Nation's Building News Online: August 13, 2007Print All Articles Text Version |
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Age-Qualified Adult Housing Has Some Growing Up to DoThe aging of the baby boomers and the rising share of the U.S. population comprised of people who are 55 or older suggest room for significant growth in age-qualified active adult housing, but so far that segment of the marketplace hasn’t reached its potential, according to a special study by NAHB housing analysts Paul Emrath and Helen Fei Liu. Out of the 69 million owner-occupied housing units in the country, age-qualified active adult housing — communities that generally require residents to be 55 or older, based on the provisions of the 1995 Housing for Older Persons Act — accounts for just under one million, about a 1.4% share. In sharp contrast, the NAHB researchers found that most 55+ households live in other communities. Data available from the 2005 American Housing Survey (AHS) show that there are 21.6 million 55+ home owners who are living in ordinary communities, about a 31.2% share of the total owner-occupied housing units. And there were seven million 55+ households who reported that their neighbors are mostly their age but that the neighborhood is not explicitly age-qualified, accounting for 10% of the units. In addition, the report says, age-qualified active adult homes are not evenly distributed across the country or within localities. Compared to the other communities where 55+ home owners are living, a disproportionate share of age-qualified active adult homes are in the South Census region and fewer are in the Midwest. Nearly one-half of the households in these homes are in the South, compared to only 7.5% in the Midwest. “Possible explanations for this pattern include population density, climate and the price of homes,” according to the study. The AHS also shows that 71% of age-qualified adult homes are in the suburbs; only 14.3% of them are in the central city. Capturing Only One-Third of Potential Customers Looking at today’s home buying market, the analysts conclude that “55+ communities are capturing only about one-third of their potential customers — and again, most of these are in communities that are not age-qualified.” Applying the AHS percentages of market shares to NAHB’s housing forecast, the economists estimated that housing units sold to or occupied by 55+ households will account for more than 370,000 housing starts this year, about 263,000 of these single-family. The estimates also show that 55+ customers should account for more than 190,000 of the projected new single-family sales and more than 800,000 of the projected existing single-family home sales in 2007. New housing built in age-qualified active adult communities in 2007 will have an estimated value of $7.3 billion, based on the average values of the new units from the 2005 AHS. “In one sense, the estimate of $7.3 billion represents a substantial number,” the report says. “However, it’s relatively small compared to the $74.1 billion of new housing purchased by 55+ households that is neither in an age-qualified community nor in a community that is occupied primarily by 55+ households. This is a further indication that age-qualified active adult construction is still capturing a relatively small share of the maximum potential number of customers.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans who are 55 or older increased from 52.2 million, or 21.0% of the total population, in 1990; to 59.3 million, 21%, in 2000; to 67.0 million, 22.6%, in 2005. Based on NAHB’s forecast, the 55+ population will grow to 76.6 million, a 24.5% share of the population, in 2010; to 85.6 million, 26.3%, in 2014. Higher-Quality Homes Wanted As a result of NAHB working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Census Bureau to improve the quality of the data they collect on 55+ housing markets in the AHS, which is conducted in odd-numbered years, the researchers were also able to find some information on the reasons that 55+ households moved:
Location of Health Care Facilities A 2003 collaborative study by NAHB and AARP may suggest additional reasons for elderly households moving or choosing a community that were not captured by the AHS. “The survey asked respondents if particular community features would be important to them in their later years, and whether they currently have these features,” the authors said. “The results show that a hospital, doctor’s office or drug store is important to over 80% of 50+ households.” “Moreover,” they said, “there is a gap of at least 20 percentage points between these percentages and the share of 50+ households reporting that they actually have these health-related facilities in their communities. This suggests that there may be market opportunities for developers to located age-qualified communities within range of healthcare facilities.” Other findings from a review of the AHS data:
Floor Plans: Custom Home Occupies a Lofty PerchProject:
Builder:
The 12,000-square-foot custom home built by family-owned custom home builder Homes by Pinnacle may sit atop a subtle knoll on a five-acre infill tract in the Chicago area, but for its owners, the home itself occupies quite a lofty — and luxurious — perch. A dramatic staircase graces the grand foyer. Exotic marbles, Italian granite and European hardwoods are used throughout. Many rooms feature custom beams and custom millwork, and the library boasts handcrafted cherry woodwork.
The home features luxuriously-crafted public spaces just right for entertaining, plus thoughtful and comfortable private spaces just perfect for a quick getaway — even if only for five minutes. The two-story home boasts 10-foot ceilings, 8-foot doors, a custom crafted cast stone fireplace, private studies with built-in bookcases and a circular wine cellar.
To cope with harsh Chicago winters, the home features radiant heating for its owners and a four-bay heated garage for their vehicles. The owners can work out in their private fitness center or luxuriate in a steam shower.
Homes by Pinnacle partners with the WHI family of companies — Sterling Building Systems and Wausau Homes, both headquartered in Wausau, Wis. — to utilize a system of controlled construction that melds state-of-the art technology with conventional building practices to improve the overall quality of construction framing and provide for custom flexibility.
Theater seating Quite naturally, the home features a custom home theater. But this theater includes its own marquee, movie time listings and pub. The only thing missing is a walk of fame.
25-Point Plan to Stem Illegal Worker Flow AnnouncedAfter signaling that it would do so for some time, the Bush Administration on Aug. 10 unveiled a series of measures designed to crack down on illegal immigrants. The 25-point plan, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, includes adding more patrol agents and fencing, barriers and surveillance equipment at the Mexican border; increasing by approximately 25% the civil fines imposed on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants; and proposing an administrative rule that would require all federal contractors to use E-Verify, formerly called the Basic Pilot Program — an Internet-based electronic employee verification system. Of special note to the business community, Homeland Security announced the imminent release of its final rule concerning Social Security no-match letters. The final rule will advise employers on how they should respond if they receive a no-match letter (“Employer Correction Request”) from the Social Security Administration (SSA) indicating that the combination of the employee’s name and Social Security number does not match agency records. The SSA projects that 140,000 letters will be sent out this year. Many of these letters are the result of clerical and other errors, and they do not necessarily mean that the employee is an illegal alien. Under the new rule, there will be certain procedures to be followed upon receipt of a no-match letter in order to receive safe harbor from Homeland Security. If the no-match situation is not resolved by following these procedures, the employer must then fire the employee or risk being charged with an illegal hiring violation if it is determined that the employee is in fact illegal. An employer who follows these procedures will not be charged with a violation, unless there is additional evidence that the employer knew about the employee’s illegal status. Hiring violations are punishable by civil fines or by criminal prosecution for repeat offenders. The final rule will go into effect 30 days from its date of publication. Note: The final no-match rule is expected to contain significant differences from the proposed rule that was published on June 14, 2006. If the final rule is published with the content that is expected, the procedures and time limits should be as follows: Overview of Expected Procedures and Time Limits:
For more information, e-mail David Crump at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8491. ‘Buy Now’ Advertising Assistance Program Resonates in Lincoln, Neb.When the Home Builders Association of Lincoln in Nebraska decided to conduct a “Buy Now” advertising campaign in their hard-hit area, they turned to NAHB’s “Buy Now” Advertising Assistance Program for funding support. The NAHB support resonated greatly with the membership. “Our builders were so pleased with the support we received from national,” said Nadine Condello, the HBA’s executive officer. “We’re desperate out here. The message that it’s a great time to buy is a great thing to get into people’s minds. The campaign generated a lot of hits on our Web site.” The HBA qualified for the grant program as a Tier 2 applicant and originally requested $30,000 of the maximum $40,000 in matching funds available under the program. The association used the funds to conduct a more than $60,000 advertising campaign that included newspaper ads, radio spots and billboard advertising. A Model Campaign in Fargo, N.D. Now, the HBA is applying for the remaining $10,000 available under the program to conduct a radio, television and newspaper campaign patterned after the “Buy Now” campaign conducted by the Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorehead in North Dakota. Condello first learned about the Fargo campaign when she listened to the builders’ radio spot, which is available as a case study that can be found in the Buy Now Promotional Toolkit on the NAHB Web site. After hearing the radio ad, Condello contacted the Fargo HBA’s EO, Bryce Johnson, to learn more about the campaign. She liked it so much, she is planning a second campaign using many of the messages from the Fargo campaign, but tailored to the Lincoln market. To learn more about the Fargo HBA campaign and to view its television commercials, click here. $160,000 Still Available in ‘Buy Now’ Grant Funds, Apply Today Currently, NAHB has $160,000 in “Buy Now” advertising assistance grant money still available. NAHB is encouraging HBAs that have not yet received or been approved to receive grant money to apply today. Tier 2 HBAs that previously applied but did not receive the maximum of $40,000 are eligible to reapply for the difference. To date, 137 HBAs in 39 states have received or been approved to receive nearly $2.4 million in NAHB advertising assistance, with another $440,000 in grants under consideration and pending. Including the matching funds that the HBAs contributed, the total value of their advertising campaigns is approximately $6.6 million. The NAHB “Buy Now” Advertising Assistance Program provides grants to qualifying HBAs in three categories:
To Apply To learn more about the program, eligibility considerations and requirements, click here, or call Niki Clark at NAHB at 800-368-5242 x806l. To view a list of the HBAs that have received or been approved for grants, and their grant level categories, click here.
Nation's Building News Is on Vacation August 20There will be no regular issue of Nation's Building News on Aug. 20. Weekly publication will resume on Aug. 27. Micro-Booms Defy the DownturnAlthough real estate sales and prices are flat or down in dozens of metropolitan areas, they may be up in micro-markets within those areas — along as there is at least moderately good local job and income growth. These strong markets are characteristically located in close-in, established neighborhoods convenient to the urban center’s employment and cultural attractions. The areas have above median incomes, with housing prices to match, and the homes are primarily purchased with prime, not subprime, mortgages. For example, in the 20815 Zip code (Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Md.), the dollar volume of sales was up 22% from June 2006 to June 2007, the average selling price was up 11.5% and the median price was up 6%, according to multiple listing service data provided by Dale Mattison, a broker with Long & Foster. Just across the Washington, D.C. line in the 20015 Zip code, the average sale price increased 6.6% and the median price 3.5% from June to June, though total dollar volume was down 2.5%. By contrast, in Washington, D.C. as a whole, dollar volume was down more than 16%, the average sales price fell 6.8% and the median price dropped 3.5%. In the Miami area, close-in communities such as Coral Gables are handling the downturn far better than more distant, lower-cost communities such as Homestead and Florida City. In San Francisco, highly regarded in-town neighborhoods such as Pacific Heights and the Marina continue to outperform the metro area and the state as a whole. (www.washingtonpost.com)
In a Spiraling Credit Crisis, Large Mortgages Grow CostlyWhen an investment banker set out to buy a $1.5 million home on Long Island last month, his mortgage broker quoted an interest rate of 8%. Three days later, when the buyer said he would take the loan, the mortgage banker said the new rate was 13%. The investment banker’s problem was that he was taking out a jumbo mortgage — a loan greater than the $417,000 mortgage that can be sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The banker who wanted the jumbo mortgage had a good credit score and is not a subprime borrower. But private mortgage securities of all types are now hard to sell, leading to his problem. In the end, he was able to get a mortgage with a lower interest rate, but it will adjust in five years, possibly to a much higher level. While conventional mortgages cost less than they did a few weeks ago as Treasury bond rates have declined, jumbo mortgages, where they are available, cost more. The difference has gone from less than a quarter of a percentage point to more than two-thirds of a percentage point. Jumbo mortgages are most important in areas with high home prices, most notably on the East and West coasts. (www.nytimes.com)
Anxious Builders Pile on IncentivesThe latest survey taken by NAHB indicates that 56% of builders are now offering incentives to home buyers, up from about 45% a year ago. And those incentives are growing bigger. In California’s San Diego County, Chris Heller, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty, says that on houses in the $700,000 range, his clients are typically scoring multiple concessions totaling as much as $80,000. Generally, that includes a price reduction, an agreement to pay closing costs or upgraded flooring or appliances — or a combination of all three. Builders in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area have also been struggling to move homes and are using incentives more freely. In suburban Dallas, incentives on single-family homes abound, including price reductions of as much as 20% and free swimming pools. Steve Wall, president of Wall Homes Inc., says his company is knocking as much as 18% off the list price for inventory homes in the city’s northeast suburbs. For other homes yet to be built, the builder is offering free blinds, a free covered patio and 50% off upgrades, up to $20,000. “It’s more competitive than this time last year,” he says. Builders generally try to avoid outright price markdowns, in part because it angers prior home buyers who don’t want prices in their subdivisions forced down. (www.wsj.com)
Maine Lumber Industry Falling on Hard TimesThe housing market is down, taking the price of dimensional lumber down with it; and a shortage of logs is driving up the price of mills’ raw material. Put it all together and Steve Banahan, sales manager at Moose River Lumber in Moose River, Maine, said lumber mills’ profit margins are getting squeezed to the break-even point. Moose River Lumber, which employs more than 80 people in the small town near the Canadian border, had to shut down three times in the past two weeks because of a shortage of reasonably priced logs, and the sawmill will be going to a four-day work week until the situation eases. One reason for the shortage of logs is demographics, with loggers getting older and retiring and not being followed by young people getting into the business. Another problem appears to be that the Canadian government has cut back on the harvest of timber from land owned by the government, causing Canadian mills to bid up the prices of logs from the U.S. That means mills are paying higher prices for logs at the same time that prices for dimensional lumber are declining. (www.pressherald.mainetoday.com)
Hispanic Growth Extends EastwardRapidly growing numbers of Hispanics are fanning out across the eastern half of the USA and settling in rural and suburban counties far from traditional immigrant strongholds, according to Census numbers. The number of Hispanics has soared since 2000 in counties such as Paulding near Atlanta, Kendall on the western edge of Chicago, and Stafford, Prince William and Loudoun in Virginia, outside Washington. None of the traditional immigrant gateways — including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York — remains among the fastest-growing Hispanic centers. The Hispanic population in Pennsylvania’s Luzerne County, two hours north of Philadelphia, nearly tripled since 2000, the fourth-fastest increase among large counties. The Census data show that diversity is increasing in more parts of the country. In 303 counties — nearly one of 10 — the share of whites has slipped below 50%. Eight more counties joined the list since 2005, and 205 others are nearing the mark with more than 40% minorities, nearly all in the South and West. (www.usatoday.com)
Developer Thinks Outside the Wooden BoxDeveloper John Petchel says his new concrete 1,400-square-foot, three-bedroom condos in Henderson, Nev. are strong enough to withstand a hurricane, sturdy enough to last through a wildfire and energy-efficient enough to cut their owners’ electricity bills by 80%. He has constructed 12 townhouses in a rundown neighborhood where homes leak cooled air through holes in windows or walls, and he is building another 36 units on vacant lots around the corner. Although his concrete townhouses cost about $3,000 more than a traditional wood-frame home ($125,000 compared with about $122,000 for the same wood-frame unit), he says the houses make up the difference with the savings in air conditioning bills within two years. Petchel uses insulating foam forms reinforced with rebar and surrounded by concrete on each side. The 8- to 15-inch walls are covered with stucco, shingles or wood on the outside and traditional drywall on the inside. Interior walls are usually also concrete, and roofs are traditional tile. The Southern Nevada Home Builders Association says that the percentage of homes in the valley built with concrete is “minuscule” and that most of its members still build with stick framing, which can be built to be just as energy-efficient as concrete homes. Donn Thompson, residential technology manager for the Portland Cement Association, said that about 18% of single-family new construction starts in the U.S. used some form of concrete frame in 2005. (www.lasvegassun.com)
Bridge Collapse Spurs Senate Action to Study InfrastructureIn response to the catastrophic collapse of the main 458-foot span of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis on Aug. 1, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has stepped up efforts to disseminate technical information on the current state of disrepair in the nation’s infrastructure. ASCE-endorsed legislation to create a commission to study the nation’s infrastructure needs received priority treatment in the U.S. Senate following the incident in which dozens of vehicles, tons of concrete and twisted metal were sent into the waters of the Mississippi River 64 feet below. Built in 1967, the bridge carries 140,000 vehicles a day. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating what could have caused this incident. Late on Aug. 2, the Senate passed the National Infrastructure Improvement Act, S. 775, which would establish a national commission to assess the physical condition of the U.S. infrastructure and recommend ways to improve it. The bill would create a National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United States charged with completing its study by Feb. 15, 2009. The study would report on infrastructure improvements that aid in long-term economic development; the age and condition of public infrastructure; financing methods for the construction and maintenance of public works projects; trends in innovative financing and investment needs; and the projected federal and state share of investment. ASCE’s 2005 “Report Card for America’s Infrastructure” indicated that between 2000 and 2003, the percentage of the nation’s 590,750 bridges rated structurally deficient or functionally obsolete decreased slightly from 28.5% to 27.1%. However, it will cost $9.4 billion a year for 20 years to eliminate all bridge deficiencies. The Federal Highway Administration's strategic plan envisions bringing the share of the nation’s bridges classified as deficient down to below 25% by next year, but that would still leave one in four bridges in that category, the ASCE report card pointed out. Also, a significantly higher percentage of urban bridges than rural bridges have been classified as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. A structurally deficient bridge is closed or restricted to light vehicles because of its deteriorated structural components, according to the ASCE. While not unnecessarily unsafe, these bridges must have speed and weight limits. A functionally obsolete bridge has older design features and, while it is not unsafe for all vehicles, it cannot safely accommodate current traffic volumes and vehicle sizes and weights. “These restrictions not only contribute to traffic congestion, they post such major inconveniences as school busses or emergency vehicles taking lengthy detours,” the ASCE said. To read the legislation, click here and enter S. 775 in the box at the center of the page. Useful Links to Monitor Economic and Housing TrendsThe following are links to useful information from government agencies and NAHB that will enable you to monitor the housing market. To access the latest information available, simply click the links.
Attend the Fall Construction Forecast Conference in October Plan to attend NAHB's Construction Forecast Conference on Oct. 24 at the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C. The conference brings together the nation's premier housing economists and finance experts for an in-depth examination of the economic outlook for the housing industry. Register by Sept. 7 and save $50 off the regular registration fee. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/cfc.
Want to Know the Housing Forecast for the Top 100 Metros? Find out in HousingEconomic.com’s 2007-2008 Metro Forecast (free preview). Get the metro forecast with in-depth analysis, overviews and downloadable Excel tables. 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 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: How to Use an Air Chisel to Trim Wood
Then I found a tip called a muffler-cutting attachment. To use it, I ground the chisel edge on it, as shown in the accompanying drawing. Chisel Cuts Through Knots Like Cheese The chisel goes through dry Douglas-fir knots and end grain as if they were cheddar cheese. But because I can go full blast — or just squeeze off one or two strokes — the cutting action is safe and controlled. (Obviously, you should wear your goggles when using this rig.) The muffler-cutter steel is soft, so it won’t cut nails. But it sharpens easily with a file. So, for this type of work, you don’t need to worry about microbevels. Handy to Have Around One day, our crew’s door doctor came upon the ultimate door hassle. The subfloor at the back of a pocket door rose up too much to let the door open completely. Our solution: We welded up a 3-foot version with an old chisel on one end, a length of 1/2-inch pipe in the middle and an adapter from another cutting tool on the other end. It took longer to clear away the chips than it did to cut down the floor. Now, I keep my impact hammer and the chisel attachments around for a variety of jobs — for when the header is an inch too low, when I need to carve a channel for a steel strap or when our plumber remembers the waste and overflow after the tub’s already in. — Gregg Roos, San Francisco 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 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. Improve Efficiency and Job Readiness: Plan, Do, Check, ActDecreasing cycle time and increasing business efficiency is vital to the success of home building companies, and an essential part of improving their bottom lines. With so many processes to complete at once, and often on tight deadlines, maintaining speed while improving quality performance can seem like an insurmountable challenge. Best practices of the National Housing Quality program include taking on this issue with a time-saving, documented, quality assurance plan that reinforces job-ready conditions. Help Trades Implement Good Habits Job readiness starts with open, two-way communication. The key to reducing cycle time and getting the job done right the first time includes breaking down the barriers to communication and reinforcing the terms up front. How can a trade contractor know what is expected if those expectations haven’t been addressed? Since most trades work for more than one builder, there are varying practices that can become habit. What works for one builder might not apply to others, and vice versa. Beyond a builder communicating his expectations, the trade contractor should also indicate his terms and what is needed from the builder to do the job well. Approach Job Readiness as a Process, Not a Problem Builders and their trade partners should discuss the terms at the start of the job and then document the requirements related to job readiness that are required before work can begin at each major stage. The scope of work should also include procedures for dealing with partially-ready jobs, including appropriate communications with home owners as needed. When these conditions are not met, communication breaks down and progress comes to a halt. Field managers should reinforce these requirements to prevent trade contractor overlap and improve safety as much as possible. If several work crews are hovering over the same site waiting for their turn, it’s safe to assume that everyone involved is losing money. Hiring trades with a formal quality assurance process in place helps to ensure that job-ready conditions are met consistently. Addressing job readiness as a process instead of a problem can help builders and trades identify and resolve issues that crop up again and again. Eliminate Recurring Problems With ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’ Instead of continuing to put out fires, apply the “Plan, Do, Check, Act” model as a guide to remedy the source of recurring problems.
For more information about this article, e-mail Joshua Nester at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8461. 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. Evaporative Cooling an Air Conditioning AlternativeEvaporative coolers, one of the many innovations listed by the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing Technology (PATH), was featured recently on ToolBase.org as an alternative to conventional air conditioning. “Evaporative coolers, commonly called ‘swamp coolers,’ use the natural cooling effect of water evaporation to provide a low first-cost, energy-saving and environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional air conditioners in arid climates,” according to ToolBase E-News, a publication of the NAHB Research Center. Two types of coolers are available: direct and indirect. In a direct evaporative cooler, a blower forces air through a permeable, water-soaked pad. As the air passes through the pad, it is filtered, cooled and humidified. Indirect coolers have a secondary heat exchanger that prevents humidity from being added to the air stream entering the house. Evaporative coolers can be used as a sole cooling system, as an alternative cooling system to a conventional refrigerant air conditioner or combined with a refrigerant system. However, conventional air conditioners should not be operated simultaneously with direct evaporative coolers, because the two systems work in opposition, with the former dehumidifying and evaporative coolers providing humidity. Windows or ceiling vents need to be open when an evaporative cooling system is operating. The large volume of fresh air added to the home replaces a significant amount of the air that is exiting. Many systems incorporate a bleed-off valve that purges water about every six hours. This leads to an additional five gallons of water used per hour, but may be necessary to avoid mineral build-up. Bleed-off valves are generally recommended. Indirect, or two-stage evaporative coolers do not add humidity to the air, but they cost more than direct coolers and operate less efficiently. Two-stage evaporative coolers combine indirect with direct evaporative cooling by passing air inside a heat exchanger that is cooled by evaporation on the outside. In the second stage, the pre-cooled air passes through a water-soaked pad and picks up humidity as it cools. Because the air supply to the second stage evaporator is pre-cooled, less humidity is added to the air, whose affinity for moisture is directly related to temperature. The result, according to the manufacturer, is cool air with a relative humidity between 50% and 70%, depending on the regional climate. A traditional system would produce about 80% relative humidity. Among the attributes of evaporative coolers cited by PATH:
‘Tech Set’ Shows Builders How to Improve Indoor Air QualityWith the release of its Tech Set No. 9, the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) presents simple steps that contractors and home owners can take to improve indoor air quality. In addition to cooking odors, a home’s air may also contain excess humidity, dust, mold spores, chemical fumes, radon, combustion products from mowers running outside or furnaces running inside and other potential irritants, according to PATH. Although most people aren’t significantly affected by indoor air, “as anyone with asthma or other respiratory problems knows, poor air quality can become a serious matter,” said Darlene Williams, assistant secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. “HUD’s PATH program is committed to providing builders, remodelers and home owners with the information they need to assure a healthy home.” Tech Set No. 9 outlines the basic steps that ensure a comfortable and allergen-free indoor environment:
Green Building Standard Draft Available for Public CommentA draft of the National Green Building Standard was released on Aug. 10 for public comment, and the comment period will end on Sept. 24. The new voluntary green standard for the home building industry is based upon the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. NAHB is working with the International Code Council to create the standard and the two chose a consensus committee representing a broad spectrum of builders, code and government officials, energy experts, suppliers and industry consultants. One of the major challenges is ensuring that the standard can be adapted regionally. The standard’s success, committee members believe, lies in making sure that green building practices remain flexile, reflecting the area of the country where the homes are being built. For information from the NAHB Research Center on the standard-writing process, click here. To review a draft of the National Green Building Standard, click here. To submit comments, click here to access a Public Comment Form, which is required to participate in this process. A second public comment period is scheduled for October. For more information, e-mail Calli Schmidt at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132. Entries Open for Pillars Design, Marketing Awards
NAHB Multifamily has announced a call for entries for the 2008 Pillars of the Industry Awards competition honoring excellence in apartment and condominium design and development, as well as leadership in marketing and property management. Apartment owners and developers, property managers, architects, interior designers and others involved in the multifamily housing industry are invited to enter. The application deadline is Nov. 9. Entry notebooks are due Dec. 7. The Pillars of the Industry Awards program is the largest and most prestigious of its kind, and both housing professionals and the media look to the awards as a showcase of future trends and innovation. The awards recognize superior achievement in three areas: building, marketing and individual excellence, including “Multifamily Development Firm of the Year” and “Best Multifamily Community of the Year.”
For complete details, including eligibility requirements and application forms, go to www.nahb.org/pillarsawards, e-mail multifamily@nahb.com, or call 800-368-5242 x8215. To see a list of last year's winners, available on the NAHB Web site, click here. Remodelers’ Confidence Slips; Grab Bars in DemandThe assessment of remodelers of current market activity in this year’s second quarter slipped from 46.1 to 44.8 on a seasonally adjusted basis and their future expectations dropped more than two points to 44.1 on the NAHB Remodeling Market Index (RMI). Any number exceeding 50 would indicate that the majority of remodelers view market conditions as improving. "While we have experienced some weakening in the remodeling market, activity has remained relatively steady," said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Mike Nagel, CGR, CAPS, a remodeler from Chicago. "We may have seen a decline in the number of major remodeling projects; however, the market has been buoyed by an increase in the number home of owners requesting smaller scale projects and home alterations." Regionally, the Northeast showed some improvement with the RMI current market reading jumping from 43.4 in the first quarter to 49.5, and future expectations remaining relatively flat at 44.1 compared to the previous quarter’s reading of 44.3. But other regions of the country were mostly down in the April to June period. Current conditions in the Midwest fell from 47.5 to 44.5 and future expectations moved from 44.7 to 43.7. In the South, those barometers dropped from 45.9 to 42.3 and from 50.7 to 45.0, respectively. Results for the West were a mixed bag, with current conditions in the second quarter trailing those of the first three months of the year, at 46.8 compared to 48.2, but future expectations climbing in an ascent from 45.0 to 46.0. "Not surprisingly, the remodeling market is following the downswing we are seeing in the overall housing market," said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. "We expect some further erosion in the second half of this year and in 2008, followed by a gradual recovery in 2009 and beyond." Components of the RMI measuring the difference between activity in the home owner and rental markets found the multifamily sector weaker. Current home-owner remodeling jobs remained relatively flat, at 47.5 compared to 47.7 in the first quarter, but remodeling of rentals skidded from 44.5 to 39.1. Future expectations softened from 46.4 to 43.2 for owner-occupied units and from 41.4 to 37.3 for rentals. Aging-in-Place Special questions on the second-quarter survey focused on aging-in-place remodeling work. According to those findings, 72% of respondents reported that their company is involved in home modification work relating to aging-in-place — up from 60% in 2006. Among the most popular aging-in-place remodeling projects of those involved in this market:
For more information, e-mail Liz Warin at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8495. Harvard Expects Slow But Steady Home ImprovementsDespite weakness in house prices, growth in home improvement expenditures is expected to hold steady in the low single-digit range, according to the Leading Indicator for Remodeling Activity (LIRA) developed by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Home owner spending for home improvement activity will essentially remain constant through the first quarter of 2008, with overall growth in spending for this year projected to be 3.0%. “Home owners continue to draw on built-up equity in their homes to finance home improvements,” said Nicolas Retsinas, director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies. “However, the pace of spending remains moderate and tempered in the context of a very soft housing market.” “Falling sales of existing homes and depressed remodeling contractor sentiment remain negative factors in the outlook for the industry,” said Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program of the Joint Center. “With borrowing costs remaining favorable, though, owners are still able to take advantage of the run-up in their house’s value over the past decade to finance home improvement projects.” The LIRA is a new initiative from the Remodeling Futures Program to estimate future national remodeling activity with a horizon of three quarters. Released last month, the index showed 2.4% growth in home-owner remodeling activity in this year’s second quarter on a four-quarter moving rate of change basis, or a total of $185.0 billion; and projected 2.4% growth for the third quarter ($185.3 billion); 3.0% in the fourth quarter ($183.1 billion); and 3.4% in the first quarter of 2008 ($186.8 billion). The LIRA replaces the Remodeling Activity Indicator (RAI) previously released by the Joint Center and it is released quarterly in April, July, October and January during the third week following the end of each quarter. The next release date is Oct. 18. Consumers Told How to Add Value to Their HomesInformation in the current July issue of HouseKeys, NAHB’s newsletter geared to consumers, provides home owners with informatioin on the remodeling projects that are most likely to increase the value of their property. Among the suggestions:
Mahoney Recruits 21 New Memphis Remodelers This YearPat Mahoney, chair of the Memphis Area Home Builders Association Remodelors® Council in Tennessee and one of this year’s Bryan Patchan scholarship winners, recruited 21 new remodelers since the beginning of the year as part of the national council’s “7 in '07” membership recruitment campaign.
The NAHB Remodelers’ “7 in '07” campaign rewards successful recruiters with prizes, NAHB-wide recognition through several of the association’s e-newsletters and with Spike credits that are applied toward an invitation to a private reception. The Bryan Patchan Scholarship is a $1,000 award given to the chairman or vice-chairman of a local NAHB remodelers council for travel expenses to attend the NAHB Spring Board of Directors meeting in Washington, D.C. Mahoney focused on recruiting the people he did business with who were not yet members and he touted the knowledge and education available through NAHB as a particular member benefit. “I shamed a few people into joining,” Mahoney laughed. “I said, ‘If you’re in this business, you have to get involved. Things in the remodeling industry are different than in new construction, and you need to be up-to-date on what’s going on.’” “If you don’t hang out with other home building professionals, you’ll find out important information after the fact — instead of when everything’s current,” Mahoney said, while pointing out that getting colleagues and friends to join NAHB is good for the industry and good for himself. “You get out what you put into it,” Mahoney said. “You can’t afford not to be involved.” Market Trends, Successful Selling Hot Topics at ShowcaseHow to increase market share and profit margins is one of the hot topics at SHOWCASE 2007, the premier systems-built industry education and networking event, at the Marriott Hilton Head Golf and Resort in South Carolina on Oct. 28-31. Bill Webb, the author of “Sweet Success in New Home Sales,” available through BuilderBooks.com, will lead an education session about how to boost your sales in a changing market. In addition, NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders will discuss trends in the market and the immediate and long-term effects on the systems-built housing community. SHOWCASE 2007, by NAHB’s Building Systems Councils, features educational sessions, trade show exhibits, award ceremonies and networking opportunities tailored to manufacturers, builders, dealers, suppliers and associates in the concrete, log, modular and panelized home building industries. SHOWCASE 2007 attendees will have the opportunity to see cutting-edge technology and the most advanced supplies and products and to learn about the latest trends from experts in green building, marketing, human resources and from the NAHB Research Center. Among this year's breakout sessions are:
For more information and to register, visit www.nahb.org/showcase. Register early. Discounted "Early Bird" registration ends Sept. 7.
Register for Custom Builder Symposium in Naples, Fla.Register for the 2007 Custom Builder Symposium, NAHB's premier educational and networking event for custom builders. The symposium will be held Oct. 26-28 at the Naples Grande Resort & Club in Naples, Fla. Discover Hidden Treasures This year's program, "Discover Hidden Treasures," is filled with hidden treasures and opportunities that will enable participants to improve their businesses. Tours, Golf, Education and More The symposium will include:
To Register Online registration is now open. For more information and to register, go to www.nahb.org/custom.
Enter The Nationals Sales and Marketing Awards by Sept. 28Enter your best in new home sales and marketing and design for 2008's The Nationals — the National Sales and Marketing awards, the largest and most prestigious competition for new-home sales and marketing professionals and communities. Sponsored by NAHB’s National Sales and Marketing Council, The Nationals honor the best in architectural achievement, product and community design, advertising and promotion, interior merchandising, Web site design and more. The awards are open to individual sales and marketing professionals, home builders, associates and sales and marketing councils. All entries, including fees and exhibits, are due Friday, Sept. 28. The Nationals recognizes innovation and excellence in 57 categories. During a three-day judging process, a panel of industry professionals from across the country selects Silver and Gold award winners from a field that typically includes more than 1,200 entries. Last year, more than 1,400 entries were submitted. To Apply
Awards Gala at IBS on Feb. 13 Category winners will be honored during a gala event at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando on Feb. 13 during the International Builders' Show. For more information, visit www.TheNationals.com, e-mail Lisa Parrish, or call her at 800-658-2751. Education Calendar
Learn More About Upcoming Conferences and Designations Interested in attending a University of Housing conference or learning more about NAHB designation programs? Visit www.nahb.org/notifyme, and sign up to receive more information. 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 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. Speakers Wanted for Design Programs at Builders’ ShowNAHB’s Design Committee is seeking speakers to participate in the design programs at the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Feb. 13-16. The design programs are some of the most popular and well-attended sessions at IBS. Nineteen design programs, plus three plan review workshops, will be offered. Applications to participate in the programs are due Friday, Aug. 31. To learn more about the design programs, or for an application, click here. For more information, e-mail Jennifer Jones at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8469. Register for Construction Law Seminar on Sept. 6
David Jaffe, NAHB staff vice president for construction liability and legal research, will be the moderator for the “Legal Challenges in Representation of the Home Builder” discussion on Sept. 6 about how construction lawyers can help their home builder clients reduce litigation. Other panelists include Peggy Caldwell, senior vice president and acting general counsel for Beazer Homes, and Timothy Geckle, general counsel for The Ryland Group. In addition to the home builder-specific panel, the two-day seminar will also include topics such as the business and legal risks associated with building green; emerging insurance coverage issues; defense of foundation, site work and geotechnical claims; and more. The seminar is open to coverage attorneys, in-house counsel for construction or engineering firms, class action coordinating counsel, construction litigators, claims professionals, home builders and product manufacturers. The seminar is being conducted by DRI, the Chicago-based national organization of defense trial lawyers and corporate counsel. To Register For more information and to register, click here, or call 312-795-1101. To read the seminar brochure online and download a faxable registration form, click here (in PDF format). Patsy Smith Fund Continues to Build Construction CareersPatsy Smith, a board member of the Home Builders Institute (HBI), has donated an additional $10,000 to the National Housing Endowment to build on the success of The Patsy and Herman Smith Fund for Excellence in the Trades. While chairman of HBI in 2005, Smith established the fund with an initial $10,000 donation to the National Housing Endowment for the purpose of providing direct support to HBI and its training programs under the Workforce Training and Employment (WTE) umbrella. WTE continues to grow, now housing 19 trades training programs, including Operation Reconstruct, a Hurricane Katrina relief effort with sites in New Orleans and Gulfport, Miss. Training more than 1,000 people annually, WTE programs focus on special populations such as the displaced and unemployed in the Gulf region, at-risk and troubled youth, people with disabilities, offenders and veterans. Despite strong demand for labor in the housing industry and the expansion of WTE, these federally and state-funded programs have been constrained by funding cuts, escalating costs and limited resources, and HBI has been unable to fully address the needs of its training participants. The Patsy and Herman Smith Fund addresses these problems by delegating money to supply and equip classrooms and shops, enhance student training through industry activities, assist program graduates in their transition into the industry and help students continue their education if they wish to do so. Married for 44 years to the late Herman Smith, who was a former NAHB president and prominent land developer and philanthropist, Patsy Smith has been a long-time supporter of HBI’s multi-faceted initiatives to address the industry’s need for workers in the skilled trades. “I always considered the skilled trades the most critical piece of the real estate development world. We need people to build and repair the homes. Without them, our dreams stay on paper and what’s more, so do those of the people who want to own a home,” said Smith. “I feel fortunate to be able to assist HBI and its programs that give people the skills to build homes while they rebuild their lives.” Smith was inspired to establish the fund after visiting WTE programs and seeing the critical personal needs of students in the trades during their training and job placement. Her decision to establish the fund was inspired by Lowe’s Home Improvement, which renewed its commitment to HBI’s Job Corps students through a $50,000 contribution to the HBI/Lowe’s Building Careers Scholarship program. To date, Lowe’s has committed $200,000 to the Building Careers Scholarship fund. The workforce development arm of NAHB, HBI has helped more than 250,000 people enter careers in the home building industry. Its programs provide skills in the building trades for people of all ages, promote career opportunities in the industry and help meet the labor needs of the residential construction industry. For more information on the Patsy and Herman Smith Fund for Excellence in the Trades, e-mail Maria McIntyre at HBI, or call her at 800-795-7955 x8912. For information on HBI’s Workforce Training and Employment programs, contact Dennis Torbett, x8908. Plastic Pipe an Affordable and Green Choice for HousingDecades ago, plastic pipe was a novelty, a unique product developed to help meet the demand for sewer and water lines in a burgeoning post-war housing market. Today, plastic pipe is a critical component that helps keep American homes and municipal water and sewer systems affordable and functional for decades to come. “We’re miles beyond the novelty stage. In fact, if we were to characterize plastic piping systems today, we could say it in three simple words: plastic pipe protects,” said Richard Church, executive director of the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association (PPFA), a trade group representing more than 70 North American plastic pipe, plastic fittings and raw material manufacturers. “Plastic piping systems have a number of properties that protect consumers and the environment,” said Church. “As an example, our products protect the environment by minimizing the energy required to heat water for home use and by limiting the amount of greenhouse gases thrown into the environment by the manufacturing process, compared to metallic piping systems,” he explained. Church said that plastic piping systems also help protect property by minimizing the amount of maintenance required and by giving home owners confidence in long-term performance. “In short, plastic pipe protects by lasting and lasting and lasting,” said Church. “Plastic systems also protect home owners by saving on installation costs and by providing water that is clean and devoid of the heavy metals.” he added. Church said that plastic piping systems hold a great deal of promise for the future. “Plastic systems are sustainable and environmentally preferable. In short, they provide reliable delivery from the source to the destination without water loss or contamination of the environment.” Today’s homes are serviced with water by easily trenched Polyethelyne, PVC or PEX (cross-linked polyethylene). Potable water is distributed throughout the home with either chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) or PEX. “All of these materials have made a significant impact on the affordability of housing, on the quality of water delivered to home owners and on the longevity of the homes’ plumbing systems, particularly in areas where the water aggressively attacks metallic piping systems,” said Church. PVC and ABS pipe and fittings engineered for drain, waste and vent (DWV) systems are used in the vast majority of all single-family homes built today and are experiencing significant growth in commercial construction throughout North America. “Where those products really make an impact is on the affordability of the single-family home,” said Church. “In addition, PVC and ABS sewer pipe provide superb long-term integrity and resistance to rust and corrosion. Plastic DWV piping is much easier to handle and install and can easily be modified when the home owner decides to remodel or enlarge the home.” As the demand for protecting the environment continues to grow, builders will have to look no further than plastic pipe and fittings to economically meet all of their green building plumbing needs. Plastic pipe and fittings are not only environmentally superior in traditional plumbing applications, but they are the preferred materials to use in green applications such as geo-thermal heat pump systems, drip irrigation, reclaimed water systems and residential gray water systems. Headquartered in Chicago, the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association is a member of the National Council of the Housing Industry — The Supplier 100 of NAHB. This feature is solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on this page should be construed as policy, an endorsement, warranty or guaranty by the National Association of Home Builders of the featured product or the product manufacturer. The National Association of Home Builders expressly disclaims any responsibility for any damages arising from the use, application or reliance on any information contained on this page. Lutron Shading Products Integrated With Home TheatersCapitalizing on the growing popularity of home theater systems, security controls and automated lighting, Lutron Electronics is providing integrated shading systems that will help builders and contractors increase their profit potential and expand their business. Automated shading systems are one of the most profitable of home technology options available to builders, says Lutron. The manufacturer’s Sivoia QED™ (Quiet Electronic Drive) controllable shading products allow builders and home owners to utilize a custom-built shading system with various configurations and fabrics suited to their specific application. Lutron’s controllable window treatments help create an ideal system by reducing or eliminating glare on the viewing screen and video washout, ensuring privacy and keeping furniture safe from UV damage — while adding an attractive and complementary feature to the home. With the touch of a button, the technology can turn any room into a home theater with optimum picture quality and maximum viewing pleasure. The QED shading products include roller shades, Roman shades and drapery track systems. All systems operate with ultra-quiet precision and low-voltage drives and many options are offered for the controls. Among the product’s features:
This feature is solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on this page should be construed as policy, an endorsement, warranty or guaranty by the National Association of Home Builders of the featured product or the product manufacturer. The National Association of Home Builders expressly disclaims any responsibility for any damages arising from the use, application or reliance on any information contained on this page. NAHB-Produced Programs on DIY, Fine Living and HGTVThe NAHB Production Group produces weekly television shows on HGTV and DIY for consumers. The following is the latest lineup: "Rock Solid" on DIY
Stone masons and hosts Dean Marsico and Derek Stearns turn an average pool into an Elvis pool with this do-it-yourself mosaic tile made from natural stone.
"I Want That" on Fine Living
Specials on HGTV
HGTV Seeking ‘Dream Home’ Builder/Architect Teams HGTV is seeking developers, builders and architects to create the 2008 and 2009 dream homes for the network’s Dream Home Sweepstakes. To learn more, click here. About the NAHB Production Group The NAHB Production Group is a full-service, self-contained, media production unit creating programming for cable television, broadcast television, non-profit, museum and corporate clients. Productions range from magazine format shows for general audiences to museum-installation videos for specialized use. The production group includes award winning journalists, writers and photographers with experience in broadcast, documentary and corporate television.
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 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 of the NAHB Web site. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. 34 Centex ‘Build Your Future’ Scholars AnnouncedThe National Housing Endowment, the philanthropic arm of NAHB, recently announced the 34 winners of the 2007 to 2008 academic year Centex “Build Your Future” Scholarship fund. The “Build Your Future” Scholarship fund provides tuition assistance to undergraduate and graduate students nationwide who are pursuing careers in the building industry. Centex Corporation created the scholarship fund to help address the pressing need for educating and training managers. This year, 34 students were awarded $51,000 in scholarships. They are:
Since the scholarship was founded in 1999, Centex has awarded more than $145,000 to 91 exemplary students attending residential construction programs across the country. More Endowment Scholarship Programs The endowment administers 12 scholarships and awards more than $350,000 each year to students pursuing careers in residential construction and related fields. For more information, visit the endowment's Web site at www.nationalhousingendowment.org. Consumer Column Addresses Air Quality, Nail Pop QuestionsThe Pennsylvania Builders Association is bolstering its public image as a source of information for housing consumers through the publication of “Around the House.” The column is being published at least once a month and is supplemented by a weekly consumer blog on the association’s Web site. Each column answers at least four reader questions on topics about home maintenance, improvements and a range of other housing-related topics. Information recently posted on the blog includes how to keep air conditioning working efficiently with regular cleaning, tips for frugal living, how to spend wisely for a useful and affordable kitchen, tips for clearing homes and garages of clutter, scraping the money together to buy a home and home owner insurance. In the latest column, a reader with allergy problems in the family asks what can be done to improve the indoor air quality of a new home. The answer:
The answer: “Nail pops are fairly common in the first year of a new home’s life. Framing lumber dries out a bit, the house ‘settles’ slightly or loud noise vibrates drywall nails loose. In any case, nail pops are normal and usually not a sign of bad workmanship. “Builders commonly address nail pops and other minor concerns when they take a walk though your home, often about a year after you have moved in. While your builder will respond quickly to emergency problems, don’t expect that he will drop everything and rush out to fix nail pops or squeaky doors. “To fix a nail pop, your builder’s employees may remove the nail, replace it with a screw or add screws above and below into the same wall stud. You may want to watch him work, as this type of home maintenance becomes your job after the builder addresses his list from the one-year walk-through.” NAHB Board in Seattle for Fall Meeting Sept. 8OFFICIAL MEETING NOTICE OF
The following schedule of events is a partial listing provided as a notice for the upcoming NAHB Fall Board of Directors Meeting to be held in Seattle on Sept. 8, 2007 and other associated NAHB meetings to be held on Sept. 4-8. Meetings will be held at the Westin Seattle and the Sheraton Seattle. The fall board program will identify the exact time and place of each scheduled meeting. Wednesday, Sept. 5
Subcommittee, Task Force, Working Group Meetings
Thursday, Sept. 6
Friday, Sept. 7
Committee, Subcommittee and Council Meetings
Saturday, Sept. 8
For more information, e-mail Cyndi McKinley Brown at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8346. Committee, Council Appointment Forms Now OnlineMembers of NAHB who are interested in serving on the association’s various committees and councils next year to provide their expertise and experience on issues and challenges facing the nation’s housing industry should submit the 2008 Committee and Council Appointment Form (nahb.org/committeeform). Members must be logged in to complete the form.
The application form is preceded by information on the one-year appointment process, including eligibility and attendance requirements. Appointments will be finalized and mailed by the end of the year. This year’s form is personalized according to each member’s NAHB profile. It offers sign-up choices based on past years of service, current participation, membership status, board status and more. Submission of the form will be followed by an e-mail confirmation and a link to review or modify the request. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 28. For more information, e-mail Cyndi McKinley Brown at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8346. NAHB Membership Conference to Focus on Practical Recruiting IdeasConducting research on individual members to better understand their needs and solidify retention efforts is one of the practical ideas marketing expert Dana Lanham, of P4 Integrated Marketing Specialists in Davidson, N.C., will offer attendees at NAHB’s National Conference on Membership. The conference for local and state association membership professionals will be held at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. on Oct. 12-14. Another tip that Lanham offers is for membership professionals to gather prospects and members into small groups so they can share their experiences and the benefits of belonging to their HBA. “The kind of insight people will gain from these break-out sessions will be invaluable,” Lanham said. “It will give them a chance to reflect on where they’ve been and where they’re going.” Lanham will offer these and several more “tricks of the trade” during her talk, “The Membership Marketer’s Guide to the Universe,” in the hopes that attendees will put them into practice and “go on to run a successful membership marketing campaign,” Lanham said. “Affiliates will have a unique opportunity to learn new techniques for the recruitment and retention of members.” In addition to Lanham, the conference will feature a discussion on “breakthrough thinking,” a satirical look at business and office life, a pre-conference workshop on customer relationship management and more For more information and to register, visit www.NAHB.org/MembershipConference, or call the NAHB Office of the Registrar at 800-368-5242 x8338. Special Dell Offer on ATG D620 Notebooks Ends Aug. 15The special Dell discount on Latitude ATG D620 notebooks — available to NAHB members — ends Wednesday, Aug. 15. Until then, NAHB members can save $380 on the ATG D620. Durable Outside, Powerful Inside — Perfect for the Construction Industry The Latitude ATG is a tough, All Terrain Grade notebook designed for demanding work environments where dust, vibration and moisture are daily facts of life. Fully compatible with the standard Latitude D620, the Latitude ATG boasts a range of innovative features that can protect it from some of the harshest work environments and enhance its usability in demanding conditions. Perfect for industries like construction, manufacturing and oil and gas, as well as public organizations like police forces, the Latitude ATG is designed to put a high-performance business notebook in an incredibly durable and usable package. Help protect your data and work securely with the All Terrain Grade notebook: Reg. Price: $2,079
For details and ordering, contact your Dell sales representative about this offer at 888-577-3355. The Dell designated Web site for NAHB members is www.dell.com/NAHB. Other Member Advantage Discounts For the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, go to the Member Advantage main page on the NAHB Web site.
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 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. Drive Away With a Shiny New $500 GM Offer
NAHB members can receive $500 towards the purchase or lease of most new GM vehicles, whether for business or personal use. GM's extensive vehicle lineup includes the all-new 2007 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, both redesigned to tow more than before and stop at the pump less. For complete details, visit www.gmfleet.com/nahb. Other Member Advantage Discounts For the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, go to www.nahb.org/MA.
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 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. Introducing the Hertz Green Collection. Reserve and Conserve.Hertz offers fuel efficient, environmentally-friendly cars reservable by make and model. Now you can reserve fuel efficient, environmentally-friendly cars that are both easy on the wallet and suitable for families and small groups traveling together. Reservable by specific make and model, with an EPA highway fuel efficiency rating of 28 miles or more per gallon, the Hertz Green Collection features:
For other Hertz values and fee-waived enrollment in Hertz #1 Club Gold®, visit www.nahb.org/MA. Other Member Advantage Discounts For the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, go to www.nahb.org/MA.
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 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. Willams Scotsman: $1.99 First-Month Storage Container DealsFor a limited time, Williams Scotsman is offering 20- and 40-foot storage containers at $1.99 for the first month's rent* to NAHB members — plus a free lock rental with each unit. *This is a limited time offer. Restrictions apply. Call 800-782-1500, or visit here for more information. Mention code SIS07 when ordering.
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 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. Calendar of Events
Learn More About Upcoming Conferences and Designations Interested in attending a University of Housing conference or learning more about NAHB designation programs? Visit www.nahb.org/notifyme, and sign up to receive more information.
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 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. |