Print-All Page: October 8, 2007

Addressing the subprime lending crisis, the U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 4 approved legislation that would eliminate any taxes home owners might face when banks renegotiate the terms of a home loan and forgive a portion of the outstanding mortgage debt. The change in the tax law would cap untaxable forgiven debt at $2 million and apply only to principal residences.

“This legislation will play a central role in helping American families avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes,” said NAHB President Brian Catalde.

Existing tax rules under Section 108 of the Internal Revenue Code impel many struggling home owners to seek foreclosure over restructuring their loan with lenders because forgiven mortgage debt is taxed as ordinary income.

H.R. 3648, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, would remove this tax burden on mortgage indebtedness, encourage market-based restructuring between lenders and home owners and discourage foreclosures, said Catalde.

In a letter sent to all House members prior to consideration of the bill, NAHB designated the vote on final passage of H.R. 3648 as a “key vote” because of the importance of this issue to the nation’s home owners and housing industry.

“For families already struggling to make ends meet, the phantom income and resulting tax burden generated by Section 108 can endanger their financial health even further,” the NAHB letter said.

The legislation also follows one of the policy provisions approved at NAHB’s board of directors meeting last month in Seattle to address the mortgage credit crunch.

H.R. 3648 also includes an NAHB-supported provision that extends the deductibility of mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance is especially critical for low- and moderate-income first-time home buyers, many of whom may not qualify for a market-rate mortgage.

By enabling mortgage insurance premium payments to be deducted, NAHB said in its letter, “homeownership is made more affordable for thousands of families who would now be able to buy a home without having to resort to more costly subprime or predatory alternatives.”

The current deduction, which is set to expire on Dec. 31, would be extended through 2014 under the House bill.

The debt-forgiveness plan to help strapped home owners would cost $2 billion over 10 years. To pay for this, the bill includes a provision that would change the tax laws that affect second homes converted to primary residences.

When Democrats regained control of Congress, they re-imposed pay-as-you-go rules requiring any loss in tax revenues to be offset by spending cuts or increases in revenue.

Under current law, a home owner can convert a second home into a principal residence for tax purposes if they have lived in the second home for at least two of the five years prior to the sale. In that case, the owner can exclude up to $250,000 in capital gains on the sale of the property, or up to $500,000 for married couples.

H.R. 3648 would alter those rules. Since the bill would provide a major benefit to housing by helping to stabilize the finances of thousands of American families who are facing default and prevent even more foreclosed homes from flooding the market, lawmakers also looked to the housing sector to pay for its cost.

NAHB Senior Officers and members of the association's Taxation Subcommittee and Federal Government Affairs Committee analyzed the legislation in depth, concluding that it was structured in such a way that the huge benefit on debt forgiveness and the extension for the deductibility of mortgage insurance outweighed the tax changes for second homes.

NAHB has worked closely with members of the House Ways and Means Committee to make this proposal as painless as possible to protect those with second homes. For example, NAHB was successful in helping to shepherd through a “grandfather” provision to allow most existing second home owners to live under the old rules.

The calculation for the new rules applies only to the period starting Jan. 1, 2008.

Under the bill, only a portion of the profit on a second home could be eligible for the primary residence capital gains exclusion. The formula is based on how long the owners lived in the home and how long they owned it.

For example, in general (putting aside the bill’s grandfathering rules), if a married couple owned a vacation home for 10 years and lived in it for two years, they would be eligible to receive a 20% exclusion on the capital gains when they sold the home — 20% because they were in the home two years out of 10. If the gain amount is equal to $100,000, $20,000 would not be subject to capital gains taxes.

Taking another example, if the same couple owned the vacation home for six years from 2008 to 2013 and lived in it for three years from 2010 to 2012, they could receive a 50% exclusion on capital gains. The 50% figure is derived from the fact that they lived in the home three out of the six years that they owned it. So if the couple were to receive a $100,000 gain on the sale of the home, they would get 50%, or $50,000, tax-free from the sale.

The bill would retain current rules that allow home owners to convert their second home into a principal residence for tax purposes if they have lived in it for two of the five years prior to the sale. The current limits on exclusion of capital gains tax would also apply — $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for married couples.

Finally, to demonstrate the proposal’s grandfathering provision, a couple who purchased a vacation home in 2003 and lived in it for two of the five years prior to selling it in 2012 would be able to exclude 70% of their gains from taxation. The initial five years they owned the property — 2003 to 2007 — would be treated the same as years of residency since the bill’s provisions don’t take effect until 2008. Therefore, they would be able to claim residency for seven, or 70%, of the 10 years they owned the home. If they realized a $100,000 gain from the sale, then $70,000 would be excluded from taxation.

In determining residency rules, NAHB worked with lawmakers to ensure that the bill also contains other favorable safe harbors for second home owners — allowing exceptions for job losses, periods of absence and other emergencies.

To read the legislation, click here and enter H.R. 3648 in the box at the center of the page.

For more information, e-mail Greg Brown or Rob Dietz at NAHB, or call them at 800-368-5242 x8421 or x8285, respectively.

Nation's Building News Will Not Be Published Oct. 15

Nation's Building News will not be published Oct. 15. Regular weekly publication will resume Oct. 22.

NCHI Suppliers Good Friends to Have in Housing Downturn

Recognizing the steady increase in its membership as suppliers of home building products and services have been stepping up their collaboration with home builders to bolster sales in today’s more competitive marketplace, the National Council of the Housing Industry (NCHI) recently announced that it is calling itself “The Leading Suppliers of NAHB.”

A part of NAHB from the inception of the association in 1942, NCHI came into its own during the 1960s when it was called upon to organize and help sustain the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C., the first real home of NAHB. The council continued to play that role when NAHB moved to larger headquarters roughly a decade later and when that building was expanded to double its size several years ago.

Most recently, NCHI was known as “The Suppliers 100 of NAHB,” indicating how many companies had joined the council, but that number has been exceeded and membership now stands in the range of 140. Council membership has grown about 50% in just the last couple of years and its retention rate has remained at 94%.

NCHI’s mission is “to be a multi-faceted supplier resource for the building industry, and to represent the business interests of its members through advocacy, education and networking.”

The council grew rapidly during the 2003-to-2005 housing boom along with growth in NAHB and a surge in housing activity around the country. With the slowdown in housing demand, the cutting-edge supplies and products going into new homes, already a strong draw for prospective buyers, have become increasingly important in attracting customers and NCHI members have been working with the home building community to showcase cutting-edge features and amenities that can boost sales.

“The members of NCHI are staunch allies for the nation’s home builders,” said NAHB President Brian Catalde. “We have made tremendous progress in improving home building techniques and delivering homes that perform better than ever for our customers. This is always an ongoing process, it is vitally important to the health of our businesses and it would not be possible without the advanced products that the manufacturers have been bringing to the market.”

Catalde cited as an example today’s increasingly energy-efficient products — from appliances to HVAC systems — and noted that fixtures of homes considered luxuries only a few years ago have, through the ingenuity of manufacturers, become standard features in mainstream homes.

“There is an amazing assortment of options available to home builders and buyers today, and that is lending some real excitement to the market even at a time when demand has slowed because of the mortgage credit crunch,” Catalde said.

NCHI is best known in the industry for its annual New American Home, which has been a prime attraction at the annual International Builders’ Show since 1984. The trend-setting home is used to spark new ideas among home builders and demonstrate new approaches in residential construction and design.

NCHI members constitute the largest single exhibitors at the Builders’ Show, accounting for more than $13 million in exhibit space sales. In addition, members of the council sponsor about $1.5 million worth of show events, banners and receptions during the show.

Individual NCHI members sponsor many NAHB activities and conferences including the Legislative Conference, the Economic Forecast Conference, the Home Builders Institute, Pillars of the Industry, Custom Builders, Remodelers, 50-Plus, multifamily receptions at board meetings, the Women’s Council, the 20 Clubs and many others.

Staff members of NCHI companies hold more than 3,000 memberships in local home builders associations in all 50 states. Dozens of NCHI members actively participate as liaisons with most of NAHB’s committees and councils to address industry concerns, and members also serve on subcommittees.

For more information about the National Council of the Housing Industry – The Leading Suppliers of NAHB, e-mail Barbara McMurray, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8243.

Chasm Grows Between Home Lenders and Self-Employed

Millions of Americans who are self-employed have become a kind of drive-by victim of the mortgage industry crisis. Some lenders that specialized in home loans to self-employed workers and small-business owners have gone out of business. And many lenders that still offer such loans have tightened their standards, making it harder for self-employed borrowers to qualify for a loan. Self-employed people can usually still get a mortgage, says Bill McNamee, president of Pinnacle Home Mortgage in Lombard, Ill. But, “The rates they’re paying a lot of times are higher, because (lenders) have decided the risk is higher.” Most self-employed people can’t provide the types of documents that lenders typically rely on for proof of income, such as W-2s and pay stubs. To address that problem, the mortgage industry created “stated-income” loans, which don’t require as much documentation. However, during the real estate boom, some borrowers used those loans to inflate their incomes and qualify for mortgages they otherwise couldn’t afford, says March Savitt, president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. The increased scrutiny of these loans, Savitt says, “is part of the shakeout” of the subprime collapse. (www.usatoday.com)
USA Today (10/1/07); Sandra Block

Housing Slump Spurs Rentals and Complaints

In another manifestation of the housing slump, thousands of property owners across the country are now renting out homes they cannot sell. As a result, developments and condos that once were largely owner-occupied are filling up with renters who some neighbors say are less engaged in their communities and less concerned about maintenance. Fearful of declining property values, some home owner associations are fighting back — targeting lax landlords and renters with “good neighbor” letters, limiting the number of units that can be rented at any one time, and, in some cases, banning investors from buying altogether. Also, after years of existing apartment buildings being converted into condominiums, the trend is reversing. According to Real Capital Analytics, a New York-based research company, “reversions” — condo buildings that were turned back into rentals — outstripped condo conversions in the second quarter of 2007, the first time that has happened since the 1980s. In Baltimore, for example, there have been 1,430 reversions since January, 2006, while only 430 rental units have been converted to condos. (www.online.wsj.com)
Wall Street Journal Online (9/26/07); Ben Casselman

Retirees Attracted by the College Lifestyle

Housing developments for the 55-and-older population are sprouting up near colleges all over the country to satisfy those who don’t already own a home near a college campus. Older Americans drawn to campus life include alumni, retired faculty as well as seniors just looking for a university environment. “We do have more and more of that kind of housing,” says AARP’s Elinor Ginzler. “There are more people aging in this demographic and a lot more living options.” Just minutes away from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville is the Colonnades, a senior housing community that gives residents an opportunity to participate in campus life by taking classes and attending sporting and cultural events. In addition to putting its name on the project, the university donated the land and provided alumni lists for marketing purposes when the Colonnades opened in 1991. NAHB is aware of this trend. Jeffrey Jenkins of the NAHB 50-plus Housing Council says he knows of several communities being built near college campuses. Warren Bland, a nationally recognized expert on retirement towns, released a “Top Ten College Towns for Retirement” list this year using criteria such as the quality of life, cost of living, transportation, retail services, health care, cultural and volunteer activities and crime. His list: Boulder, Colo.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Madison, Wis.; Gainesville, Fla.; Oxford, Miss.; Charlottesville, Va.; Eugene, Ore.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Ithaca, N.Y.; and Bloomington, Ind. (www.washingtontimes.com)
Washington Times (10/5/07); Carisa Chappell

Family’s Custodial Approach Is Green

Three siblings converting 170 acres of family land into a 290-unit subdivision have decided to build a sustainable project that complements the land. That meant not only building green houses but making sure the entire development process, from site preparation to construction, was environmentally friendly. All of the homes in their Rock Hill Trails project will be built using green principles, said Matt Belcher, president of Belcher Homes, who is also president of the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri. The focus will be on using sustainable and recycled material and greater energy efficiency. A project like Rock Hill Trails has the advantage of scale, said Calli Schmidt, director of environmental communications for NAHB. Schmidt, who is familiar with the project, said planning a large development to be green has the potential for greater benefits. “You are having a better positive impact on a larger swath of land because you are starting from scratch,” she said. “You are taking a community that would perhaps have a much greater impact on the environment, and making it much smaller.” (www.stltoday.com)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (10/5/08); Riddhi Trivedi

Car Dealer Tactics on the New-Home Lot

Won-Ki Choi and his wife Janice had their eye on a townhouse in Fairfax County, Va. for some time, but the $536,449 price tag was too high for them. Then they saw a Ryland Homes newspaper ad: for two hours the builder would sell 140 homes in the Washington, D.C. area at a discount, through a silent auction. The minimum bid for the home was $429,999. Faced with a glut of unsold homes and canceled contracts, builders are now turning to tactics typical of car dealerships and department stores. What’s even more unusual is that the deals are often accompanied by deep price cuts, which builders have been reluctant to do until now. “It’s a little odd homes being sold that way,” said Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington. If it all seems a bit desperate, there’s good reason. Sales of new homes dropped nationally in August and the tightening of credit from a rise in foreclosures, especially among risky borrowers with adjustable-rate mortgages, are expected to push even more potential buyers out of the market. “We were trying to figure out how do we break through all the clutter that’s out there with home builders,” said Ryland’s Mark Disler. “I think people understand that it’s totally beyond our control and all the builders are reacting to market conditions.” (www.washingtonpost.com)
Washington Post (10/8/07); Nancy Trejos

Turning Out Voters Can Elect Pro-Housing Local Leaders

Home builders who play an active role in getting out the vote in the upcoming elections through a home builder network have a good chance of putting into office mayors, city council members and other local officials who are supportive of housing on such important issues as impact fees, zoning, and property-tax rates, according to NAHB's State and Local Reporter (a members-only site).

In a city of 50,000 residents, there will be approximately 22,000 registered voters and only about 6,000 of them will vote in a non-presidential election like the one that takes place this Nov. 6. Most local races have a winning margin of 5% to 10%, or 300 to 600 votes.

A home builders association with 200 members that makes a real effort to increase voter turnout can account for those 300 or so votes needed to win.

Here are a few steps that can help increase voter turnout of members and their contacts:

For more information on how home builders associations can step up their get-out-the-vote efforts, e-mail Karl Eckhart at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8126.

Governors Blast Lack of Uniform U.S. Immigration Policy

With the problem not been adequately addressed at the federal level, states are facing the pressure of having to deal with immigration-related issues, especially in the wake of the latest Homeland Security efforts aimed at cracking down on immigrants who are working in the U.S. illegally.

In Kansas, all driver’s license recipients must now show their birth certificates at the time they apply for a permit, turning clerks into de facto immigration officials.

In Arkansas, state police officials may allow state troopers to work with federal immigration officials in cases where troopers come into contact with illegal aliens during the course of their duties. Gov. Beebe said that he has no problem with the state’s law enforcement agencies cooperating with federal immigration officials, but “we don’t have the resources to be doing the feds’ job.”

Arizona will soon enact tough penalties against employers who knowingly or intentionally hire undocumented workers. Gov. Napolitano publicly supported the federal bill that died in Congress earlier this year. Asked if she believed differences in various state laws on immigration could be a source of tension among the states, Napolitano said that the issue hasn’t yet but could be in the future.

For more information, e-mail Carlos Gutierrez at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8242.

The SLGA Conference is the only NAHB event that focuses on advancing the goals of the building industry through improved state and local government relations.

This year’s conference features a revamped design, including a two-track program of beginner and advanced sessions. Some sessions will examine solutions to problems related to growth issues, while others are designed to help builders hone their political, lobbying and public relations skills.

A recent addition to the conference is a two-part “Land Development Boot Camp”. This intensive A-to-Z overview of the roll of government throughout the land development and site planning processes will be held in the afternoon on Friday, Nov. 9.

This year’s conference will also offer numerous opportunities to network and share ideas with colleagues from around the country — during educational sessions, over lunch, in the newly created Cyber Café or at the welcome reception on Thursday night.

To register, get the full details about this year’s conference and check out the updated schedule, click here.

For more information, e-mail Alex Strong at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8279.

Useful Links to Monitor Economic and Housing Trends

The following are links to useful information from government agencies and NAHB that will enable you to monitor the housing market.

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.

For more information, or to register for the conference or webcast, visit www.nahb.org/cfc.

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.

What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn.

To help members navigate the uncharted waters of this slowdown, NAHB has compiled a comprehensive “Back to Basics” online toolkit — the best of the basics, the tried and true and the truly new. To access the toolkit, click here.

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.

Builders’ Tip: How to Easily Prime Exterior Trim End Cuts



	Click to enlarge.

For maximum durability, I back-prime exterior trim components such as fascia boards with 100% acrylic primer. But what about the ends of these boards?

If they are primed and caulked together, end-grain splices will last over the long haul. Without priming, end-grain cuts will quickly soak up moisture and begin to rot.

The problem with priming them is that end-grain cuts can’t be painted until they are cut and fitted by the carpenters.

Since priming boards can be a potential headache for carpenters, I devised a simple system to make the process go as smoothly as possible:

I used this technique on the last spec house that I built — and it worked great.

The carpenters billed me for only a couple of extra hours of work because it barely made a dent in their speed.

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.

What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn.

Research Testing Moisture Resistance of Exterior Cladding

Currently, moisture effects in modern residential exterior wall assemblies with absorptive cladding materials are not well understood within the industry.

Residential builders are often encouraged by home buyers and designers to apply exterior claddings that look good — without knowing how the assembly will perform over time when exposed to local climatic conditions. This partially explains why moisture problems in many types of exterior walls have increased in recent years.

While the number of wall construction techniques and materials continues to grow, direction on proper applications for moisture protection in each climate remains hard to find, according to the Research Center.

The center’s new research effort aims at identifying robust design rules and best construction practices for moisture-tolerant exterior walls in a mixed humid climate.

Some recently developed assembly types — such as synthetic stone — and various stucco assemblies will be compared to a vinyl siding baseline to determine which are more moisture-resistant.

Wall panels will then be installed in a climate-controlled test structure at the NAHB Research Center’s facility, which will simulate occupied indoor conditions on the interior, with the exterior cladding exposed to the environment for one year. Detailed monitoring will measure wood moisture, humidity, temperature, precipitation, wind and solar intensity.

This research will also give product manufacturers a unique opportunity to have their wall assembly materials tested in a proprietary setting and compare their relative moisture performance with multiple generic wall assemblies in a mixed-humid climate.

Limited availability remains for manufacturers interested in having their products included among those tested in the private portion of this research.

For more information and to participate, e-mail Craig Drumheller at the NAHB Research Center by Oct. 31.

Builders Prepare for Upturn by Managing Quality

During today’s slow housing market, the NAHB Research Center is advising builders to take a hard look at the way they have always conducted their business and consider changes in preparation for the inevitable cyclical return to more prosperous times.

Quality management is the single-most effective area where most builders can make changes to improve their businesses, according to Frank Alexander, director of the Research Center’s National Housing Quality (NHQ) Program.

“Just as automobile buyers began demanding higher levels of quality several years ago, forcing automakers to approach business from a totally different perspective, American home buyers are tired of having to deal with warranty departments and service technicians,” Alexander writes in the latest issue of Quality Matters, the e-newsletter of the NHQ Program.

“Builders with a formal quality management system, such as those who have achieved NHQ Certification, have processes in place that are designed specifically for each line of business that will guide the organization through the ups and downs associated with home building operations,” according to Alexander.

“The first step,” he says, “is taking a critical look at your organization and what you are currently doing that is consistent or inconsistent with formalized qualify management program requirements and customer expectations. The next step is evaluating and changing those areas where you are falling short.

“But you cannot cause a change to occur without first creating an atmosphere for change. Then, the solution comes from knowing what to change — a program like NHQ can lay the groundwork for you. The techniques espoused to infuse your organization with quality management principles are simple — it’s not rocket science. It will, however, require a commitment within your organization to make this a reality.”

Alexander says that hundreds of companies from coast to coast — including builders, suppliers and trade partners — can attest to the value of a formalized, documented quality management system to their organizations.

“Begin preparing for the future housing market upturn we know is on the horizon,” he advises. “All it takes is a little change.”

Multifamily Reception at Builders’ Show on Feb. 14


	Steve Lawson (far right), president of the Lawson Companies, Virginia Beach, Va. and chair of NAHB Multifamily’s Housing Credit Group, touched base with other developers, lenders and multifamily vendors at the 2007 Multifamily Developers’ Reception at IBS in Orlando.

The event will enable council members to network with knowledgeable contacts in their own areas of expertise and related areas.

For more information about NAHB Multifamily, or to join the council, click here.

Enter Pillars of Industry Marketing, Design Awards


	The Setai, a Miami Beach condo-hotel, was named "Best Mixed-Use Community" — and "Project of the Year" — in the 2006 Pillars of the Industry Awards competition.

Entries are open for the 2008 Pillars of the Industry Awards competition honoring excellence in apartment and condominium design and development — including the best mixed-use community — 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 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.”

Award recipients will be honored at a gala ceremony during NAHB Multifamily’s Pillars of the Industry Conference at the Broadmoor Colorado Springs, Colo. on April 2. The conference, on April 1-3, is the premier educational and networking event for multifamily developers, owners, managers and lenders.

To see a list of last year's winners, available on the NAHB Web site, click here.

CAPS Contractor Makes Accessibility Accessible

Atlanta contractor Jim Karl, CAPS isn’t just interested in accessibility — he’s interested in making accessibility accessible.

Karl created the Accessibility Services Plaza in Marietta, Ga., a 30,000-square-foot retail center with four stores — including his own business, All In One Accessibility — that cater solely to disabled individuals and their families.

The center provides one-stop shopping for products and services for people with accessibility needs:

All In One Accessibility provides home evaluations to determine what new accessibility features might be needed by home owners. The fully functional showroom gives clients ideas about their own home’s potential and visually demonstrates the ease and necessity of universal design elements.

All in One Accessibility’s easy-to-use modifications include overhead lifting and transfer moving systems, ramping systems, roll-in showers and walk-in tubs, among others. The modifications are designed and created so disabled individuals and their families can use them easily.

“We have a lift that is about the size of a large bagel toaster and weighs only about 18 pounds,” Karl said. “With this overhead transfer system, a 12-year-old could move a 200-pound person by touching a button without risking a fall or back injury.”

Karl and his team stay constantly updated on the latest design developments and their client base has grown to include people of all ages.

“There have been incredible advances in accessibility products,” said Karl. “In the past, most of our customers were handicapped, but these products will help anyone with accessibility issues and we are seeing more and more seniors come in.”

Karl first became interested in accessibility after a friend’s child was born severely handicapped. He helped the family by making adjustments to their home that accommodated the child’s disability. Before Karl knew it, he was a specialist.

NAHB Remodelers Celebrates 25th Anniversary This Month

NAHB last week announced the 25th anniversary of the NAHB Remodelers. In response to growing demand from the association’s diversifying membership, the council was created in 1982 to increase the knowledge and professionalism of remodelers and promote their accomplishments.

"For 25 years, NAHB Remodelers has trained, supported and promoted the best professional remodelers in the country," said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Mike Nagel, CGR, CAPS, a remodeler from Chicago. "This council and its members have been instrumental in advancing the industry and we are proud to celebrate this significant anniversary and look forward to continued growth and success."

Remodeling has grown into a booming $228 billion business and NAHB Remodelers has grown accordingly, with membership now topping 7,500. NAHB Remodelers has expanded its offerings to include everything from training courses and certifications, to remodeling guides for consumers and advice for remodelers on expanding and maintaining their businesses.

For more information about remodeling, click here; or e-mail Kelly Mack at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8451.

SIPs Code Change Lowers Hurdles on the Job Site

The code change for structural insulated panels (SIPs) has helped make the SIPs planning permitting and processed easier for home builders. Photo provided by PATH.

Last May, the International Code Council voted to adopt structural insulated panels (SIPs) — structural framing, insulation and exterior sheathing in a one-piece component — into the International Residential Code (IRC). With the code change, prescriptive specifications and installation details will be included in the 2007 supplement.

While SIPs construction is not difficult and can save time, many home builders have been challenged by the planning and permitting processes involved. The IRC change is already showing signs of improving the outlook of SIPs technology.

In addition, home builders using SIPs will no longer be required to conduct additional engineering to show equivalency to the IRC.

Recently, PATH talked with Damian Pataluna, president and owner of FischerSIPS, a SIPs manufacturer based in Louisville, Ky., about what the code change means to the industry and the benefits of building with SIPs. FischerSIPS is a PATH Manufacturer Partner and a member of NAHB’s Building Systems Councils.

Damian Pataluna: The code change is lowering the barriers to SIPs’ adoption in the field and really legitimizes the industry.

We have had 27 different manufacturers with 27 different code reports, and that created a lot of confusion in the industry until now. The code change standardizes the structural insulated panels industry and makes it much easier for engineers and architects to spec these products.

The change makes it easier for inspectors, too. They now can go right to the 2007 supplement. Builders will no longer be hearing inspectors say, “I don’t know what this is.”

PATH: Does the change account for all kinds of panels — walls, roofs and floors?

Pataluna: No, right now, the code change only covers wall panels in certain sized homes. Beyond that, individual manufacturers will have different code reports.

Pataluna: SIPs are premanufactured and prefabricated to factory specifications. All a builder has to do is assemble the panel system on the job site to quickly create entire walls, roofs and floors that are already insulated. This reduces labor costs and enhances quality control.

Builders can also be assured that they’re using a product to build their homes that’s been pretested and preengineered.

Pataluna: The materials cost is more with SIPs construction when compared to standard construction. SIPs are manufactured using two layers of OSB, not the one layer in standard stick-frame construction. In addition, SIPs are manufactured with more costly foam insulation rather than the less expensive fiberglass insulation that builders use in standard construction.

But these are SIPs upfront costs. They are offset by reduced labor costs. If I can build my home in one-third less time, like I can with SIPs construction, how much can I save in labor?

SIP panels can be as small as 4' x 8' or as large as 8' x 24'. A wall or roof is framed, sheathed and insulated in one step. We can also pre-cut window and door openings.

If the panel is completely prepped in the factory, home builders can put them up on the job site in 10 minutes. Tell me that builders can do that with stick-frame construction.

SIP walls also are straighter, which means less work for finishers and drywallers. And since SIPs are premanufactured, there is much less drywall waste. You only have to remove one dumpster from the job sit, not two or three.

Finally, because SIPs are so energy-efficient and tight, they allow builders to downsize their HVAC by 40% to 50%. If you add everything up, the cost is going to be comparable to a stick-frame house — plus, you’ll be able to build more houses quicker.

PATH: Where would you advise a home builder who’s never used SIPs before to begin?

Pataluna: Builders who are considering using SIPs should purchase them from Structural Insulated Panel Association members because with SIPA, you know members are manufacturing in factories, not in garages.

SIPA-member panels also are engineer tested by third parties. Samples panels are examined on a monthly basis and torn apart to make sure they are able to perform the way they were designed. With SIPA members, everything is code approved and inspected.

PATH: Are SIPs more cost-effective in some areas of the country than others?

Pataluna: Yes, builders operating in areas with high labor rates will see bigger savings.

Home owners will also see bigger savings on energy in areas where the utility rates are higher.

Pataluna: SIPs houses are tighter so some type of mechanical ventilation is recommended. We recommend using efficient energy and heat recovery ventilators (ERV/HRVs). They also decrease dust and pollen in the house.

Pataluna: SIPs are still less than 1% of the total construction market. But our company is growing an average of 15% annually — close to the industry average. We were able to grow that much even during the down market last year.

Pataluna: SIPs manufacturers are constantly developing new products. They are putting new skins on panels and developing panels that may be greener and more cementitious. They’re developing panels that can be used in hurricane areas that have better moisture resistance and reduce the chance of mold.


	The International Residential Code change for SIPs applies to wall panels in certain sized homes. Photo provided by PATH.

How 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.

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.

For a complete listing of all the breakout sessions at Showcase 2007, and their descriptons, click here.


	SHOWCASE 2007 will be held Oct. 28-31 at the Mariott Hilton Head Golf and Resort in South Carolina.

New Home Technologies Require Trained Installers

New and emerging applications for home automation spanning everything from theaters and electronic gaming to security and home health care are expected to become a $9.6 billion business this year.

While many builders use electricians to install these increasingly sophisticated systems, electricians, in general, are not trained to install and configure them.

Along with these emerging technologies is a growing need for well-trained and knowledgeable electronic systems contractors (ESCs) to install, configure and integrate them.

ESCs have specialized skills — including computer programming, systems interfacing, acoustical expertise and video calibration — and undergo continuing specialized training.

Their expertise should not be confused with electricians who have different responsibilities, skills and knowledge.

As high-tech, custom electronic systems — including security and surveillance, HVAC, lighting, pool, a spa and sprinklers, home entertainment, communications and other sub-systems — have become more important to home owners, operating these systems has become more challenging. ESCs can provide a simple-to-use, single point of control, an increasingly important and desirable feature for home owners.

While most homes are wired for only basic services like electricity, telephone and cable TV, the wiring is not enough to take advantage of the new technologies such as interactive TV, digital television and video-on-demand.

ESCs can install the structured wiring needed to connect all the rooms in a home to a central location in order to make these new technologies a part of the home owners' lifestyle.

For more information on home technology in home building and remodeling, e-mail Germaine Palangdao at NAHB, call her at 800-368-5242 x8498, or visit the Home Technology Alliance at www.nahb.org/hta.

CEDIA, a founding sponsor, is an international trade association of companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic systems for the home. CEDIA members are established and insured businesses with bona fide qualifications and experience in this field.

For more information on CEDIA, visit the association’s Web site at www.cedia.org. To find an ESC, click here.

A Sisterhood of Success in Good Times, Down Markets


	The Denver sisterhood, from the left: Cheri Meyn, Cheryl Schuette, Jennifer Gore, Jeanne Ryan and Margi Clute.

Denver was not the most promising place to start a career in new home sales and marketing in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The housing market was suffering then, much like it is in most parts of the country now.

But that didn’t stop five talented, driven women from meeting and starting a friendship that they all say helped them to become some of the most successful building industry professionals in Colorado. They first met at the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver.

Cheryl Schuette was working in the back office at Village Homes of Englewood, Colo. at the time. Today she is president of the company.

Jennifer Gore was just starting her career in new home sales and marketing. She now runs her own successful business, Jennifer Gore Unlimited, a new home sales and marketing firm in Greenwood Village, Colo.

Margi Clute had left a career in microbiology to get out on the sales floor when she first met the other women. She moved on to marketing and is now retired after years of success as a vice president with several top home builders.

Jeanne Ryan went from being a sales manager for a home builder to establishing a successful career as a broker associate with Prudential Rocky Mountain Realtors®.

Cheri Meyn started her own real estate analysis business, The Genesis Group in Englewood, while she was in her 20s. Her business is still thriving.

All five women were just beginning their careers in what was then a male-dominated industry, at least in Denver, when they first met. All five were involved, in varying degrees, with their HBA’s sales and marketing council and various boards and committees.

All five credit hard work and determination — and each other — for their success.

“Being actively involved like that, our paths crossed very regularly,” said Schuette. “We were really energized by the opportunity to network with peers who were facing the same challenges and opportunities in new home marketing and building operations.”

Gore remembered initially being intimidated by the talented women she met. “I was just starting out, just starting to take IRM classes,” she recalled. “I was really green. I thought, ‘Should I even go talk to them?’”

“I really used the IRM classes as a basis for the questions I asked them,” Gore said. After talking with them and getting to know them, she eventually suggested they start going out to dinner every month to share what they knew about the industry. “We called it the ‘Stress Management Group,’” she laughed.

Each month, the group discussed industry issues, shared ideas and gave each other feedback. The brainstorming quickly became the most valuable part of their meetings.

“If one of us had a problem with a salesperson, marketing, a particular home to sell or a grand opening party, we’d find out what the others had done and what was successful,” Clute said. “There was a lot of idea sharing.”

“We challenged each other to stay on the leading edge,” said Schuette. “I bet there was a little competitive nature in that. If one of us was starting on something new and different, we asked a lot of questions and helped lead one another to new technologies and approaches.”

This support system was particularly crucial at that time because there were very few women in high-ranking positions in the industry. “We were the only women in executive positions with any of the major home builders in town,” said Clute, a vice president of marketing for Writer Corporation when the women first began meeting. Writer has since been purchased by Standard Pacific Homes.

Finding other women who were “working their way up” created a great support system, said Ryan. “This wasn’t about networking to get business. It was truly about improving ourselves and being the best that we could be.”

The women are emphatic about the immeasurable effect their friendship has had on their careers.

Meyn said the monthly talks were crucial to her decision to start her own business. “It’s rare that you can sit elbow to elbow with people who care about you and your business and get honest, professional feedback,” Meyn said. “Being around people who absolutely supported me from the beginning, and the honesty I got from them on a regular basis helped me form a successful company.”

“We kept our businesses to ourselves while getting advice,” said Schuette. “We were very professional about sharing only the things that were okay to share.”

“Having a confidential network was crucial,” added Meyn. “I couldn’t give details about my projects, but I could ask questions about business issues like dealing with employees and salary.”

Trading ideas and knowledge quickly evolved into a lasting friendship. Through the years, the women not only celebrated professional successes, but personal milestones, as well.

They began taking trips together nearly every year. “The first one was for my 50th birthday,” recalled Clute. “I opened my birthday card and there was my ticket to Puerto Vallarta. That trip set a precedent for celebrating everyone’s 50th.”

The women have since been on a second trip to Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta, as well as to Cabo San Lucas, New York City, Palm Springs, Calif., Scottsdale, Ariz. and Las Vegas.

“The funniest thing is that we always end up talking about work,” said Schuette. “Whether we’re at dinner or on a trip to Mexico, we’re brainstorming ways to be better.”

These days, the group has dinner about four or five times a year. Although the meetings are less frequent, the connection is as strong as ever.

“All through our careers we’ve really encouraged each other a lot,” said Clute. “We’ve been a huge support system for each other in a lot of ways.”

Courses include” The Challenge of New Home Sales Management,” “Understanding Housing Markets and Consumers,” “Marketing Strategies, Plans and Budgets” and more. The courses provide the credits needed to earn the MIRM designation, the top-level achievement for professionals in new home marketing.

Find upcoming IRM classes here. For more information, call the Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242 x8154, or e-mail designations@nahb.com.

Bill Webb, MIRM, in “Sweet Success in New Home Sales,” available through BuilderBooks.com, provides the most powerful techniques ever devised for selling more homes and making more money in lean times.

This instructive guide lays out the proven approaches for crafting and delivering sales excellence.

Late Entries for The Nationals Due Friday, Oct. 12

Late entries are being accepted for The Nationals — the National Sales and Marketing awards honoring the best in architectural achievement, product and community design, advertising and promotion, interior merchandising, Web site design and more.

The official entry period ended Sept. 28. A $50 late fee per entry will be charged.

Sponsored by NAHB’s National Sales and Marketing Council, The Nationals recognizes innovation and excellence in 59 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.

The awards are open to individual sales and marketing professionals, home builders, associates and sales and marketing councils.

Find upcoming IRM classes here. For more information, call the Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242 x8154, or e-mail designations@nahb.com.

‘811’ Service Stops Diggers From Hitting Utility Lines

Before workers start digging, one simple call to the national “Call Before You Dig” 811 number can prevent unfortunate expenses and injuries, and even save lives, according to safety specialists at NAHB.

Underground utility lines are buried at various depths, and making assumptions about their location when digging can be dangerous. Underground lines are unintentionally struck quite frequently, which can result in damaged lines, disruption of vital services, fines, repair costs and injury to the person who was digging.

Dialing 811 connects callers to their local One Call Center. The service notifies appropriate local utilities of where the digging is scheduled to occur, and the utilities then send representatives to the site within a few days to mark the approximate location of their lines with paint or flags before the project begins.

The service is available to both professionals and do-it-yourself consumers, who should call 811 before attempting a digging project of any size — from planting a tree to building an addition or deck. Most state or local laws require calling utility companies at least 48 hours before digging is planned.

The 811 number was officially implemented in May 2007, following designation by the Federal Communications Commission in 2005. It was created to eliminate the confusion of multiple “Miss Utility” or "Call Before You Dig" numbers across the country and to provide an easy-to-remember resource.

"Now that there is a single number to call any time, there's no excuse for putting lives at risk by striking a utility line,” said Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters at an event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to launch the service. “If 911 is the number you call to report emergencies, 811 is the number to call to prevent them."

In conjunction with the new service, the Common Ground Alliance has developed a Web site — www.Call811.com — that is designed to serve as a national resource for professional excavators. It includes a downloadable set of free 811 promotional materials and a "tips and tools" forum for sharing best practices across the digging industry.

For more information on NAHB construction safety issues, e-mail Rob Matuga at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8507.

An included companion CD presents a model safety program listing safe work practices for the most common residential construction operations. The CD features sample forms and checklists that can be easily customized to meet builders’ specific needs.

Apply for NAHB Safety Award for Excellence by Oct. 19

Applications are being accepted for the 2007 NAHB Safety Award For Excellence (SAFE), which provides recognition for home builders who develop outstanding work-site safety programs.

For information, requirements and an online application, click here (nahb.org/SAFE).

The award honors the achievements of builders and trade contractors who have developed and implemented high-quality construction safety programs, as well as those government officials and NAHB-affiliated associations who have made successful efforts to advance safety in the home building industry.

In last year’s inaugural awards program, 19 winners in 16 categories were cited for their safety achievements. Read about them here.

NAHB member companies in good standing that build residential homes or town homes using light construction methods can apply for a SAFE award. Specialty trade contractors, remodelers and light commercial and multifamily builders, as well as NAHB-affiliated associations and federal or state Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials who have been nominated by an NAHB member or association, are also welcome to apply.

Awards will be made in a variety of categories; for a detailed listing, click here.

Award winners will be recognized during a breakfast ceremony at the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando in February. Winners will receive an award and coverage in this publication.

NAHB provides members and others in the residential construction industry — including non-English and limited English-speaking employees and trade contractors — with information, guidance and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety.

For more information on the SAFE Awards Program, click here; or e-mail Lindsay Cather at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8163.

2008 International Builders' Show Registration Open

Registration is now open NAHB’s 2008 International Builders’ Show (IBS), the housing industry’s largest annual trade show and exhibition.

The show is expected to draw more than 100,000 housing professionals — including home and apartment builders, architects, products manufacturers and those involved in every aspect of residential and light commercial construction — to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Feb. 13-16.

The convention will feature more than 1,900 exhibitors spread across more than 1.5 million net square feet of space. They will showcase cutting-edge designs, technologies, products and services in more than 300 categories in home building and light commercial construction.

NAHB will offer nearly 300 education sessions at IBS on multiple topics including green building, tips for succeeding in a slower market, the 50+ housing market, construction codes and the top consumer home trends for 2008.

New to the 2008 show is “Executive Edge,” a day-long program for executives that will feature advice from speakers on leadership in challenging times.

“Now more than ever, housing professionals need to arm themselves with the latest information and resources that will help them weather this slower housing market,” said NAHB President Brian Catalde. “With its unmatched product showcase, impressive speakers and education sessions and unbeatable networking opportunities, this is a show that everyone in the housing industry will want to attend.”

Discounted online registration for IBS is available until Jan. 4. Attendees will be able to register onsite at the show beginning Feb. 10.

Plan for Success With IBS Pre-Show Education

Pre-show courses at the 2008 International Builders’ Show offer attendees a simple and convenient way to tap the expertise and knowledge of industry professionals on such topics as green building, business management and the active adult market.

The intensive, day-long and multi-day courses will be held Feb. 9-12 in Orlando.

For course descriptions and registration information on all pre-show education, call The NAHB University of Housing’s Office of the Registrar at 800-368-5242 x8338 (8EDU), or e-mail pre-showeducation@nahb.com.

Note: Registration for pre-show courses does not include registration for the International Builders’ Show. Separate registration fees apply.

Free Spike Party Tickets Available to HBA Membership Staff

Free NAHB Spike Party tickets are now available to salaried state and local builders association membership staff who will be attending the International Builders' Show in Orlando in February.

Free tickets are available to one staff person per HBA. For staff to qualify, the HBA’s executive officer must submit the name and complete contact information of the membership staff person by Wednesday, Oct. 31.

The 2008 Spike Party will be a Las Vegas-themed event held at Universal CityWalk on Thursday, Feb. 14. The party will feature musical entertainment by the B-52's and several Vegas-style tribute acts.

EOs should include their HBA’s four-digit association number when submitting attendee information. E-mail the information to membership@nahb.com, or fax the information on a signed copy of HBA letterhead to 202-266-8348.

Recipients will be able to pick up two Spike Party tickets at the Spike booth at the builders’ show. Photo identification will be required.

Attend the Custom Builder Show in Naples, Fla., Oct. 26-28

This year's program, "Discover Hidden Treasures," is filled with hidden treasures and opportunities that will enable participants to improve their businesses.

Online registration had ended. Registration is available onsite beginning 3:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25.


	The 2007 Custom Home Builder Symposium will be at the Naples Grande Resort & Club in Naples, Fla. on Oct. 26-28.

Education Calendar

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.

What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn.

EPA Trains Texas Builders to Follow Storm Water Rules

With its new training, EPA is releasing information on how many citations are being issued and which are the most common. NAHB has been requesting this information because the data can show the association how it can help its members avoid fines.

Fines for non-compliance can be steep — as much as $32,000 per day in some cases.

Texas Association of Builders Executive Director Kristi Sutterfield credits her state’s positive relationship with EPA Region 6 administrator Richard Green, the former mayor of Arlington, Texas, for providing the impetus for the pilot launch after listening to builder testimony on problems with the administration of storm water regulations.

“Mayor Greene has been extremely receptive to our concerns and very proactive in solving a number of our issues,” Sutterfield said in a letter to Texas members.

“We have put together a training program that will give you excellent information for your teams in the field as well as help you meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act,” the letter said.

The pilot training program covers paperwork requirements, inspection protocol, Best Management Practices and a “Top 10” list of common citations.

NAHB representatives have met frequently with EPA officials on storm water compliance issues and have told them that educating home builders is much more productive when regulators divulge the most common causes for non-compliance so that builders can avoid them in the future, according to staff vice president for regulatory affairs Susan Asmus.

“This is certainly a positive step for EPA, for our members and for clean water,” Asmus said. “I hope the result is more common-sense regulation so we can continue to try to keep housing affordable.”

For more information, e-mail Calli Schmidt at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132.

The publication has been prepared to help builders comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's storm water requirements, and includes information on state permitting programs and more than 50 of the most commonly used Best Management Practices.

Also included are tips on compliance, including how to handle visits from inspectors.

Builders More Familiar With Green Building Guidelines

In addition, with the association set to unveil NAHB National Green Building Program — which includes an online certification tool — at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando in February, the survey also found that larger home builders have reached the proverbial “tipping point” for the need for national green building certification.

Fifty-three percent of those building 10 or more homes per year said green homes should meet the criteria of a national certification program.

Home builders associations and individual builders will begin pilot programs next week that will allow NAHB’s green building certification tool to be tested. The results will help the “NAHB Green” oversight groups determine a certification and verification protocol that makes the most sense for builders enrolled in the program.

“The Professional Builder survey is another indication of the growing acceptance of green building — growth that I don’t think anyone could have anticipated even two or three years ago,” said NAHB Green Building Subcommittee Chair Ray Tonjes. “I think ‘NAHB Green’ is going to be successful right out of the gate when it launches in February.”

According to the survey, energy efficiency was the most important aspect of green building to consumers. Of the builders surveyed, 97% said energy efficiency was somewhat or extremely important to their buyers. Indoor air quality followed at 83%, with sustainability at 56% and resource conservation at 54%.

The builders’ survey also indicated that 87% of respondents said they were seeking a minimum level of performance or sustainability to allow them to define or market a home as green.

In addition, 61% of the builders said they wanted to see a trade association, independent third party or another entity set that definition.

Of the builders surveyed, 62% said they used Energy Star. Additionally, 32% of those surveyed have used the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and 19% have used the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED-H pilot program.

The LEED-H program, however, ranked at the bottom of eight programs when the builders were asked about ease of use.

“Linking all of our local green building programs and adding an inexpensive national certification tool could not have come at a better time,” Tonjes said. “We’re preparing great tools and resources for our members. We are ready for ‘NAHB Green.’”

For more information, e-mail Calli Schmidt at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132.

Register now for The 2008 National Green Building Conference, held May 11-13 in New Orleans. Get contacts, tools and ideas that are good for both the environment and your bottom line.

The National Green Building Conference is the only national conference targeted to green building for the mainstream residential building industry. Network with designers and suppliers, attend exceptional education sessions and develop the skills you need for profitable green building.

Mississippi Issues RFPs for Workforce Housing Programs

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is seeking proposals for a $5.5 billion program to develop long-term workforce housing in the areas of the state most affected by Hurricane Katrina.

MDA has put out a request for proposals (RFPs) to develop single-family and multifamily rental and homeownership workforce housing programs for residents in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson and Pearl River counties in Mississippi.

For-profit and non-profit enterprises and individuals should mail their responses to:

Students Spend a Day at Pulte Homes Job Sites

Pulte Homes and NAHB Student Chapters have partnered to forge a closer working bond between students studying construction-related topics and the home building industry. Called “A Day at the Job Site,” the program brings students from four-year universities, two-year colleges and high schools to current Pulte Homes developments for a day of information sharing, networking and education.

Students visiting the Pulte sites not only get to see in the field the many career choices available in the home building industry, but their focus is also directed to the company’s ongoing efforts to increase the diversity of its workforce.

Students tour homes in various stages of construction and interact with executives of Pulte Homes to explore topics ranging from the construction process to sales and marketing.

“Day at the Job Site” events are currently scheduled in Maryland, Arizona, Texas and Florida.

Student participants are members of NAHB through the association’s Student Chapters program, which is administered by Home Builders Institute (HBI), the workforce development arm of NAHB.

Home Improvement Projects Bring the Family Together

According to a recent Dremel “Do-It-Yourself” Index Survey, 44% of men believe that working on home improvement projects with other family members strengthens the relationship, while only 31% of women feel the same way.

“When people think of family activities, they’re much more likely to think of a card game or game of catch in the back yard instead of working on a project together, like building a tree house or fixing a squeaky door,” said Beverly DeJulio, host of Handy Ma’am® and the first lady of home improvement. “The survey reveals that men perceive home repair projects to be self-satisfying and want to share the experiences with family members.”

DeJulio herself said she finds home improvement to be a great activity for men and women alike. When her grown children, their spouses and grandchildren visit one another, they make a point of helping each other with whatever needs to be done around the house.

DuJulio, a 30-year veteran of the DIY industry, offers some simple tips on how a family can work together on their next at-home project:

“At-home projects — from crafts and home repair to hands-on school projects that everyone participates in — can offer a unique bonding experience,” said DeJulio. “Enjoy and appreciate that special time with your family. The time spent together will not only make memories, but will also strengthen family relationships for years to come.”

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 HGTV

The NAHB Production Group produces weekly television shows on Fine Living, DIY and HGTV for consumers. The following is the latest lineup:

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.

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.

What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn.

Community Service Award Entries Due by Nov. 12

NAHB and the National Housing Endowment invite builders, remodelers and developers to submit entries for the community service award recognizing their philanthropic work throughout the year.

“This award continually showcases the best of our industry,” said Gary Garczynski, endowment chairman and 2002 NAHB president. “Now in its third year, the award winners serve as a source of inspiration to both our membership and the public at large.”

The award, which will be presented during the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, will honor eight winners, including Gold, Silver, Bronze and five honorable mentions.

Winners also will receive marketing material to show customers and earn the recognition of peers, the community and media.

To be considered for the award, the community service project should be completed between Jan. 1 and Nov. 12 of this year. In addition, the project:

For more information, e-mail Gwyn Donohue at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8447.

Students, Apply for Scholarships to Attend IBS by Nov. 15

Student attendance at IBS has proven to be instrumental in helping students learn and prepare for a career in the home building industry.

Electronic format applications are available on the NAHB Web site by clicking here.

Individual student members may apply for up to $500, which will not be matched. State or local builders associations may apply for up to $2,500 to match and distribute to their local NAHB Student Chapter.

Selected recipients will be notified by e-mail before Dec. 7 and funds will be distributed in early January 2008.

The NAHB Student Chapters program, administered by HBI, helps to enrich the educational experiences of more than 4,000 students enrolled in construction-related studies. High schools, vocational and technical schools, community colleges (two-year programs), universities (four-year programs) and Job Corps centers across the country all have chapters.

The endowment administers 12 scholarship programs and awards more than $400,000 each year to students pursuing careers in residential construction and related fields.

Pardee Builds Playhouses to Raise Funds for the Homeless

HomeAid, a leading non-profit provider of housing for the homeless, has announced that eight of its chapters in various states are hosting local “Project Playhouse”™ fund-raising events this year.

Chapters in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are featuring special American Girl®-themed playhouses and Washington, D.C. will showcase an educational, environmentally sustainable playhouse that will be installed in the city’s National Building Museum this month.

For 15 years, Project Playhouse has displayed and auctioned off professionally constructed children’s playhouses to raise money for HomeAid to build transitional housing around the country.

The three American Girl playhouses — based on the popular brand’s Nicki doll characterizing the spirit of volunteerism — are all built by Pardee Homes.

The Chicago house is currently on display at Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie at Golf Road and Skokie Boulevard, and will be raffled off in an Oct. 13 drawing in conjunction with HomeAid Chicago's “Run for Cover” fundraiser.

The Los Angeles playhouse is on display through Oct. 20 at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks. HomeAid Los Angeles/Ventura will auction the house and two others at its Project Playhouse Auction Party at Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks, Calif. on Oct. 20.

The New York American Girl playhouse will be donated to WestHelp Greenburgh, a transitional housing facility for homeless women and their preschool-aged children in White Plains, a suburb of New York City. The apartment-style transitional home is operated by Manhattan-based HELP USA and serves 108 families, providing housing, job skills training and other services to help rebuild self-sufficient lives.

“Project Playhouse has raised millions of dollars for homeless building projects around the country,” said Genette Eaton, chief executive officer of HomeAid. “In addition to being a tremendous fundraiser, it is a fun, creative way to raise awareness and increase the public dialogue about transitional, or temporary, homelessness, which affects hundreds of thousands of hardworking individuals and families.”

The playhouses are 8’ x 10’ x 10’ miniature homes that feature the same craftsmanship and quality as the real home built by the same home builders. They often include working electricity, running water and high-end materials such as granite and mahogany. Fully furnished, many of the playhouses in recent years have even included plasma television screens.

Weighing approximately 7,000 pounds, each playhouse is built to stand up to the wear and tear of children’s play. In previous years, playhouses have been auctioned for as much as $75,000.

Make Sound Bites Bark With NAHB’s ‘Interviewing Skills'

Learning how to effectively explain complex issues in 30 second sound bites will be taught during NAHB’s “Interviewing Skills,” part of the popular “Spokesperson Training” program that will be held at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando in February.

NAHB members attending the seminar will learn how to give clear, concise answers in a high-pressure, spur-of-the moment interview.

Through role playing, participants will learn how to quickly get key points across to the media, how the news is edited and how to avoid having their answers “taken out of context.”

“This information is crucial to anyone representing an organization,” said seminar participant Joe Cristo of Cristo Homes in Middletown, Ohio.

“Interviewing Skills” sessions will be held at builders’ show on Feb. 11 and 12.

In addition, NAHB will be offering “Presentation Skills” seminars at IBS on Feb. 13 and 14.

“Presentation Skills” attendees will learn how to organize and deliver a speech and presentation with accompanying question and answer sessions.

Each 7.5-hour seminar is limited to 12 participants. The seminars include instruction, skill-building exercises and on-camera practice interviews and presentations.

More than 15,000 NAHB leaders have participated in the “Spokesperson Training” program. The seminars are led by professional communication consultants, each with more than 30 years of experience training NAHB members on the issues that home builders, home builders association staff members and affiliate members face every day.

The registration fee is $495 for each one-day seminar. Registrations are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, click here.

Drive Away With a Shiny New $500 GM Offer


	NAHB members purchased more than 10,000 vehicles through the GM NAHB program in 2006. The all-new 2007 Chevy Silverado is included in the exclusive GM $500 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 the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, go to www.nahb.org/MA.

What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn.

Dell Savings on Vostro Desktops, Notebooks Through Oct. 19


	Dell is offering NAHB members discounts on Vostro™ desktops and notebooks through Oct. 19.

Dell is offering NAHB members 20% savings on new Vostro™ desktops and 20% on Vostro™ notebooks over $649. Members can save 10% on Vostro notebooks under $649.

In addition, Dell is offering 25% savings on durable and rugged Latitude ATG notebooks.

When ready to purchase, call the dedicated Dell sales team at 888-577-3355 from 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. CST Monday through Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m-6:00 p.m. CST. The Dell sales representative will apply your NAHB member discount to your order.

This promotion is off the retail price only and is not combinable with other offers.

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.

What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn.

UPS Offers Up to 30% Discount to NAHB Members on Shipping

NAHB and UPS, the world’s largest package delivery company, have joined forces to offer NAHB members discounts of up to 30% on shipping.

The NAHB shipping discounts include domestic air and ground, international export and international import.

Association members can also take advantage of hassle-free on-line shipping, 24/7 access and advanced package tracking at your fingertips.

NAHB members are eligible for discounts up to 30% to help manage costs with no catch — and no minimums.

The shipping discounts — which increase the more packages or letters the user sends — will be applied once enrollment is complete.

The enrollment process is fast and easy and is available to NAHB members through the Web site: www.savewithups.com/nahb.

For more information on UPS savings and the complete Member Advantage program, visit www.nahb.org/MA.

What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn.

Calendar of Events

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.

What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn.

Nation's Building News Online: October 8, 2007

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Enter Pillars of Industry Marketing, Design Awards

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New Home Technologies Require Trained Installers

A Sisterhood of Success in Good Times, Down Markets

Late Entries for The Nationals Due Friday, Oct. 12

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Apply for NAHB Safety Award for Excellence by Oct. 19

2008 International Builders' Show Registration Open

Plan for Success With IBS Pre-Show Education

Free Spike Party Tickets Available to HBA Membership Staff

Attend the Custom Builder Show in Naples, Fla., Oct. 26-28

Education Calendar

EPA Trains Texas Builders to Follow Storm Water Rules

Builders More Familiar With Green Building Guidelines

Mississippi Issues RFPs for Workforce Housing Programs

Students Spend a Day at Pulte Homes Job Sites

Home Improvement Projects Bring the Family Together

NAHB-Produced Programs on DIY, Fine Living and HGTV

Community Service Award Entries Due by Nov. 12

Students, Apply for Scholarships to Attend IBS by Nov. 15

Pardee Builds Playhouses to Raise Funds for the Homeless

Make Sound Bites Bark With NAHB’s ‘Interviewing Skills'

Drive Away With a Shiny New $500 GM Offer

Dell Savings on Vostro Desktops, Notebooks Through Oct. 19

UPS Offers Up to 30% Discount to NAHB Members on Shipping

Calendar of Events