Nation's Building News Online: March 31, 2008Print All Articles Text Version |
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In the News, Atlanta Builders Promote Housing TurnaroundFrustrated that downbeat national reporting on the state of the housing industry was a turnoff for prospective buyers in its local marketplace, the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association last week succeeded in using the news media to inform readers of prime home buying opportunities in the area. “Our positive ‘Get Home Atlanta!’ public relations campaign was being overshadowed by national housing statistics reports,” said David Ellis, the association’s executive vice president. Housing in Atlanta has been down, but local builders haven’t been suffering nearly as much as their counterparts in more distressed parts of the country. Looking to increase the sales numbers of its members, the HBA decided to launch a campaign to directly address the media’s inaccurate portrayal of the local market. Leveraging the Myth Buster resources from NAHB, the association worked with a public relations firm to develop solid economic statistics and convincing information on why now is a good time for looking at what the Atlanta housing market has to offer. “The PR firm really helped shape our perspective,” said Ellis. “Being outside the housing industry, they were able to keep us grounded and help us see what would make sense to the average prospective home buyer.” That effort paid off with double coverage in the Tuesday, March 25 edition of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The business section ran a national Associated Press story on an increase in existing home sales for February in which Ellis reported an uptick in model home visits in his market and price declines that have been milder than in comparable cities. “Buyers are starting to wake up to the fact that there are some great buys out there," Ellis told the AP reporter. The media exposure generated by the remarks of Ellis to the press was expanded on the newspaper’s op-ed page by a fact-filled opinion piece authored by Steve Palmer, the association’s president and chief financial officer of Bowen Family Homes. In the article, Palmer urged leaders in Washington to get behind efforts to preserve the health of the nation’s economy by stabilizing housing. Ellis said that feedback from the news coverage was immediate and positive — from both members and the community. “The local news media are starting to use us as a resource to provide a local perspective to their coverage of national housing industry statistics," said Ellis. Ellis added that implementing a quarterly press conference is another tactic that has been successful for the association. "We ask economists from local universities and representatives from the mortgage industry, the board of Realtors® and the home building industry to participate," he said. "And we're careful to maintain our credibility and not sugar-coat the numbers — but we provide context and make sure our messages are heard." Ellis said that after their most recent conference, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran a front-page story full of direct quotes from the panelists. Members and local associations finding themselves in a similar situation as the builders in Atlanta can turn the situation around by employing information and resources from NAHB to combat negative media stories and restore the confidence of hesitant buyers. Click here to be linked to Myth Buster Resources. For more information, e-mail Gwyn Donohue at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8447. For information on legislation, contact Michael Strauss, x8252. Here is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution article that last week helped to generate positive buzz, establish local home builders as a leading authority on conditions in their market and outline a solution to harness the strength of housing to preserve the health of the nation’s economy: Housing Industry Needs Congress' Help Few can argue that the home building industry is a critical component of the economy, both in metro Atlanta and the nation as a whole. In fact, housing represents 15.2% of the U.S. gross national product. As housing goes, so goes the economy, and this statement has never been more accurate. It was encouraging to learn Monday that the sales of existing homes rose by 2.9% in February, marking the biggest increase in a year and the first month-over-month rise of the annualized pace since July. But several key indicators pertaining to the housing industry show that we are on the brink of recession. The mortgage delinquency rate on all homes stood at nearly 6% in the fourth quarter of 2007, an all-time high. And the Federal Reserve reports home equity debt is greater than equity for the first time since 1945. The housing contraction of the last couple of years is weaving its way through the entire economy, wreaking havoc on the credit markets and causing job losses. Nearly one in six jobs is connected with the housing industry in the metro Atlanta area. There were a reported 63,000 jobs lost nationally in February, the fastest falloff in the labor market in five years. Great concern also remains about the 1.3 million subprime loans that are due to reset this year where 165 of borrowers have been behind on their mortgage payments. An additional impact is being felt by state and local governments that are losing money for their operating budgets as a result of lower property values and reduced tax bases. Roughly half the states in the country are facing serious financial difficulties linked directly to declining home values and the credit crunch. National retail sales are being affected as well. Lower home prices prompt consumers to buy fewer TVs, digital cameras and other electronic equipment. Analysts note that, unlike many other products, electronics sales have weathered all downturns in recent years until now. The message coming from the housing industry at this point is urgent, yet simple. Congress must move now to enact a temporary home buyer tax credit. This will pay huge dividends, with three immediate results: a stimulation of home buying activity, a drop of excess supply in housing markets and a halt to the erosion of housing prices and mortgage credit quality. There are several other measures that lawmakers should take into consideration. The revitalization of the Federal Housing Administration would provide reasonably priced, low-downpayment mortgages to millions of home owners and potential home buyers. Comprehensive government-sponsored reform for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will enable these financial institutions to greatly relieve liquidity and inventory pressures in the mortgage credit markets, help stabilize home prices and boost consumer confidence. An expansion of the mortgage bond program would help strapped borrowers refinance existing mortgages. Lastly, allowing tax-free withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s for the purchase of a first home would also be a tremendous boost for home buyers. The voluntary industry-government approach to help stem the tide of foreclosures clearly is not working. We're still seeing hundreds of billions of dollars in write-downs, and there is great uncertainty in the private securities markets. The Bush Administration claims it is waiting until the stimulus package kicks in before doing more, but by then it will be too little, too late. We just can't afford to wait any longer. During the congressional recess, home builders will be setting up meetings with key members in their home districts to talk about the importance of moving ahead with legislation that will address this crisis and provide immediate relief. The Fed has been our biggest ally and understands the gravity of the situation along with the need to stabilize financial markets and increase liquidity in the credit markets. Its first move was to back the acquisition of Bear Stearns, thus increasing the flow of funds to other banks squeezed for credit. Last Tuesday's decision to cut interest rates another three quarters of a point should help. We encourage the Fed to continue to assess the need for further rate cuts as they help spur growth. It is the Fed and Congress we turn to as they hold the keys to averting a national recession and placing momentum back into the housing industry, one of the vital engines in the U.S. economy. Beyond the Slump, Outdoor Home Features Seen as the ‘In’ TrendLooking beyond the current cyclical housing downturn and identifying the new home features that will give builders a competitive edge and keep remodelers busy in the marketplace shaping up for the next 10 years, outside will be the in thing, according to Gopal Ahluwalia, NAHB’s vice president for research. At a remodeling outlook presentation at last month’s International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Ahluwalia said that findings on what new home buyers want to see outside have significant repercussions for both home builders and remodelers. “What comes in new homes eventually trickles down to the existing stock, where most of remodeling actually is,” Ahluwalia said. The consumer preference findings were based on survey research among designers, architects, marketers and builders, and they were compiled for both an average home and an upscale home, which was defined as generally being 3,000 to 4,000 square feet or more in size. Among the outside features that are expected to increase new-home sales over the coming decade and increasingly generate remodeling projects:
Three-quarters of the remodelers surveyed reported an increase in their volume of outdoor work compared to the previous year, and 44% said that outdoor jobs had picked up over the past five years. Of those who worked on outdoor remodeling projects, the most common types of jobs were: deck, 52%; porch, 35%, patio, 27%, front porch, 25%; decking/patio covers/enclosures, 22%; outdoor lighting, 13%; outdoor kitchen, 13%; and outdoor fixed fireplace, 10%. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that $2.5 billion was spent last year on decks, a job that home owners typically undertake after living in their house for a period of time. Jumbo Loans Are Reborn, But Terms Are StifferHome buyers should not expect the eligibility standards for the new super-size loans available through the end of this year under the economic stimulus plan to be as generous as in the under-$417,000 segment of the market. For example, in the guidelines for what Fannie Mae calls its new “jumbo conforming” program, the company will buy fixed-rate mortgages up to $729,750, but only if there is a 10% minimum downpayment; there is a minimum FICO score of 700 for any loans with less than a 20% downpayment; there is minimum 40% downpayment and 660 FICO for second homes and investor properties; there are no balloon or negative-amortization terms; and household debt-to-income ratios do not exceed 45%. Also, the interest rates on the new super-size conforming loans are not expected to be anywhere near competitive with smaller mortgages. Besides higher base rates, there are add-on charges in “declining” markets that can push final note rates beyond 7.5%. Many areas tagged as declining are in former housing-boom markets in California and the Eastern Seaboard, where jumbo mortgages are most common and most needed. On jumbo FHA mortgages only a 3% downpayment is required. (www.washingtonpost.com)
Detroit’s Housing Slump Is Attractive to InvestorsInvestors from as far away as Hong Kong and Hawaii are coming to Detroit to make their fortune buying foreclosed homes in bulk, as many as 100 at a time in some instances. Sales were up dramatically in Detroit in February, rising 49% from a year before, and realty watchers say foreclosure properties played a key role in the increase. Smith Kitporka, 28, an investor in San Jose, Calif., said he has been buying Detroit foreclosures for two years, often paying as little as $10,000. “No war-zone houses or anything like that,” he said. “Just good houses in good neighborhoods.” Jeremy Burgess, a 28-year-old investor from Washington state who has been living in the area for the past year, said that he can pick up an $85,000 house in Detroit for $20,000 to $30,000 these days. Listings on Fannie Mae’s Web site show many Detroit foreclosures for less than $25,000. Last year, Detroit led the nation in foreclosures. Of the 10,342 homes on the market in Detroit recently, 3,355 were bank-owned foreclosures (REOs), according to Realcomp Inc. And in the tri-county area, 7,104 bank-owned foreclosures were listed out of more than 47,095 homes on the market. In many cases, there’s still a disparity between what banks want to get for foreclosed properties and what investors are willing to pay, according to Mark Nagy, a broker and consultant for RE investment Inc. in Southfield, Mich. In many cases, a bank today wants 55 to 65 cents on the dollar for a suburban property, yet investors want to pay 40 to 50 cents. In Detroit, the bank may want 30 to 35 cents, and investors want it at 20 to 25 cents. “Those two points have not met in the middle yet,” he said. “It’s an evolution process. It’s going to evolve that bulk sales will increase.” (www.freep.com)
As Owners Default, Lenders Move InAcross the country, federally chartered banks held more than $12 billion worth of foreclosed properties at the end of 2007, about 100% more than a year earlier. Of those, $6.6 billion are residential properties of one to four units, said Keith Leggett, senior economist at the American Bankers Association. The increase carries profound implications for the real estate economy because decisions by individual banks on whether to wait out the slump or dump properties on a deadened market almost certainly would affect property values. Chicago-based Harris Bank’s REOs grew to $11.5 million at the end of 2007, up from $4.9 million at the end of 2006, according to documents filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. That includes commercial and residential properties. The $41 billion asset institution said it’s working with real estate agents to sell the foreclosed residential properties, but because of market conditions, “we are seeing assets stay on the books longer,” Harris spokeswoman Amy Yuhn said. “Our philosophy is that these properties are in the communities we lend in, so we’re not just going to dump them on the market,” she said, noting that such a practice could have an impact on local neighborhoods. “So we do hold onto them on the balance sheet longer because we do go through a longer selling process, just as if it were anyone selling a house.” (www.chicagotribune.com) Dense Housing Can Win SupportWhen a team of Stanford University researchers polled a random sampling of 238 San Mateo County residents about the local housing crisis, just 38% said that they believed there was a need for more housing in the area. But the research team, commissioned by a nonprofit called Threshold 2008 and led by Stanford professor Jim Fishkin, wasn’t finished with its respondents. After polling them, the participants were each paid $200 to attend an intensive two-day seminar on housing issues at a nearby college and then surveyed again. This time, 68% said they’d support building more housing in the county. The majority said the new homes should be densely concentrated in already developed areas, even if it means taller buildings in their neighborhoods. “What it shows is that if you give people a chance to think about the issue and get informed, they come to the conclusion it’s something we really need to address,” said Threshold 2008 director Greg Greenway, a former businessman and housing advocate. (www.insidebayarea.com)
Report: Housing Slump Hitting Second HomesThe housing recession is putting a dent in second home sales, with vacation home sales dropping more than 30% last year from 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors®. And sales of homes to investors fell by more than 18% from year earlier totals, compared to a 10% drop last year in sales of properties intended as primary residences. “Certainly, second homes are discretionary purchases, and there is a natural tendency to pull back from big-ticket items in periods of uncertainty,” Realtors’ economist Lawrence Yun said in the report. “The other factor is the disruption in the mortgage market, with a significant tightening of credit during the second half of 2007." Even with the slowdown, a significant number of residential properties purchased in 2007 — almost one third of total sales — were acquired as second homes. In 2007, 12% of houses sold across the U.S., or about 740,000 homes, were for vacation use. And 21%, or 1.35 million units, were purchased as investments. (www.dallasnews.com)
Local Housing Market Shows Signs of Spring ThawArea home sales in Charleston, S.C. plummeted 28.5% during the first two months of this year compared to the same period of 2007; the average property that changed hands in that time languished on the market for more than four months; and the number of properties for sale has stretched to a whopping 10,850 listings. But there are signs that buyers are budding. Real estate agents from all over the Lowcountry said open houses are full and they are busier with showings than they have been in months. The Charleston Metro Area Chamber of Commerce expects almost 13,000 homes to change hands this year, a 6% increase from 2007. The chamber said activity is poised to pick up thanks to attractive mortgage rates, a relatively healthy local economy and demand from out-of-town buyers. Also, it’s spring — the peak season for home buying. Charleston is doing great compared to a lot of communities around the nation, according to Matt Sloan, president of Daniel Island Co. Some segments of the market have held up relatively well, particularly high-end homes and empty lots. Almost 60 properties on Kiawah Island sold for more than $2.5 million last year, according to Chris Drury, president of Kiawah Island Real Estates. (www.charleston.net)
Plan to Attend the 2008 NAHB Legislative Conference
The day-long conference on Wednesday, April 30 coincides with the NAHB spring board meeting in Washington, D.C. Builders are encouraged to travel to the nation’s capital to urge their representatives and senators to support policies that stabilize housing, restore confidence in the credit markets and bolster the nation’s economy. Members of Congress are being urged to:
New Home Sales Drop Shows Need for Congress to Act NowSales of new single-family homes fell by 1.8% in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 590,000 units, according to numbers from the U.S. Commerce Department released on March 26. Last month’s sales pace was down nearly 30% from a year earlier and 58% from the peak in July 2005. "Builders have been pulling out all the stops to sell homes and narrow the supply of units on the market," said NAHB President Sandy Dunn. "Unfortunately, buyer demand remains very weak heading into the spring home buying season. Clearly, Congress needs to act decisively when it returns from its recess next week to enact measures that will keep housing from dragging the economy into a recession." "Our latest member surveys confirm that builders have seen an improvement in the number of prospective buyers who are visiting model homes, and consumer attitudes toward home buying have perked up in recent months," noted NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. "But this hasn't yet translated into greater sales activity, and it stands to reason that additional stimulative measures — such as a temporary home buyer tax credit, FHA modernization and GSE reform — could have substantial positive impacts on both the housing market and the overall economy." Regionally, sales activity was mixed in February, with gains of 40.3% in the Northeast, 5.7% in the South and 0.7% in the West but a decline of 6.4% in the Midwest. On a positive note, builders' efforts to reduce their inventories drove the number of new homes on the market down by 2.1% to a seasonally adjusted 471,000 units in February. However, the supply of units at the current sales pace remained unchanged at 9.8 months and the median length of time that completed homes were on the market rose to 7.2 months from 6.7 months in January. "This is a truly critical time for housing and the economy, and Congress needs to get right down to business," Dunn said. "Every day that lawmakers fail to act is a missed opportunity for improvement."
Attend the Spring Construction Forecast Conference in April Plan to attend NAHB's Spring Construction Forecast Conference on Thursday, April 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. Can't attend? Watch the conference webcast live. For more information, or to register for the conference or webcast, visit www.nahb.org/cfc.
Want to Know the Housing Forecast for the Top 100 Metros? Find out in HousingEconomic.com’s 2008 to 2009 Metro Forecast (free preview). Get the metro forecast with in-depth analysis, overviews and downloadable Excel tables. To learn more, visit www.HousingEconomics.com.
Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips to Navigate the Slowdown 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. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. OFHEO Decides Not to Lower Conforming Loan LimitsBased on the recommendations it received from NAHB and other industry groups, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) on March 26 announced in its final guidance on conforming loan limit calculations that there would be no decrease from the current level of $417,000 in 2009 and subsequent years. “OFHEO’s decision to reverse a proposal to establish new guidelines that could have resulted in lower conforming loan limits in future years is welcome news for the housing sector,” said Jerry Howard, executive vice president and CEO of NAHB. “With housing in the midst of a serious downturn and the mortgage markets in crisis, this move is a step in the right direction to ensure that there is an adequate availability of funds for the refinancing of loans and for new loans.” OFHEO said, however, that the conforming loan limit will not increase until cumulative increases in house prices exceed cumulative decreases since the $417,000 limit was first reached in October 2005. This is consistent with current practice for the annual loan limit adjustment, which NAHB supports. The announcement has no impact on the temporary increase in the conforming loan limit for high-cost areas recently established in the economic stimulus act and set to expire at the end of this year. Under OFHEO’s earlier proposal, any decreases in the conforming loan limit would have been deferred one year and the cumulative decline would have had to total more than 3% before a decrease in the limit would have been imposed. The cumulative two-year decline in the FHFB index is now 3.65%. Under the OFHEO proposal, the 2009 loan limit would have been adjusted downward by that amount if this year’s index calculation did not shrink the cumulative decline to a level below the 3% threshold. Recent and expected future home price readings suggest that implementation of OFHEO’s proposed adjustment method would have resulted in a conforming loan limt reduction in 2009. In comments on the proposal, NAHB stated that the adjustment procedure was unnecessarily complicated and would create market disruptions. To avoid potentially negative market impacts, NAHB recommended to OFHEO the continuation of the current practice where declines in the FHFB index are netted out from future increases. NAHB also commented that OFHEO’s proposal did not appear to be authorized under current law, “which only permits increases in the loan limit.” In the midst of a cyclical downturn and significant tightening in the availability of mortgage credit, NAHB also noted that “reductions in the conforming loan limit could impair the ability of some borrowers to refinance out of subprime mortgages, which is of particular concern for families with problematic mortgages, as well as prevent some first-time home buyers from obtaining lower-cost financing on conforming, FHA or VA loans.” For more information, e-mail Michelle Hamecs at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8425.
Attend the Spring Construction Forecast Conference in April Plan to attend NAHB's Spring Construction Forecast Conference on Thursday, April 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. Can't attend? Watch the conference webcast live. For more information, or to register for the conference or webcast, visit www.nahb.org/cfc.
Want to Know the Housing Forecast for the Top 100 Metros? Find out in HousingEconomic.com’s 2008 to 2009 Metro Forecast (free preview). Get the metro forecast with in-depth analysis, overviews and downloadable Excel tables. To learn more, visit www.HousingEconomics.com.
Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips to Navigate the Slowdown 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. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. NAHB Helping Members Comply With FHA Marketing RequirementsWith erosion of the subprime mortgage market increasing interest in Federal Housing Administration programs as an alternative source of financing for first-time home buyers, builder and developers who want to sell new homes with FHA financing are being reminded that they must comply with requirements from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to market their housing affirmatively to minorities and other protected classes. For single-family builders, the most straightforward way is already incorporated in HUD’s Site Inspection Form 92541, which builders need to fill out for FHA construction certification anyway. Question 11, box D provides a short list of affirmative marketing requirements, and builders can self-certify compliance with them. To sell properties that are not single-family homes, an Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan (AFHMP) needs to be developed and implemented. NAHB members have access to a streamlined compliance process — the Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement, or VAMA. Only NAHB members can sign a VAMA. In order to show compliance with the affirmative marketing requirements for FHA financing, all a builder has to do is state that it is a VAMA signatory. The VAMA comes with its own requirements — both for home builders associations and builders — so neither the HBA nor the builder is required to adopt it. However, for many condo builders, the VAMA may provide a less complicated path to FHA financing, because it doesn’t involve getting HUD approval of an individual plan. For VAMA compliance information for builders and home builders associations, NAHB members can click here. This section of the NAHB Web site includes the text of the VAMA, as well as some sample materials that might be useful for complying with the agreement. Builders and HBAs should be aware that complying with the VAMA only shows that the FHA affirmative marketing requirement has been met; it does not necessarily prove compliance with the Fair Housing Act itself, or any other law. For more information, e-mail AJ Holliday at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8305.
Attend the Spring Construction Forecast Conference in April Plan to attend NAHB's Spring Construction Forecast Conference on Thursday, April 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. Can't attend? Watch the conference webcast live. For more information, or to register for the conference or webcast, visit www.nahb.org/cfc.
Want to Know the Housing Forecast for the Top 100 Metros? Find out in HousingEconomic.com’s 2008 to 2009 Metro Forecast (free preview). Get the metro forecast with in-depth analysis, overviews and downloadable Excel tables. To learn more, visit www.HousingEconomics.com.
Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips to Navigate the Slowdown 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. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. NAHB Prevails in Keeping Vital Census Data on Housing MarketsNAHB scored a substantial victory earlier this month by heading off a Census Bureau proposal that would have made it more difficult for builders to gauge the demand for new housing in up-close locations. In the middle of last year, the bureau had proposed increasing the population threshold from 600 to 1,200 residents in its definition of “block groups,” which are the smallest geographical units for which data is tracked. As NAHB pointed out in comments on the proposal, members of the association have a strong interest in maintaining the availability of data at this level because it is essential for analyzing local housing market conditions. Data on the value of housing units, rents, incomes and other key variables are needed at a small enough scale to apply to typical subdivisions, NAHB argued in its opposition to the plan. In the final criteria that will be used in the 2010 Census, the bureau announced on March 14 that it had overturned its original proposal. Had the population threshold been increased, as suggested earlier, the size of the average block group would have been drastically increased, essentially removing any distinction between those groups and tracts, which are subdivisions of counties. Also, NAHB’s Housing Policy Department has been using Census block group data to show the cost of land-use restrictions, and to analyze the relationship between driving and subdivision densities. Producing these types of studies would have become difficult if not impossible under the proposal. Elsewhere in its notices, the Census Bureau accepted an NAHB recommendation to base tracts and block groups on counts of housing units rather than population in some cases. This will be especially useful for gathering information on vacation home communities. An NAHB recommendation to separate large bodies of water and parks from residential tracts and block groups in order to avoid giving a distorted picture of densities in residential areas was only partially included in the final criteria announced by the Census Bureau. Parks have been excluded from residential areas, but not bodies of water. For more information, e-mail Paul Emrath at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8449.
Attend the Spring Construction Forecast Conference in April Plan to attend NAHB's Spring Construction Forecast Conference on Thursday, April 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. Can't attend? Watch the conference webcast live. For more information, or to register for the conference or webcast, visit www.nahb.org/cfc.
Want to Know the Housing Forecast for the Top 100 Metros? Find out in HousingEconomic.com’s 2008 to 2009 Metro Forecast (free preview). Get the metro forecast with in-depth analysis, overviews and downloadable Excel tables. To learn more, visit www.HousingEconomics.com.
Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips to Navigate the Slowdown 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. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Attend or Watch the Construction Forecast Conference on April 24Plan to attend the NAHB Construction Forecast Conference — Spring 2008 on Thursday, April 24 in Washington, D.C. to get the latest facts, insights and analysis of the housing industry. Panels of nationally recognized experts at the day-long conference will discuss economic trends, government policies, developments in the housing industry and the results from NAHB's recent surveys. For more information and to register, visit www.nahb.org/cfc. Can't Attend in Person? Webcast of Conference Also Available For webcast information, visit www.nahb.org/cfcwebcast. The webcast fee includes access to the webcast archive and electronic copies of the conference handout and presentation materials. 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 Spring Construction Forecast Conference in April Plan to attend NAHB's Spring Construction Forecast Conference on Thursday, April 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. Can't attend? Watch the conference webcast live. For more information, or to register for the conference or webcast, visit www.nahb.org/cfc.
Want to Know the Housing Forecast for the Top 100 Metros? Find out in HousingEconomic.com’s 2008 to 2009 Metro Forecast (free preview). Get the metro forecast with in-depth analysis, overviews and downloadable Excel tables. To learn more, visit www.HousingEconomics.com.
Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips to Navigate the Slowdown 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. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Builder’s Tip: A Tangle-Free Way to Unroll Electric Cable
There is a better way to store and unroll the cable ― using a simple, handmade plywood spool.
Either way, the wire is nice and straight. — Michael A. Meredith, Springfield, Va. Tips & Techniques provided by Fine Homebuilding.
To contact Fine Homebuilding, e-mail Christina Glennon.
Set Yourself Apart With CGB Designation Join the ranks of the nation’s top building industry professionals with the Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) designation. The “Builder Assessment Review” (BAR) is your first step towards obtaining the CGB. This comprehensive assessment measures your expertise in the four key areas of the building industry: building technology, business and finance, project management and sales and marketing. Your results will show the areas where your knowledge is strongest and weakest and will help determine the courses required for you to obtain your CGB. To learn where the next BAR will be held, visit NAHB’s education listings, or call the Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242 x8154.
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 to Navigate the Slowdown 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. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Tech-Savvy Builders Expected to Lead in Housing UpturnAt a time when the housing market is slow, home builders need to be taking a hard look at how effectively they are using technology to run their business or risk being woefully unprepared for the marketplace that is shaping up on the other side of the downturn, according to panelists at an International Builders’ Show educational program in Orlando last month. The convention speakers emphasized that good software systems can add significantly to profits by cutting administrative and construction costs and coordinating the sales and building process more effectively with their customers. Cutting costs, they said, will be crucial during the recovery when prospective buyers will be taking a hard look at prices and may therefore confine their shopping to the existing home market unless builders can offer them something that’s new and also affordable. And they said that good Web sites will emerge as an essential component of successful sales and marketing once the current downturn ends. “The market will look nothing like what we had in the heyday,” predicted Jerome Gray, of Comstock Home Building Companies in Reston, Va. “It will still be a buyer’s market, and they will dictate what they want in a home and what they’re willing to pay.” Gray said that builders should expect to be dealing a lot with younger, computer-savvy buyers. “The relocation market will be based almost entirely on the Internet,” he said, “and not on driving around with Realtors®.” Another sizable market force, Gray said, will be baby boomers selling their existing homes to be close to their grandchildren and creating a “huge” resale market in the process that will require builders to reduce their costs and offer things that aren’t available in resale in order to stay competitive. Finding It on the Internet Gray said that technology has been key for his company in planning for the change he expects in buyers and demographics. “Customers will be using technology to find out what’s available,” he said, and that’s why it’s important that they can access selection sheets online even before they stop into the sales office. With an effective Web site, he said, not as many sales people are needed. He recommended using technology as a “sales advocate.” Sales people who are tech-savvy can send text messages to buyers who are tech-savvy. “We have been retraining sales people who were scared to death to go into their office and turn on their computer,” Gray said. “If you’re not training and implementing these things today, you’re preparing to fail in 2009 and 2010 when the market flies.” “Our buyers aren’t looking at brochures,” he added. “If they can’t find it on the Internet, they’re moving on.” And if they find that using a particular Web site is cumbersome, then they also won’t stay. “You have to have an outstanding, interactive Web site that is quick and concise in providing information. They want a response now.” Making More Money By adopting or improving information technology, builders have the opportunity to increase their bottom line by as much as 50% to 100%, said J. Kevin Ogle, president of Dynami Solutions in Edwardsville, Ill. Noting that he did not “grow up” in home building but spent his efforts on using technology for “transformative change” in other industries, Ogle predicted that when the new market does arrive “winners will be those who have the right information in the right place at the right time to guide decision making. They will own the market.” Gaining a reputation by word of mouth will be insufficient, he said, now that technology allows builders to reach beyond that capacity. “You can use technology to expand your brand beyond your own market,” he said. “When you decide you want to put a new floor plan in a community, how much time and effort goes into it?” he asked. Using technology, the entire process, down to pricing and selling, can be streamlined and reduced to as little as 10 minutes of work. “You can use technology to reduce time and motion,” Ogle said. “Taking nine steps out of the distribution center can take it from not being profitable to being profitable. Efficiencies will make money for you.” Ogle also reminded builders that the conditions that created the housing boom leading up to the current downturn “won’t be tenable during the recovery.” This makes it all the more important for builders to adopt a deliberate strategy to manage their profit line, a process that can be “hugely enabled” through the application of technology, starting out with determining where the money is being made — on the house, on land or wherever. Through technology, builders can interrogate the data flowing into their business by applying tools that put them in touch with their business as it is happening. “A financial report is not much help in correcting sales or departmental problems happening now,” he said. Conceding that the culture of the home building business has hampered the adoption of technologies that have been of great benefit to other businesses for a decade or more, Ogle said that a builder might be more receptive to a $100,000 investment in software if he knew that it would put $1.7 million on the bottom line of an investment of less than $1 million. Having Information When It’s Needed Amitesch Sinha, president and CIO of iConnect Group in Reston, Va., said that builders are still living in the 1980s when it comes to technology and it is ironic that they are not using it because the biggest challenge for the typical builder is not having the information they need at the right time. About 85% of small to medium-sized builders have Internet access, he said, but of those, 65% have slow dial-up access. And most builders don’t check their E-mails often enough, he added. “Sixty percent of new homes are built by companies with fewer than 10 employees,” he said. “They need a simple application that ensures data goes to the right places and people.” Also, “your office needs enough broadband so that everybody gets the information. It is up to the senior management or president of a company to understand the value of technology, Sinha said. “If they don’t buy into it, nobody else will." With business at a lull, builders have the luxury of being able to learn how to use technology at their own pace, according to David Parker, legal counsel for The Langtree Group LLC in Mooresville, N.C. “Make the IT people slow down if you don’t understand them,” he advised. Switch Strategies From Specs to Selling Contract HomesWith the days of selling spec homes even before they've been completed long gone, builders need to adjust their strategy and business model to the current market reality. To get through the downturn and be in a position to succeed when the market picks up, builders should focus on more than just selling off their spec homes and reducing their inventory. Many builders already have begun shifting their strategy of building spec homes to one of building and selling contract homes. It's the smart thing to do and will help ensure their profitability ― or at least survival — through the downturn and beyond. But builders who are considering implementing this type of business strategy should realize that this new model requires not only a change in business tactics, it requires a change in mind-set, too. The following are seven steps to consider when implementing a contract home strategy.
Andy Elsbury is the founder of Indianapolis-based SelectionWare, which provides consulting services and solutions for home builders to improve the building process. For more information, e-mail Elsbury, call him at 866-585-9222 or visit the SelectionWare Web site at www.SelectionWare.com. NAHB Has Nearly 300 Resources to Help You Run Your Business More Profitably Go to NAHB's Business Management Tools Web pages (available to members only) for instant access to nearly 300 timesaving, moneymaking and cost-cutting business resources to help you run your business more profitably. Get guidance on accounting and financial management, business strategy, computers and information technology, customer service, human resources and more. Resources are added weekly, so bookmark www.nahb.org/biztools to go directly to these vital business management resources. Local and state home builders associations can link directly to www.nahb.org/biztools from their Web site and give their members instant access to these resources. It will make your HBA's Web site the place to go for the information and guidance that members need to succeed. Missing a deadline can seriously damage your bottom line. The "Scheduling" course from The NAHB University of Housing shows building professionals how to set workable schedules and use various time-management tools. The course teaches the benefits of scheduling and integrating scheduling with other management activities and will help builders, remodelers and site managers deal with those days when nothing goes according to plan. Find upcoming Scheduling courses here, or call 800-368-5242 x8154 for more information. Use ‘Cost of Doing Business Study’ to Develop Strategies to Succeed “The Cost of Doing Business Study, 2008 Edition,” available from BuilderBooks.com, is a one-of-a-kind resource that gives an inside look at the business practices of hundreds of builders from across the country by providing an accessible overview of profitability, cost of sales and expenses. Several categories, including volume, operation type and land vs. no land costs are analyzed to help builders fine-tune comparisons between study results and their companies. These categories have been analyzed, where applicable, by average and by the top and bottom 25% of performers by net profitability. Use “The Cost of Doing Business Study, 2008 Edition” to develop proven strategies to succeed in an increasingly competitive market. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. 50+ Consumers Are Buying Into Green TechnologyFrom simple energy-saving light bulbs to more costly and complex high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, 50+ home owners are more likely to equip their homes with the latest in energy-efficient technology than their younger peers, according to a recent survey focusing on green issues conducted by Rockbridge Associates, a market research firm based in Great Falls, Va., and the University of Maryland. Not only do more seniors own these products, Rockbridge research analysts said, they also are more likely to want them. The National Technology Readiness Survey, conducted annually since 1999 by Rockbridge Associates and the Robert H. Smith School of Business’ Center for Excellence in Service at the University of Maryland, tracks beliefs about technology and key behaviors related to the Internet and environmental-related services. The survey measures consumers’ technology readiness and identifies emerging trends. The latest survey was conducted from September to November last year and sampled 1,025 people 18 and older, of which 405 respondents were 50 or older.
According to the survey, 50+ consumers were more likely to own, or want to own, energy-saving light bulbs, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, programmable thermostats, eco-friendly homes and home weather stations than their younger counterparts. The differences between the age groups “point to the desire among 50+ consumers for a more efficient, comfortable and convenient living environment,” said Dave Glantz, Rockbridge senior research director, adding that it is difficult to justify this interest solely in economic terms. “While many 50+ consumers might be interested in this technology because of the long-term cost savings, it nevertheless costs more in the first place to purchase these more energy-efficient products, compared to conventional offerings,” Glantz said. “Beyond pricing considerations, it appears 50+ consumers are driven also by their more pronounced concern about the environment.” Overall, one-in-10 American adults are who the survey analysts call “Green Tech Leaders,” the nexus between environmentalists and early adopters of technology. They not only care about the environment, “they also tell everyone they know why they should care, too,” Glantz said. Among all age groups, the survey determined that 18% of the respondents were “Green Tech Followers,” those who are just as dedicated to the environment as the “Green Tech Leaders” but who stop short of evangelizing about technology and the environment like their leader counterparts. The survey determined that while only 6% of 50+ consumers were “Green Tech Leaders,” 25% were “Green Tech Followers,” their largest representation in any age segment. In addition, while 50+ consumers generally are considered less tech-savvy and more skeptical about technology than their younger counterparts, they are less than half as likely to be “Anti-Green” (4% vs. 10% respectively) and less likely to clearly reject the notion of climate change or the influence of humans on it, the survey found.
A larger segment of 50+ consumers has already bought into the idea of a green lifestyle, Glantz said. “They may simply need more reassurance about the benefits and reliability of the technology itself, and to understand more clearly the causal link between green technologies and a greener environment.” Improving that understanding “could be the key to releasing the enormous potential of this segment of consumers,” he said. To view a two-minute video by Glantz on "Green Seniors for the Building Industry," click here. For more information on the 2007 National Technology Readiness Survey and the green technology findings, e-mail Dave Glantz, senior research director at Rockbridge Associates, or call him at 703-757-5213 x15. Information About Home Technology Available From HTA The Home Technology Alliance (HTA) is a partnership between NAHB and the Custom Electronic Design Installation Association (CEDIA) that was formed to position the housing industry to effectively meet the growing home buyer demand for home technology and provide maximum return on investment in the new home building and remodeling process. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/HTA. Multi-Room Audio and Video Is on Home Buyers’ RadarBy Al Baron, Polk Audio Last January, Apple reported selling more than 22 million iPods during the last quarter of 2007. That helped fuel a 17% growth in the company’s revenue over the same period a year earlier What does the demand for music mean for home builders and remodelers? Today’s home buyers want music that’s as readily accessible as an iPod. They don’t just want music in their living rooms, great rooms or bedrooms; they want music in their home offices, on their decks, by their pools, even in their showers. And builders and remodelers are in position to meet this demand because of the latest advances in audio components and structured wiring. They can deliver the multi-room audio and video that home owners want. High quality speakers are available in every price range ― from modest installations to showcase-quality professional designs. This enables multi-room audio to be scaled to home buyers’ budgets. Also, home buyers want to hear their music and not necessarily see the component. With the sleekness and “invisibility” of today’s technology, many options are available to satisfy that demand, as well. So, what multi-room audio trends are driving home buyer demands? Music Anywhere, Anytime More consumers are able to enjoy music in a variety of areas in the home because of extended connectivity, increased affordability of technologies and the growing consumer trend toward convenience.
Big bulky speakers are out. Heard but not seen is in. This is growing in importance as more home buyers want their equipment to be invisible or blended in with their design choices. Builders have many options to offer their customers.
Multi-room audio and structured wiring are in demand and will help builders and remodelers make more money and increase their profit margins. Nine in 10 builders reported that adding home technologies increased (31%) or maintained (61%) their revenues, according to a recent State of the Builder Study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). Other ways multi-room audio and structured wiring can help builders and remodelers in the marketplace include:
Partnering with qualified Electronic Systems Contractors (ESCs) enables builders and remodelers to utilize professionals who have the expertise, education and experience in home technology products and installation. This is similar to builder relationships with other trades such as plumbing and HVAC.
Information About Home Technology Available From HTA The Home Technology Alliance (HTA) is a partnership between NAHB and the Custom Electronic Design Installation Association (CEDIA) that was formed to position the housing industry to effectively meet the growing home buyer demand for home technology and provide maximum return on investment in the new home building and remodeling process. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/HTA. CEDIA: A Source for Experienced ESCs The Custom Electronic Design Installation Association (CEDIA) is a founding sponsor in the Home Technology Alliance and 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. CEDIA serves as a source for Electronic Systems Contractors (ESCs). For more information on CEDIA, visit the association’s Web site at www.cedia.org. To find an ESC, click here. How to Maximize Effectiveness of Print AdvertisingBy Rich Carlson, Carlson Communications
Attend 50+ Symposium in New Orleans on May 19-21Many builders in the 55+ market have reported little or no change in sales and traffic since the downturn, with 55+ households accounting for 21% of new home sales and 18% of the total new home buying market. Learn more about this growing market at 2008 Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans from May 19-21. In addition to learning more about the relative stability of and opportunity in the 55+ market, the following are more reasons to attend the symposium:
Among the featured sessions are:
For more information, see the symposium brochure on the NAHB Web site, or e-mail The NAHB University of Housing’s Office of the Registrar at registrar@nahb.com, or call 800-368-5242 x8338.
Earn CAASH Credits at Building for Boomers & Beyond The three required courses for the Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH) designation will be held Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 at the 2008 Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium in New Orleans. The CAASH designation gives housing professionals serving this rapidly burgeoning market the essential knowledge, tools and skills that will help them succeed. To learn more about CAASH, visit www.nahb.org/CAASHinfo.
Find Out What the 45+ Housing Market Wants “Right House, Right Place, Right Time: Community and Lifestyle Preferences of the 45+ Housing Market,” available through BuilderBooks.com, will help 50+ housing professionals determine the right design, home features and amenities to attract boomer home buyers in their market. Margaret Wylde guides readers through the latest survey results on this important consumer group and explains what their responses mean for today’s and tomorrow’s home building industry. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. Help Rebuild New Orleans at 50+ Housing SymposiumBuilding for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium is partnering with Rebuilding Together New Orleans and the NAHB National Green Building Conference on a special two-day community service project in which symposium attendees can help rehabilitate homes in New Orleans that were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The 50+ Housing Symposium will be held in New Orleans May 19-21. Two pre-conference days, Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, have been reserved for the rebuilding project and symposium attendees are encouraged to volunteer. Attendees participating in the rebuilding project will work on the NAHB house begun on May 10 by volunteers attending the Green Building Conference, also in New Orleans. The Green Building Conference will be held May 11-13. Since Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in August 2005, more than 1,700 volunteers have worked with Rebuilding Together New Orleans to help more than 50 low-income, elderly and disabled residents return to their homes. The volunteers have provided more than 40,000 hours of labor worth nearly $1.3 million. Symposium attendees, as well as others interested in participating, are encouraged to volunteer on one or both days. All skill levels are welcome. Participants must be 18 or older. Transportation from the symposium at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel to the building sites and all tools and building materials, lunch, water and T-shirts will be provided. There is no cost to participate, but participants must register in advance. For more information about the symposium or how to volunteer or make a donation to Rebuilding Together New Orleans, visit www.nahb.org/build4boomers, e-mail Janice Coyle at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8386. To be a corporate sponsor for the project, e-mail Harris Floyd at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8208.
Tour Top 50+ Communities in New Orleans Sign up for the active adult housing tour at the 2008 Boomers and Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium in New Orleans, May 19-21. The symposium will also feature the most innovative new community designs during the Best of 50+ Housing Awards gala. Click here to register, or for more information.
Earn CAASH Credits at Building for Boomers & Beyond The three required courses for the Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH) designation will be held Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 at the 2008 Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium in New Orleans. The CAASH designation gives housing professionals serving this rapidly burgeoning market the essential knowledge, tools and skills that will help them succeed. To learn more about CAASH, visit www.nahb.org/CAASHinfo.
Find Out What the 45+ Housing Market Wants “Right House, Right Place, Right Time: Community and Lifestyle Preferences of the 45+ Housing Market,” available through BuilderBooks.com, will help 50+ housing professionals determine the right design, home features and amenities to attract boomer home buyers in their market. Margaret Wylde guides readers through the latest survey results on this important consumer group and explains what their responses mean for today’s and tomorrow’s home building industry. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. Tap Into Green Remodeling With Increased Water EfficiencyBy Stephanie Thornton, EPA WaterSense Program More and more home owners are realizing that water is not a limitless resource. With persistent droughts occurring in the Southeast and elsewhere this year, consumers are starting to rethink how they use water at home. And well they should. At least 36 states are anticipating water shortages in the next five years. As some of the biggest innovators in the home building industry, remodelers are uniquely qualified to help solve our country’s growing water dilemma. There are more than 120 million homes in the United States. Considering that a family of four uses about 400 gallons of water every day, if you help your customers make a dent in their water use at home, both their pocketbooks and the environment will benefit. Best of all, these water-saving solutions can be easily incorporated into your remodeling business and help attract new clients. Claiming a piece of the green building marketplace — expected to be worth nearly $60 billion by 2010 — could be just a flush away. Look for the WaterSense® Label for Efficiency and Reliability WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aims to make saving water just that simple. The program seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by promoting water efficiency and making it easy to identify high quality, water-saving products. What this means for you as a remodeler is an easier way to find water-efficient plumbing fixtures that meet your clients’ water savings and performance expectations. To find them, just look for the WaterSense label. In general, WaterSense-labeled products are at least 20% more efficient than conventional models but perform as well as or better than their conventional counterparts. You can be confident that these products won’t result in call-backs because, in order to earn the label, they must be independently tested and certified to confirm they meet EPA’s rigorous criteria. With more than 125 models of high-efficiency toilets and 30 models of bathroom sink faucets or faucet accessories that have earned the WaterSense label so far, odds are good that you’ll be able to find an option to suit every job. By incorporating WaterSense-labeled products into your offerings, you’ll fill a much-needed niche as a water-conscious remodeler and differentiate yourself among home owners. What’s more, by offering a high-efficiency bathroom remodel with WaterSense-labeled fixtures, you can help a home owner save more than 11,000 gallons and about $70 in water bills annually. For more information about WaterSense and a full list of labeled products, visit www.epa.gov/watersense. Stephanie Thornton is the partner outreach coordinator for EPA’s WaterSense program. For more information, e-mail Thornton at the EPA. thornton.stephanie@epa.gov.
Earn NAHB’s New Green Designation at the National Green Building Conference The Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation teaches builders, remodelers and other industry professionals techniques for incorporating green building principles into homes using cost-effective and affordable options. Both required courses for the CGP will be held at the National Green Building Conference, May 11-13 in New Orleans. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/GreenBuildingConference.
Increase Your Professional Credibility The Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation emphasizes business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation. Remodelers who earn the CGR become members of an exclusive national program and gain recognition as industry leaders. To learn more about the CGR designation, visit www.nahb.org/CGRinfo, or call The Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242 x8154.
'How to Find a Professional Remodeler' Available at BuilderBooks.com "How to Find a Professional Remodeler," available at BuilderBooks.com, promotes the professionalism of your remodeling business by offering valuable advice to your customers on the process of selecting a remodeler. The brochure guides consumers from the dream to the reality of having their homes remodeled by skilled and trained professionals. Sections include what to look for in a professional remodeler and what questions to ask. To view or puchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665 to order.
NAHB Remodelers to Lauch 'Remodel Now' Campaign in May
The NAHB Remodelers will be launching the year-long campaign, "Remodel Now" to promote remodeling during “May Is National Home Remodeling Month.” For the campaign, NAHB has developed resources available to local councils and their members that are designed to educate the public on the benefits of remodeling. The "Remodel Now" campaign materials include:
NAHB Remodelers will be distributing materials and conducting conference calls about the "Remodel Now" campaign in the coming weeks. For more information, e-mail Kelly Mack at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8451; or visit www.nahb.org/remodelingmonth.
Earn NAHB’s New Green Designation at the National Green Building Conference The Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation teaches builders, remodelers and other industry professionals techniques for incorporating green building principles into homes using cost-effective and affordable options. Both required courses for the CGP will be held at the National Green Building Conference, May 11-13 in New Orleans. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/GreenBuildingConference.
Increase Your Professional Credibility The Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation emphasizes business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation. Remodelers who earn the CGR become members of an exclusive national program and gain recognition as industry leaders. To learn more about the CGR designation, visit www.nahb.org/CGRinfo, or call The Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242 x8154.
'How to Find a Professional Remodeler' Available at BuilderBooks.com "How to Find a Professional Remodeler," available at BuilderBooks.com, promotes the professionalism of your remodeling business by offering valuable advice to your customers on the process of selecting a remodeler. The brochure guides consumers from the dream to the reality of having their homes remodeled by skilled and trained professionals. Sections include what to look for in a professional remodeler and what questions to ask. To view or puchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665 to order.
Attend Log Homes Council President’s Tour April 6-8
More than 110 people have registered to attend the tour. The tour gives attendees a behind-the-scenes look at the log industry as they visit log manufacturing plants, model homes and log home design centers in the Appleton area. The three-day event will include tours of:
Systems-Built Homes: Get the Big Picture Attend the 2008 Building Systems Councils Modular and Panel Plant Tour May 18-20 in Harrisburg, Penn. Participants will tour several of the top modular factories, getting an insider’s look at the manufacturing process as well as an opportunity to make important contacts. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/planttour. Concrete Can Do That — Take the Technologies Tour and See How NAHB’s 2008 Concrete Technologies Tour gives attendees an inside look at the residential concrete industry and a chance to see the latest production techniques and building trends up close. Concrete is cost-effective and green and is becoming one of the fastest growing sectors of the residential building industry. The upcoming tour will be on June 1-3 in Charlotte, N.C. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/ConcreteTour. 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.
Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips to Navigate the Slowdown 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. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. PATH Adds Green Roofs to Its Technology Inventory |