads and customers are coming from, and which of those sources is the most profitable for you. When you know this, you can make informed decisions. And don’t worry about something not working well enough. You can test your new ideas and strategies with minimal risk to you or your company. Are you considering reducing staff? If so, why wait to make your decision? After all, we are not operating nonprofit organizations (though, at times, some of us may feel like we are). Being a humanitarian is great, but not at the expense of your business. That’s just plain foolish. If someone isn’t pulling his weight, make a change now. Or, to paraphrase that old Chicago machine politics adage, “vote early and vote often,” when it comes to employees, cut quick and cut often. You owe it to those who are productive and who increase your profitability to retain and hire only those who share those qualities and attributes. To diversify for the sake of diversification is as foolish as growing for the sake of growth. Neither should be rushed into. Both need to be analyzed, planned and accomplished with a set goal in mind. As for expenses, whether in good times or bad, you constantly should be scrutinizing your expenditures. Maybe that extra cell phone or cell phone feature is not needed and can go. Maybe that additional company truck you have is nothing more than a really expensive billboard that could be replaced with a job sign. Maybe that “assistant” you took on a year ago is nibbling away at profits that could be realized if you’d put in an extra four more hours a week yourself. Focus on what you do best, identify your best market and customers, diversify or grow with planned and measured processes, and cut overhead where it’s not needed. These are steps you can take now that will enhance your bottom line. Don’t wait for a downturn to think and work this way. Remember, profit is not a four letter word. Profit is all about working smarter. That’s all from me now. I’m off to put an extra four hours in. Greg Miedema, CGR, CAPS, is president of Dakota Builders in Tucson, Ariz. He is the founder of his local Remodelors™ Council, a member of the NAHB Remodelors™ Council Board of Trustees and currently serves as the chairman of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA). The SAHBA also named Dakota Builders, Inc. the Remodelor™ of the Year in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2003. For more information, e-mail Miedema, or visit the Dakota Builders Web site at www.dakotabuildersinc.com. 'How to Find a Professional Remodeler' Available at BuilderBooks.com "How to Find a Professional Remodeler," available at BuilderBooks.com, promotes the professionalism of your remodeling business by offering valuable advice to your customers on the process of selecting a remodeler.
The brochure guides consumers from the dream to the reality of having their homes remodeled by skilled and trained professionals. Sections include what to look for in a professional remodeler and what questions to ask.
The NAHB University of Housing Offers Designation Programs for Remodelers The NAHB University of Housing offers CAPS, CGR, CGB and a variety of other professional designation programs and business management courses that set builders and remodelers apart from the competition.
To learn more about NAHB’s designation programs, visit www.nahb.org/designations.
For a complete list of all current education offerings, click here.
American Concrete Institute Joins NAHB's Concrete CouncilThe American Concrete Institute (ACI) has become the newest associate member of NAHB’s Concrete Home Building Council (CHBC), NAHB’s resource for cement-based building systems and products. With the addition of ACI, CHBC membership now includes 11 national trade associations that serve as NAHB's resource for cement-based building systems and products. "I believe having a strong international organization like ACI, with interests in all of the cement-based systems and products represented by the CHBC membership, will strengthen our technical and education offerings to NAHB's builder and associate membership," said Michael H. Weber, CHBC president and the director of residential construction for the Portland Cement Association. Headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., ACI has 98 chapters and about 15,000 members in 108 countries. Founded in 1904, ACI conducts seminars worldwide, manages certification programs and publishes technical documents to advance the knowledge and uses of concrete. CHBC offers a variety of networking, technical, marketing and educational resources to companies in, or interested in, the residential concrete construction industry. In addition to national association memberships, CHBC members also include manufacturers, contributing industry partners and consulting companies. For information about the American Concrete Institute, visit www.aci-int.org. For information about CHBC or ACI’s membership in the council, e-mail Kate Driscoll at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8362. Get the Sales and Marketing Knowledge You Need at IBSThe National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC) and the Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) offer a full roster of educational sessions at IBS. Here are some highlights: Wednesday, Feb. 7
Thursday, Feb. 8
Friday, Feb. 9
Saturday, Feb. 10
To download the full schedule of sales and marketing courses, click here. Subscribe to Sales + Marketing Ideas Magazine for Cutting-Edge Information For additional cutting-edge sales and marketing information, subscribe to NAHB’s Sales + Marketing Ideas Magazine (www.smimagazine.com). Click here to learn about membership benefits of the National Sales and Marketing Council and the Institute of Residential Marketing. Earn Valuable Sales and Marketing Designations Through IRM Programs The Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) offers four designation programs for sales and marketing professionals:
Want to Know More? Ask an Expert You also can ask designation holders questions about obtaining a designation, specific courses, case studies and more. "Ask An Expert" is available on the NAHB Web site by clicking here. 'Sales and Marketing Checklists' Covers the Ins and Outs of New Home Sales “Sales and Marketing Checklists for Profit-Driven Home Builders,” available through BuilderBooks.com, covers the major steps involved in successful new home sales. Learn the ins and outs of the comprehensive contract, the move-in, warranty service, asking for referrals and a great close. This expanded second edition also includes a new chapter on utilizing technology in your marketing and a more extensive chapter on multicultural sales. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. Local SMC Workshop: Network With Local Councils Feb. 7 at IBSThe National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC) will be conducting a workshop for local sales and marketing councils (SMCs) at the 2007 International Builders' Show in Orlando to give councils the tools they need to grow and add new education programs. The workshop, “Taking Your SMC to the Next Level,” is scheduled for 1:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.7, in South 230 D, Level II, in the Orange County Convention Center. “The SMC Workshop is the ideal opportunity for all SMCs, whether they are established or newly formed, to learn from the experts,” said Meredith Oliver, MIRM, CSP, of Orlando and chair of the NSMC Membership and Local Councils Committee, which is hosting the workshop. “The roundtable format allows HBA staff and SMC leaders to network with other SMCs across the country," Oliver added. "The information exchange is invaluable. It’s the perfect venue to exchange ideas, brainstorm and share your SMC’s challenges and successes.” The SMC workshop will feature two sets of breakout sessions — with different topics offered simultaneously. Topics include tips for starting an SMC, developing an SMC leadership team, planning innovative programs and events and ramping up SMC education programs. In addition, SMC books from previous Gold and Silver winners of The Nationals will be on view at the workshop. Preliminary Schedule
For more information, e-mail Jeff Jenkins at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8292. To register, visit the sales and marketing track of the educational seminars on the International Builders' Show Web site, www.buildersshow.com, and use the "My Show Planner" tool. Subscribe to Sales + Marketing Ideas Magazine for Cutting-Edge Information For additional cutting-edge sales and marketing information, subscribe to NAHB’s Sales + Marketing Ideas Magazine (www.smimagazine.com). Click here to learn about membership benefits of the National Sales and Marketing Council and the Institute of Residential Marketing. Earn Valuable Sales and Marketing Designations Through IRM Programs The Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) offers four designation programs for sales and marketing professionals:
Want to Know More? Ask an Expert You also can ask designation holders questions about obtaining a designation, specific courses, case studies and more. "Ask An Expert" is available on the NAHB Web site by clicking here. 'Sales and Marketing Checklists' Covers the Ins and Outs of New Home Sales “Sales and Marketing Checklists for Profit-Driven Home Builders,” available through BuilderBooks.com, covers the major steps involved in successful new home sales. Learn the ins and outs of the comprehensive contract, the move-in, warranty service, asking for referrals and a great close. This expanded second edition also includes a new chapter on utilizing technology in your marketing and a more extensive chapter on multicultural sales. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. Visit the NSMC/IRM Booth on Main Exhibit Floor at IBSThe National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC) and Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) will have information about membership, educational opportunities and more at the NSMC/IRM booth on the main floor. Find the booth, number 4859, in the West Hall above West E-F near the Trex booth. Visit the booth to learn about how IRM designations can enhance your career and increase your industry knowledge. Also available at the booth are free copies of NSMC’s award-winning Sales + Marketing Ideas magazine. Each bi-monthly issue features articles and tips from the top professionals in new home sales and marketing. Find your way around the show floor by visiting the online floor plan of the exhibit floor on the 2007 International Builders’ Show Web site, www.buildersshow.com. Use this new tool to search the IBS exhibit halls and add your selections to “My Show Planner.” Subscribe to Sales + Marketing Ideas Magazine for Cutting-Edge Information For additional cutting-edge sales and marketing information, subscribe to NAHB’s Sales + Marketing Ideas magazine (www.smimagazine.com). Click here to learn about membership benefits of the National Sales and Marketing Council and the Institute of Residential Marketing. Earn Valuable Sales and Marketing Designations Through IRM Programs The Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) offers four designation programs for sales and marketing professionals:
Want to Know More? Ask an Expert You also can ask designation holders questions about obtaining a designation, specific courses, case studies and more. "Ask An Expert" is available on the NAHB Web site by clicking here. 'Sales and Marketing Checklists' Covers the Ins and Outs of New Home Sales “Sales and Marketing Checklists for Profit-Driven Home Builders,” available through BuilderBooks.com, covers the major steps involved in successful new home sales. Learn the ins and outs of the comprehensive contract, the move-in, warranty service, asking for referrals and a great close. This expanded second edition also includes a new chapter on utilizing technology in your marketing and a more extensive chapter on multicultural sales. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. IBS Pre-Show Education About Marketing, MoreMarketing may be more relevant than ever, and coupled with the latest in education, could spell the difference between bringing in more prospects and languishing in a sluggish market. “I often hear builders say that they don’t need marketing because their houses are selling,” says Hal Von Nessen, MIRM and instructor of “Lifestyle Merchandising, Advertising and Promotion Strategies (IRM III)” at the 2007 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. in February. “But what happens when a finished home doesn’t sell or a community stagnates?” “Every job requires a basic knowledge of the tools of its trade,” Von Nessen, of RESH Marketing Consultants in Columbia, S.C., continues. “That is as true for sales clerks as it is for builders. It’s also true of marketing.” Von Nessen has consulted with builders and developers from California to New York and encouraged IRM students to improve their knowledge of marketing and develop strategies to successfully promote their homes. Pre-show courses offer a simple and convenient way to tap the expertise and knowledge of professionals like Von Nessen. Pre-show courses include: IBS Pre-Show Course Schedule Saturday, Feb. 3
Pre-show courses at the International Builders’ Show sell out quickly, so early registration is recommended. For course descriptions and registration information*, click here, or contact The NAHB University of Hoursing Office of the Registrar at 800-368-5242 x8EDU (8338). *Note: Registration for these courses does not include registration for the International Builders’ Show. Separate registration fees apply. If you are unable to attend the International Builders' Show, but would still like to register for one of the courses listed, a separate paper registration form must be either mailed or faxed to The NAHB University of Housing. To download the registration form, click here. Fuel Up On Education at IBS, Win Free Gas for a YearThe NAHB University of Housing will be giving away four $100 gas cards each day of the 2007 International Builders' Show — plus one grand prize of Free Gas for a Year valued at $2,500. The gas giveaway is part of The University of Housing’s “Fuel Up on Education” program. To enter, simply visit The NAHB University of Housing booth located in the West Building, Hall C, Level II of the Orange County Convention Center. 2007 Education Calendars Available The 2007 education catalog — complete with updated courses, seminars, tours and new designations — |