Nation's Building News Online: January 29, 2007Print All Articles Text Version |
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New EPA-Certified Toilets Address Water ShortagesAlong with its final specifications for the newest water-saving toilets that use less than 1.3 gallons per flush, the Environmental Protection Agency last week issued efficiency and performance criteria for toilets to be certified to carry the WaterSense label. Endorsed by NAHB, WaterSense is a voluntary public-private partnership that promotes consumer use of water-efficient products, certification for water industry professionals and innovation in water-efficient product manufacturing. “The WaterSense label will help consumers identify high performing, water-efficient products,” said EPA Assistant Administrator Water Benjamin H. Grumbles in a press release announcing the new specs. “By purchasing WaterSense-labeled plumbing fixtures, consumers can help protect the water supply and their wallets.” The lowest-priced WaterSense-labeled unit costs about $225, or $100 more than a typical builder-grade unit. However, with estimated annual savings of $50 on water bills, the additional cost is paid back in two years, which is well within the payback limits for efficient products supported by NAHB. “It’s important for housing to stay affordable, especially for the first-time home buyer. For that reason, we usually say that these efficiency improvements should take no more than about seven years to pay for themselves,” said Ray Tonjes, NAHB's Green Building Subcommittee chair for NAHB and a home builder in Austin, Texas. “The real issue is that water conservation is becoming an increasingly important concern in many areas of the country, and it’s certainly an issue here in Texas.” The new toilets are the product of extensive research in fluid dynamics conducted over the last six years, according to EPA. While the exteriors of the new toilets differ little from traditional models, interior redesign and new mechanical approaches have significantly improved flow and reduced water usage. The current generation of toilets typically accounts for one-third of home water consumption. WaterSense-labeled toilets are certified by independent laboratory testing to meet rigorous criteria for both performance and efficiency. Only high-efficiency toilets that complete the third-party certification process can earn the WaterSense label. Companies that manufacture, sell or distribute household plumbing fixtures are encouraged to join the WaterSense program so that more products — from faucets to lawn sprinklers — can carry the WaterSense label. High-efficiency toilets could save more than 900 billion gallons of water a year and reduce water bills by about 10% annually, EPA said. For more information, e-mail Emily English at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8366. IBS NextGen Home to Demonstrate Storm-Resistant TechnologiesWith the U.S. currently in the midst of the largest home-rebuilding effort in recent history in its recovery from Hurricane Katrina, this year’s NextGen home at the International Builders’ Show on Feb. 7 to 10 will provide some of the answers on how new homes can better withstand the destructive force of future storms. According to the American Red Cross, more than 850,000 homes in the Gulf Region were damaged, destroyed or left inaccessible by Katrina. “The rebuilding is starting, and the focus is naturally not just on replacing these homes, but on learning from this disaster and replacing them with stronger, greener and more efficient and more connected homes,” said Paul Barnett, president of iShow, which produces the NextGen projects. Erected on the parking lot of the Orlando Convention Center, the 2,700-square-foot “First to the Future” home has been designed to give builders a look at the future of home construction and will showcase about 15 advanced technologies that have been chosen by the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), the home’s sponsor. “The technologies were chosen to address not only a one-time disaster, but longer-term issues like moisture, mold and durability,” said Carlos Martin, a PATH researcher. Bigger and better than the 2006 model, this year’s home will demonstrate how seamlessly the latest technologies and features fit within a fully designed and furnished home. A second floor has been added to the home, where visitors will be able to see its hidden assets, like framing and insulation, through extensive models and cutaways. “By building this house to our 'Fortified® for safer living' standard, everyone who visits will see that we have the know-how and ability to build homes that will stand up better to whatever hazards they face, and that it can be done affordably and without compromising the beauty of the structure,” said Chuck Vance, Fortified program manager at the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). In its fifth year at the show, the NextGen Home will once again feature strong partnerships with organizations such as IBHS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. At a “Breakfast of Innovators” on Feb. 8, Darlene Williams, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is scheduled to announce PATH’s first update of its “Top 10 Technologies” since 2004. Going to Orlando? Read the Special IBS Preview Issue of NBNRead 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 Issue To read the Jan. 8 edition of Nation's Building News — the preview issue of the International Builders' Show — 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. 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. Nation's Building News Will Not Be Published Feb. 5 or Feb. 12Nation's Building News will not be published Feb. 5 or Feb. 12 while NBN staff is attending the 2007 International Builders' Show. Regular weekly publication will resume Feb. 19 and include reports from the show. Pulte Pulls Plug on Prefab Virginia PlantBattered by the slowest housing market in years, Pulte Homes announced that it is shutting down a three-year-old manufacturing plant in Manassas, Va. where it once hoped to build many of its Washington, D.C. area homes and possibly revolutionize home building methods. Pulte produced the basic shells of houses — foundations, walls and floor decks — at the 109,000-square-foot plant. The parts were trucked to sites within a 125-mile radius and assembled there. Shortly after the plant opened, company officials said they expected it to churn out 1,800 homes a year, using a technique that would make building them quicker and cheaper while improving their structural quality. But the plant never ran at full capacity, and at the time of its closing was only at 25% of capacity. “With 20-20 hindsight, Pulte should have started their factory three or four years earlier because the market turned down just as they were trying to ramp up,” said analyst Lawrence Horan. Pulte’s highly automated plant could produce larger, higher-end prefabricated homes with a variety of floor plans that could be built in three to five days. The company used more steel and less wood to reduce warping, bowing and bending, and the climate-controlled surroundings allowed more precision, less waste and fewer weather-related defects and delays. (www.washingtonpost.com)
The Draw of the Flaw — Railroad Tracks, Power Lines Can Be the Beginning of a BargainPeople in the Washington, D.C. housing market are buying real estate with such incurable defects as no yards or proximity to busy roads, power lines, factories or busy nightclubs. Long & Foster real estate agent Robyn Porter says that she sees an example every day of someone purchasing a home with a defect so that they can move into a neighborhood that they otherwise couldn’t afford. When the buyer decides to sell, however, it could take longer if the house is under a power line and they will need to price the home lower. While there is no guarantee that any home will appreciate at the same rate as its neighbors, she says that houses with incurable defects do not necessarily lag behind the rest of the market. Valerie Huffman, regional vice president with Weichert Realtors, cites examples of people who see a benefit in what most perceive as a defect. She has sold houses that sit along busy roads to buyers who thought it would be safer in a busier area where there would be less crime than in a more secluded neighborhood or who liked the idea of getting onto the main road quickly for an easier commute. (www.washingtonpost.com) Washington Post (1/27/07); Dan Rafter The Chill at Luxury’s Low End — In $1 Million-House Sector, Sales Tumble, Prices Are FlatThe million-dollar market is slowing down, according to an exclusive report for The Wall Street Journal prepared by Gopal Ahluwalia, NAHB’s vice president of research, based on data from First American Real Estate Solutions. Looking at sales of new and existing single-family homes costing between $750,000 and $1.25 million in the nation’s top metro markets, only 32 metro markets had 100 or more sales in that price range during the fourth quarter of 2006, down from 65 during the same period of 2005. In nearly half of those 32 markets, prices flattened or declined from a year earlier, in some areas by as much as 7.2%. Overall, the median price of the “starter luxury” homes in the 32 markets rose 1.4%, to $890,000. But the million-dollar market is doing better than the overall market because it wasn’t quite as overrun with investors during the boom. “There were more buyers trying to move up rather than make a killing,” Ahluwalia said. Because investors make their money by reselling properties quickly, they’re more likely to cut their losses, and their prices, as soon as they detect a market slowdown. A million dollars today doesn’t go as far as it did even a few years ago, before residential real estate in many cities experienced double-digit price increases during the boom. And the cash-rich buyers who were mostly immune to fluctuations in mortgage interest rates when they bought million-dollar homes five or six years ago have been replaced by middle-income buyers. Hoping to cash in on the boom, some of those buyers stretched to trade up using creative financing like option adjustable rate mortgages — which allow borrowers to decide how much they’re going to pay each month — and interest-only loans. Now, many are “stuck” with homes whose prices are flat or declining, according to University of Maryland business professor Peter Morici. (www.wsj.com)
Stricter Standards Sought for Lenders, BrokersRep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said in an interview that one of his top priorities this year will be enacting a nationwide lending-standards law to protect consumers from deceptive, unfair and predatory mortgage practices. A recent study by the Center for Responsible Lending predicted that as many as one of every five subprime borrowers who took out reduced-payment low-documentation mortgages from 1998 to mid-2006 could ultimately lose their homes because of steep payment increases and penalties they can’t handle. Proponents of a suitability standard would require loan officers to make certain that applicants are financially capable of handling a particular loan before and after payment increases, and also that the applicants fully understand the pros and cons of the mortgage they select. A standard might also prohibit brokers and others from steering less-sophisticated borrowers to higher-cost mortgages than those for which they could otherwise qualify. (www.washingtonpost)
Smart Elevators: A Faster Way Up and DownLooking for elevators that would be easier to use in its showcase 46-story tower on West 57th Street in Manhattan, the Hearst Corp. chose the Miconic 10 made by the Schindler Corp. Instead of pushing an up or down button to summon the elevator, the rider enters the floor number on a keypad in a single square column and is then directed by the keypad to a particular elevator. The elevator closes almost noiselessly and speeds to its floor. By stopping at fewer floors, the elevator cars can return to pick up people more often, and because smart elevators make fewer stops, they use less energy. Building owners like them because they mean fewer large crowds forming in lobbies waiting for the next car. The elevators can also calculate the weight of their passengers to prevent too many people from getting on, and they can also slow down if a disabled person is boarding. Similar elevators are available from other manufacturers, including Otis Elevator and ThyssenKrupp Elevator. (www.npr.org)
On the Level; Single-Story Living Growing in Popularity Among Over-55 Home BuyersThis year, buyers who are 55 and older are expected to account for 370,000 housing starts, according to the NAHB 55-Plus Council, and they will place 24% of the orders for new custom homes. And because the average home buyer is getting older, builders are adding a choice of traditional ranch floor plans, ranch homes with an optional second floor, all-on-one floor duplexes and ranch-style townhouses, according to Steve Hovany, president of Strategy Planning Associates in Schaumburg, Ill. One reason the traditional ranch house has not been more popular is cost, say builders. Single-family homes dominate lower-square-footage housing, noted Glen Barnard, senior vice president of KBnxt Group, a division of KB Home. But as buyers trade up to bigger houses, demand for ranch plans drops off sharply. Hovany said the price of land, the foundation and roof is about 20% more when figured for one floor rather than two. One solution to higher costs is offering ranch plans in attached housing, though a number of those all-on-one level units currently available resemble walk-up apartments or condos and require climbing some stairs. Leigh Nevers, vice president of marketing for Lennar’s Chicago region, said that many downsizing boomers “may think they want a single-family ranch, but when they factor in the price and maintenance that’s attached to it, they often realize a ranch town home or duplex that requires less upkeep and is more in line with their budget better fits their lifestyle.” (www.chicagotribune.com)
NAHB Visiting All 535 U.S. House and Senate OfficesIn welcoming the 110th Congress and working to promote policies that will keep housing a national priority, NAHB lobbyists last week began a series of visits to all 535 House and Senate offices on Capitol Hill. Each congressional office will be presented with a brochure that explains the housing mission of NAHB; provides an overview of the important economic role that housing plays at the local, state and national levels; and outlines policy concerns that are important to members of the housing community. In addition, the booklets contain customized economic and housing data unique to each state and congressional district. “We look forward to working with you, your staff and other lawmakers during the new Congress to enact legislation that opens the door to homeownership and rental housing opportunities for all Americans,” says NAHB chief lobbyist Joe Stanton in a message to every member of Congress. “We hope to meet with you on June 6, 2007, when home builders from across the country will be visiting Capitol Hill to discuss important housing-related issues.” Complementing the brochure, NAHB ran full page ads in the Jan. 20 and Jan. 27 editions of the National Journal welcoming lawmakers to Capitol Hill and reaffirming the association’s commitment to work with Congress to “keep the dream of homeownership and affordable rental housing alive.” Citing several broad policy areas, the four-page document summarizes NAHB’s position on the following issues:
Log on to www.nahb.org/110thcongress for a summary of NAHB’s policy issues and comprehensive, up-to-date economic and housing data that:
Also bolstering NAHB's message on Capitol Hill, NAHB President-elect Brian Catalde last week met with several members of the House and Senate leadership to discuss key housing-related issues. Catalde met with Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Select Revenue, and Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.), ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, to discuss NAHB's tax priorities in the 110th Congress. How NAHB can help elect pro-housing candidates to Congress was the topic of conversation in meetings with Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign (R-Nev.) and National Republican Campaign Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.). And he discussed the House legislative agenda with House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Chief Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) For more information, e-mail Michael Strauss at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8252. December Rise in Home Sales Bodes Well for 2007 UpturnHeading into 2007, housing demand showed further signs of stabilizing, with sales of new single-family homes rising 4.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.12 million units in December, according to figures released on Jan. 26 by the U.S. Commerce Department. "The December housing report squares with our most recent builder surveys, which show that traffic of prospective buyers is up and consumers are responding favorably to price adjustments and widespread sales incentives," said NAHB President David Pressly. On an annual basis, 1.061 million new home sales were registered in 2006. While this represents a 17.3% drop from an all-time high in 2005, the sharpest percentage decline since 1990, the actual sales level was about the same as in 2003, just as the industry was entering into the unsustainable boom of 2004 and 2005. On a quarterly basis, new home sales posted a rate of 1.061 million in the final quarter of 2006, up from 1.007 million in the third quarter, which was the quarterly low point for the year. "The stabilization of home sales and housing demand that we are now seeing is the first step required to put the housing market back on track," said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. "The second step is to whittle down the inventory overhang, which builders have been doing since July, and the final step will be to bring housing starts back up to sustainable levels. We anticipate that starts will bottom out in the first quarter of this year and that residential construction activity will be moving up by the second half of 2007." The inventory of new homes for sale hit a 10-month low of 537,000 units in December, which is equivalent to a 5.9-month supply at the current sales price — down from a recent high of 7.2 in July. On a regional basis, new home sales were up 27.3% in the Northeast, 26.6% in the Midwest and were flat in the South. Sales fell 4.4% in the West. Seiders noted that unusually warm weather probably boosted sales in the Northeast and Midwest to some extent in December, but that the stabilization pattern evident in the fourth quarter is quite convincing and consistent with other available housing indicators, including NAHB's survey measures.
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. Waterfront Sites Add Most Value in NAHB House Price EstimatorProviding information on what makes some properties more expensive than others or why a home in one part of town can cost much more than the same home in another location, a new online model from NAHB lets users plug in a variety of home and location characteristics to determine their value. Created by the association’s Housing Economics department, the house price estimator is based on data from the American Housing Survey (AHS), a nationally representative survey of about 60,000 housing units conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in odd-numbered years. Based on this information, NAHB found that waterfront locations have the most significant positive effect on home values in every Census region and in every type of setting. For example, a waterfront location raises the value of a standard home in a Midwestern suburb by 43% or $92,000, and the value of a standard home in the nonmetropolitan South by 44%, or $75,000. In the central city of a large California metro area, being on the water raises the value of a standard home by 41% or $243,000. An abandoned building within one-half block or roughly 300 feet is the characteristic with the largest negative impact on value, knocking down the worth of a standard home in a Midwestern suburb from an estimated $212,137 to $188,805. Bothersome trash, industrial buildings, inadequate shopping and bad roads also have significant negative effects on the price of a home. The house price estimations for each Census region are based on the value of a single-family detached home built after 2003 in a neighborhood with no specific amenities or drawbacks and the following characteristics:
Running the house price estimator requires a computer with a reasonably recent version of Microsoft Excel. In addition, Excel’s security setting must be set to either “low” or “medium.” Once this is done, it’s possible to access the NAHB model; specify a home’s age, features, location and neighborhood characteristics; and generate an estimated house price.
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. Eye on the Economy: Housing Production Should Bottom Out SoonGrowth of U.S. economic output (real Gross Domestic Product) has slowed to some degree in recent quarters as the housing production component (residential fixed investment) has contracted substantially. However, the housing contraction has not generated serious spillover effects in other sectors of the economy (including personal consumption expenditures), and strengthening activity in some sectors, including nonresidential construction and foreign trade, has helped offset the negatives from housing. As a result, the economy has not skated close to recession and the probability of an economic downturn in 2007 is not high. Economic resilience also is evident in the labor market. The housing downswing certainly caused job losses in residential construction during most of 2006, and further losses are virtually inevitable during the first half of this year. However, overall job growth was well maintained in 2006 and we’re expecting a solid performance in 2007 as well. The unemployment rate is likely to gravitate upward from recent expansion lows, but remain in a historically low range. Core Inflation Has Begun to Recede, Right on Schedule Key measures of core consumer price inflation (excluding prices of food and energy) firmed up during most of 2006, moving well above the upper bounds of the Federal Reserve’s apparent “tolerance zones.” This inflation pattern naturally raised concerns about economic “overheating” at our central bank and prompted financial market participants to anticipate some tightening of monetary policy in the near term. As 2006 drew to a close, core inflation rates began to recede, at least on a year-over-year basis. The core Consumer Price Index slowed systematically during the fourth quarter, receding to a pace only slightly above the upper bound of the Fed’s apparent tolerance zone for this measure. The evolving slowdown in core inflation actually had been projected by the Federal Reserve, and this pattern is an integral part of NAHB’s forecast for 2007. The recent and projected improvements on the inflation front reflect modest slowdowns in growth of real GDP and employment as well as dissipation of some special factors that elevated core inflation last year. The Interest Rate Structure Remains Historically Low The Federal Reserve has held its target for the federal funds rate at 5.25% since mid-2006, a level that’s around a “neutral” monetary policy stance in the prevailing inflation environment. We expect the Fed to maintain this funds rate target until the late-June meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), and we anticipate a quarter-point rate cut at that time — in order to keep the “real” funds rate from rising as core inflation recedes. Long-term interest rates have firmed up to some degree in recent weeks as incoming data on the economy have been surprisingly strong. Even so, long rates remain quite low on a historical basis and significantly below the recent highs in mid-2006. Indeed, the long-term home mortgage rate recently has been hanging around 6.25%, half a percentage point below the mid-2006 level. Despite the recent firming of long-term rates, the Treasury yield curve still is inverted across much of its range — a pattern that may not be sustainable for much longer. NAHB’s forecast shows an essentially flat Treasury yield curve by late this year, at least out to the 10-year mark, as short rates recede and long rates move up modestly. Housing Demand Apparently Stabilized Late Last Year A healthy job market, good growth in household income and a favorable interest rate environment certainly provided support to housing demand in the latter part of 2006. Furthermore, widespread price cuts and deepening nonprice sales incentives (documented by NAHB surveys) gave further support as the year drew to a close. Seasonal adjustment difficulties generally complicate interpretation of housing market data during the winter months, and this time is no exception. Weather conditions were unusually harsh last October and unusually mild in both November and December. Even so, it appears that housing demand stabilized in fundamental terms toward the end of 2006, and some improvement may now be underway. The October-November averages for sales of both new and existing single-family homes were up a bit from their third-quarter averages, and new home sales increased in December. Furthermore, NAHB’s single-family Housing Market Index — incorporating survey readings for current and expected home sales as well as for traffic of prospective buyers — continued to edge up in January. The January HMI came to 35, up from a low of 30 last September. The weekly series by the Mortgage Bankers Association on applications for mortgages to buy homes also supports the proposition that housing demand has stabilized, despite well-known seasonal adjustment issues. NAHB’s proprietary monthly survey of 30 large home builders — accounting for about one-fourth of the total for-sale new home market — also provides reassuring signals on the demand side of the single-family market during the final months of 2006. These data, seasonally adjusted, show a flattening of gross sales, a falloff in cancellations and a modest improvement in net sales late last year. Housing Production Should Bottom Out Before Long Stabilization of housing demand (net sales) is the essential first step toward completion of the dramatic housing “correction” that has followed the unsustainable housing boom of 2004-2005. The second step is to work down an excessive inventory overhang in markets for both new and existing housing, and the final step is to bring housing starts and residential construction activity back up to sustainable trend levels. Since housing inventories can’t be moved around, it’s inevitable that housing starts and residential construction will start moving up in some areas while heavy inventories continue to hold down new production in other areas. Indeed, NAHB’s forecast anticipates an upturn in national housing starts by the second quarter of this year and a turnaround in residential fixed investment by the third quarter despite the persistence of an unusually large national inventory overhang for some time. NAHB’s forecast depicts a gradual recovery in national housing production through 2008 as inventories are worked down in more and more markets and housing starts approach our estimate of sustainable trend — about 1.85 million units per year. During the recovery process, residential fixed investment will swing back to a positive contributor in the GDP growth equation long before housing production is back to trend. NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders analyzes the economy from the point of view of the housing market every other week in the free e-newsletter, “Eye on the Economy.” The preceding is a reissue of his Jan. 24 edition. To subscribe to “Eye on the Economy,” click here. Want to Know the Housing Starts 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 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. NAHB’s Council Headquarters Suites, Your Path to SuccessWhether your are a remodeler or building multifamily housing, custom homes, active adult communities, commercial buildings or are in another housing-related specialty, NAHB has all the information and educational programs you need to run a more successful business. To find more of what you need, visit any or all of the NAHB council headquarters suites and booths listed below:
BuilderBooks.com Has New Resources Available at IBSBuilderBooks.com will have several new titles — books, forms and software — available at the 2007 International Builders’ Show in Orlando that will help you improve your business and protect your workers. In addition, free shipping* is available for BuilderBooks.com purchases at the show. These new titles include:
Free Shipping for NAHB Members NAHB members who have a UPS account and are registered in the NAHB/UPS shipping discount program will receive one free shipment* at the 2007 IBS BuilderBooks.com Book Store. To qualify, you must be enrolled in the NAHB-sponsored UPS discount program prior to the show. If you already have a UPS shipper number, simply include it on the enrollment form. If you don’t have one, UPS will assign one to you when you enroll in this program. Visit www.savewithups.com/nahb/ibs to enroll. Cash Daily Stop by the book store at 3:00 p.m. each day to spin the “Big Wheel” for prizes and cash. There’s a winner every day.
*Some restrictions may apply. Visit the store at IBS for details. Executive Officers Council Events at the Builders’ ShowThe NAHB Executive Officers Council (EOC) has scheduled seminars and networking events — including an EOC welcome reception and hospitality suite — at the 2007 International Builders’ Show in Orlando. Executive Officers Council Highlights: Monday, Feb. 5
EO-specific resources — including the 2007 EOC Membership Directory — networking opportunities and other resources are available to executive officers at the hospitality suite. The suite is sponsored by Naylor Publications.
To plan for executive officer and other activities, visit the committee meetings section on the International Builders' Show Web site, www.buildersshow.com. Use the "My Show Planner" tool to register for specific courses. Builders' Tip: A Simple Way to Close Off Windows
This tip helps a lot when winter winds are bearing down. As shown in the drawing:
— Jon Sherman, Steamboat Springs, Colo. Tips & Techniques provided by Fine Homebuilding.
To request a reprint of this feature, e-mail Christina Glennon at Fine Homebuilding. BuilderBooks.com Offers More Than 250 Books That Help You Build Your Business BuilderBooks.com is your source for training and education products for the building industry. The official bookstore for NAHB, BuilderBooks.com offers award-winning publications, software, brochures and more available in both English and Spanish. To view these publications online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. 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. Try Technology Before You Buy, at IBS Computer LabsIndustry professionals will be able to sample the latest information technology business solutions at 20 interactive computer labs at the 2007 International Builders' Show (IBS) in Orlando. In the 90-minute labs, attendees will be able to "try before they buy" such technologies as computer-aided design and drafting software, estimating software, workflow management software that can help reduce cycle time, voice recognition software that can streamline communications and help make job-site supervisors more productive, and more. The interactive computer labs will be held in the Orange County Convention Center, rooms West 309 or West 310. The following is a preview of several labs at IBS: BuildLinks: Construction Scheduling Software That Leverages the Internet
SMART Builder Solutions: Real Time Process Management Software
For complete computer lab descriptions, locations and speaker information, click here. To Register To register for the computer labs listed and more, visit the computer lab 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.
NAHB Has More Than 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 more than 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, visit www.nahb.org/BoB on the Members Only side of the NAHB Web site. Sign Up to Present at the Custom Builders SymposiumNAHB is seeking presenters for the 2007 Custom Builder Symposium, the premier education and networking opportunity for those who build one-of-a-kind homes. This year’s symposium takes place Oct. 26-28 at the Naples Grande Resort & Club in Naples, Fla. Presentation submissions must be completed and received by Thursday, April 5. Applicants will receive notification of their proposal status by June 1. Click here to read the proposal guidelines and to submit a proposal. NAHB Biztools™ Has More Than 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 more than 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. 50+ Housing Council Events at the Builders’ ShowNAHB’s 50+ Housing Council has lined up five days of networking, education and special events — including architectural and plan reviews — at the 2007 International Builders’ Show from Feb. 5-10 in Orlando. 50+ Housing Council Highlights Monday, Feb. 5
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Thursday, Feb. 8 and Friday, Feb. 9
50+ Housing Council Hospitality Suite Learn more about the 50+ Housing Council and about council events and activitities at the builders' show.
Pre-Show Education The 50+ Housing Council is also offering several pre-show education courses on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 5-6. For more information, click here. (Note: Separate fees apply for pre-show education.) Visit the 2007 International Builders' Show Web site at www.buildersshow.com for more information, including online registration and hotels. 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. Remodeling Growth Expected to Moderate in 2007Growth of remodeling expenditures is expected to moderate this year following a strong performance in 2006, according to the latest forecast for the industry from HousingEconomics.com. Contrary to historical experience, remodeling in the near term is not expected to move in the same direction as the new homes market, which has been experiencing a downswing in sales and production, the forecast notes, largely as a result of the record rates of new and existing home sales in 2005. Home sales tend to increase remodeling expenditures, which trail out for 12 to 18 months after the sale. Remodeling expenditures for 2005 came in at $215 billion, somewhat stronger than the $210 billion NAHB economists forecast last March. That volume is expected to increase to $233 billion in 2006, which would be an 8.4% increase over 2005, roughly in line with the 8.3% increase in 2005. Although expenditures on owner-occupied properties will continue to dominate the residential remodeling market — especially for improvements — expenditures on rental properties are expected to pick up from recent rates, especially for repair and maintenance. Nominal remodeling expenditures on rental units fell in both 2004 and 2005, largely due to sharp declines in expenditures on maintenance and repairs, which were down 7.9% and 19.9% in those years, respectively. Significant improvements in this category are now expected over the next few years as a result of lower rental vacancy rates and higher rents, which are creating incentives for landlords to address delayed maintenance and repairs as well as to invest in improvements to their properties. Other factors that bode well for the remodeling industry:
For information on remodeling resources at NAHB, e-mail Jim Lapides, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8451.
Get NAHB’s Remodeling Forecast Online NAHB’s Remodeling Forecast issue provides an in-depth exploration of the forces driving the remodeling industry. The forecast includes historical and forecast tables showing real (inflation-adjusted) and nominal remodeling expenditures, divided into remodeling by owners and renters and by type of remodeling — improvements, maintenance and repairs. To download a free sample, click here. To subscribe, click here.
Log Homes Council Sells Cookbooks to Fight Cancer
More than 60 council members and most of their product suppliers have provided tasty recipes, ranging from Texas Caviar to Cherry Pretzel Torte, and donated funds to produce the 200-page cookbook. All proceeds for the cookbook will go to the National Cancer Awareness Foundation, a nonprofit, totally volunteer organization that gives 100% of all the money it raises to families in need. 'Cookin' for a Cure' sells for $14.50, plus $4.05 shipping. “It is with great pleasure and excitement that we were able to put this cookbook together and make a difference in the lives of many across the country,” said Dana Delano, of Ward Cedar Log Homes, of Houlton, Maine. Crystal Horne, of Honest Abe Log Homes, based in Moss, Tenn., produced the cookbook. “We are fortunate that all the individuals involved in the foundation are volunteers,” said Jeremy Bertrand, executive director of NAHB’s Building Systems Councils. “Items such as postage, phone, supplies, printing, etc. are all supported by private funds and corporate supporters. When individuals and companies make a donation, they can be assured that 100% of the money will be used for the cause.” To Order ‘Cookin’ for a Cure’ To order “Cookin' for a Cure,” click here for the order form and fax or mail your order to:
Or, call the Log Homes Council at 800-368-5242 x8576, or visit the council Web pages on the NAHB Web site, www.nahb.org. Community Centers: Growing Demand, Growing OpportunityBy Genilee Swope Parente
Consequently, community amenities and community centers have become a marketing necessity for master planned communities, rather than community options. According to Patrick Malloy, CEO of Patrick Malloy Communities in the greater Atlanta area, community centers and community amenities have grown in importance within the past decade as home owners in search of more house for their money have moved further from urban cores to master planned communities in the suburbs and exurbs. “People are tired of driving,” Malloy said. “At the end of the day, they want to get their recreation — both passive and active — within their community. They want to be rewarded for dealing with the horrible traffic by getting knock-your-socks-off amenities.” When Malloy developed City Square, a 900-home community in South Atlanta, more than 10 years ago, he had budgeted $700,000 for the community center. That investment — substantial for that time — included several tennis courts, a pool and a small greeting area that doubled as a sales center. StoneBridge, Malloy’s newest community southwest of Atlanta in Newnan, Ga., has an amenities budget that dwarfs CitySquare's. First, he has budgeted $750,000 — more than the entire amenities budget for CitySquare — just for the entrance feature for the community, which, when completed, will have almost 300 fewer homes.
Paul Johnson, senior vice president of community development for Rancho Mission Viejo, a 23,000-acre cattle ranch in South Orange, Calif., also believes in the importance of community amenities in today’s market. “Research proves that the major reason a person would move to a master-planned community versus a stand-alone subdivision is for the greater facilities, amenities, conveniences and benefits associated within a community master plan,” Johnson said. “In most cases, people are looking for a community that fits their lifestyle, followed by a home that fits their budget and other needs.” Rancho Mission Viejo, which has been family-owned since 1882, recently received Orange County approval to build 14,000 new homes as part of a comprehensive open space preservation/management and land use plan. All of the homes will be focused around community facilities and historic sites. Community Centers, Urban-Style Community centers aren’t limited to the popular single-family master planned communities in the suburbs or exurbs. They can also be found in newly developed urban communities, and the proliferation of community centers in city developments is keeping pace with their suburban counterparts, according to urban developers. Swinerton Builders is a national commercial contractor that has been operating in the San Francisco area since before the great earthquake of 1906. About 30% of its business is residential ― condominiums, apartment buildings or mixed-use facilities — and it includes everything from upscale high-rise apartments to affordable housing projects and special-use facilities such as senior housing. “People are looking for exclusivity, so developers must make their projects more attractive than the buildings next door in order to be able to sell them,” said Michael Neumann, project executive at Swinerton Builders. With large, for-profit efforts such as high rises in prime locations, community centers have become a major marketing tool.
One Embarcadero South competes for buyers with surrounding, equally upscale high-rise condominiums — with the most successful ones providing top-notch amenities, Neumann said. “It’s all about branding and lifestyle choices,” Neumann pointed out. “In a very busy lifestyle, that means offering conveniences such as a drycleaner in the building, technology that allows remote offices and a concierge who will buy tickets to the ball game.” Answering the Needs of Affordable Housing and Special Uses Community centers serve a different role in affordable housing communities and special-use facilities that is based on the sociology and purpose of the building, Neumann said. In senior housing units in less safe areas of the city, for example, the centers are designed to serve as a place where residents can socialize in a protected area. Swinerton's On Lok housing project, designed to provide housing in the Chinatown-North Beach area of San Francisco for frail seniors, includes a rooftop garden with protected seating designed to include “landscape therapy” in a safe environment, Neumann said. In special-use facilities such as the Derek Silva Community in San Francisco — an old hotel that Swinerton helped renovate in order to house low-income people living with HIV/AIDS — the community center is designed to draw people out of their units to socialize. In urban renewal projects, the centers also can include training facilities and computer rooms where residents can receive career assistance or daycare facilities so parents can work, Neumann explained. Who Builds the Community Centers? Who actually designs and builds a community center depends on preferences of the community developer and regional considerations. Arthur Casey, director of development for Starwood-Tiverton, LLC, which built The Villages on Mount Hope Bay active adult community in Tiverton, R.I., used the same designer and contractor to create the clubhouse as he did for the residences — in order to ensure “compatibility” between the buildings. The Villages on Mount Hope Bay, a 98-acre waterfront community, will include 290 town houses and mid-rise units and a clubhouse with amenities that include a beach (and eventual beach house) for swimming, docks for fishing and boating and, eventually, an old-fashioned New England-style inn with a full-service spa, restaurant, shops and seasonal café.
“The clubhouse was built into a hillside so the ‘water side’ of the clubhouse had two levels of social spaces — each with a large expanse of windows to maximize water views,” Casey explained. The design and materials used in its construction also had to take into account high winds and seawater exposure. In the Atlanta area, Malloy said he prefers to use light commercial construction contractors who have experience and specialize in creating community centers and amenities. Whenever possible, Malloy said he has the contractor begin construction of the community center before Malloy begins building the houses. “We feel this really shows the prospective home owner that we are committed to this community,” he said. Rancho Mission Viejo does not use the same builders for its residences that it uses for amenities, according to Johnson. Instead, “we select reputable designers to help us refine our design ideas, and then use general contractors to help construct the facilities.” Centers as Community Investments Home owners are shopping for communities with amenities because they want to be able to relax, socialize and be entertained close to home and within their communities. “I believe there are enlightened master community developers setting the national trend — furthering connectivity, town building and creating the total, whole community people are seeking,” said Ranch Mission Viejo's Johnson. However, builders and developers also should be looking at community centers as sound investments toward the future, according to Malloy. “I feel strongly that as economic cycles ebb and flow, the communities that have strong amenities will be the ones that do well — even in the downward trends — because they have created a brand for themselves,” Malloy said. Genilee Swope Parente is the managing editor of NAHB’s Commercial Builder magazine and Building Women magazine. For more information, e-mail Parente. NSMC/IRM Events at the International Builders' ShowThe National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC) and the Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) have five days of education, networking and special events planned at the 2007 International Builders' Show. To download the schedule, click here. Monday, Feb. 5
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Friday, Feb. 9
IRM is also offering several pre-show courses on Monday and Tuesday, Feb 5-6. For more information, click here. (Note: Separate fees apply for pre-show education.)
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.
Use CRS Credits Toward New Homes Sales DesignationsPotential Certified New Home Professional (CMP) and Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM) designation holders can use their Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation for elective credit in their CMP/MIRM profile and application. NAHB’s National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC) and the Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) approved the CRS designation for professional licenses and designation credit — a designation that focuses on existing home sales — in the CMP/MIRM profile for a maximum of 10 credits. CRS and IRM are highly recognized designations within the residential sales and marketing industry and many sales professionals across the county hold both designations. Many CRS members and designees are also IRM designees because they sell and market new homes. Many IRM designees hold CRS designations because of their work in resale homes. "The Council of Residential Specialists is proud to be recognized by NSMC and IRM, which puts a high value on the education of its members," said Toni Sherman, the Council of Residential Specialists’ director of business relations. “We look forward to other collaborative opportunities." The Council of Residential Specialists, with more than 44,000 members, is the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors®. The council awards CRS designations to experienced Realtors® who have completed advanced professional training. For more information, visit www.crs.com. 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. 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 — will be available at the booth. For more information about The NAHB University of Housing, visit www.nahb.org/education. . 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. Education Calendar
Learn More About The NAHB University of Housing Whether you’re new to the industry, hope to make your next career move or want to improve your company’s bottom line, The NAHB University of Housing can assist you in your educational pursuits. Visit www.nahb.org/education for a comprehensive listing of courses throughout the country. Be sure to visit often in order to view the most up-to-date information in your area. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||