Nation's Building News Online: June 9, 2008Print All Articles Text Version |
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NAHB Working to Keep Credit Flowing to Small BuildersNAHB reported last week that it continues to make encouraging progress on both the legislative and regulatory fronts in restoring the health of the nation’s housing market, with efforts intensifying in response to the tightening of acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) financing. During the board of directors meeting in Washington, D.C. earlier this spring, association leaders noted that lenders increasingly were asking builders and developers to pay down their loans, which was viewed as especially threatening to the small businesses constituting the core of the NAHB membership. According to data collected before the current housing slump, nearly 70% of NAHB’s builder members construct fewer than 25 homes a year. More than two-thirds of the NAHB members had total annual revenue of less than $1 million, with 88% generating less than $5 million in total annual sales. Those figures have significantly declined along with the 66% plunge in housing production that has occurred since the peak of the housing upturn in early 2006. For builders who have been caught in the most bruising cyclical housing downturn in generations, being required to provide lenders with additional capital to keep projects going can impose formidable challenges on struggling businesses, especially in the hardest-hit parts of the country where sales have floundered, the directors said. “NAHB is not going to sit on the sidelines and watch as lenders tighten credit for the acquisition and development of land and construction of new homes,” said NAHB President Sandy Dunn. “Even in a slow market, reasonably priced and readily available credit is the lifeblood of the home building industry, and we are working hard to make sure that banks and regulators don’t overreact and worsen an already difficult situation.” Monitoring AD&C Credit Conditions To better inform decision makers in the nation’s capital on credit conditions within the industry, NAHB’s Economics Department is stepping up its surveying efforts with quarterly polls of the membership on AD&C lending and more detailed monthly surveys of builders’ experiences with outstanding loans. The initial survey, details of which were reported in the June 2 edition of Nation’s Building News, found that a majority of NAHB members have not yet had to renegotiate outstanding loans with their lenders. However, a significant minority has had to make adjustments, and the additional capital has come largely from their personal savings and equity in principal residences. NAHB is currently soliciting information from its members on their recent problems with AD&C credit and will be compiling case studies that will be shared with regulators, members of Congress and policy members. “We are looking for instances where lenders are refusing loans or asking unreasonable terms on viable projects, or where lenders are inappropriately cutting off or squeezing outstanding credit,” said David Ledford, NAHB’s staff vice president for housing finance and housing policy. He can be reached by e-mail, or call 800-368-5242 x8265. Working With Lenders Small builders who are contacted by their lender should consult a valuable online resource that NAHB has made available to its members, Ledford suggested. The “Builders Guide to Working With Lenders to Resolve AD&C Problems” is based on advice from banking experts and experienced builders on actions and options builders can pursue to achieve the best outcome on outstanding AD&C loans. “Timely communication and good-faith negotiations can minimize the pain from the credit crunch,” NAHB says. “Do not ignore calls or other forms of communication from the lender. If a lender is aware the builder is on top of the situation and seeking solutions, the institution will be more likely to engage in positive dialogue. “More often than not, it is in the lender’s best interest to work with a builder on a loan to achieve the best outcome rather than to foreclose. The lender should be inclined to assist the builder in resolving factors impeding the timely construction, delivery and settlement of homes. The lender and the builder have a mutual interest in ensuring housing production is converted to revenues for the repayment of project debt.” Credit Squeeze Impedes Recovery While NAHB has been working steadily on Capitol Hill for enactment of housing and economic stimulus legislation, association leaders have also been meeting behind the scenes to discuss the urgent need for keeping credit flowing as housing moves into position to stage a slow recovery beginning toward the end of this year. In recent weeks, NAHB delegations have met with Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke and the heads of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Office of Thrift Supervision. “At each of these meetings, our message has been that the credit squeeze on builder loans threatens to prolong the housing downturn,” said Dunn, “and we have asked them to work with us to ensure that AD&C loans for builders remain available at a reasonable cost.” Dunn also noted that progress is being made to restore mortgage credit for home buyers, with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announcing that starting this month they were reversing a decision to impose higher downpayment requirements in “declining” markets. The return to a more accommodative policy for home builders was one of the top concerns of a resolution passed by the NAHB Board of Directors at its May meeting. Modernizing the FHA For small builders who have lost prospective buyers because credit is no longer available for subprime borrowers — which includes a significant segment of the first-time buyer market — Dunn said that modernization of the Federal Housing Administration is moving forward and holds the greatest potential for addressing this problem. Provisions to modernize the FHA are a major component of housing stimulus legislation in both the House and Senate. “The FHA is the only mortgage program largely available today that will provide up to 97% financing and allow for credit blemishes,” Dunn said. At the grassroots level, some state and local home builders associations have been holding meetings to foster a dialogue between their members and lenders in the community. Channing Pfeiffer, executive vice president of the Tidewater Builders Association, said that a series of seminars on how small businesses can protect themselves in today’s changing environment have been well attended by builders. The meetings, he said, have opened up an informal exchange of information between builders and bank presidents, attorneys, real estate brokers and other builders who have experienced previous housing downturns and know how to survive them. Bob Aston, president of Portsmouth, Va.-based TowneBank, was the latest lender to address the Tidewater builders, Pfeiffer said. The financier advised local builders to look for diversified business opportunities that they can pursue until the market regains its full health, which may not be for a couple of years. In general, small builders are being advised not to expect to find the same market conditions in the upturn as those that prevailed during the housing boom. In their visits to home builders associations around the country, the NAHB Senior Officers are reminding members to take advantage of NAHB resources geared to helping small businesses weather the housing downturn. For a related story in this issue of NBN, click here. NAHB Conference Attendees Help Rebuild Katrina-Damaged HomeMore than 60 people who were in New Orleans last month for NAHB’s National Green Building Conference and the Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium volunteered to help rebuild the home of a 67-year-old woman and her 87-year-old mother that was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. NAHB joined the Senior Lending Network and Rebuilding Together New Orleans, a local affiliate of the national non-profit organization, Rebuilding Together, for a special three-day community service project spread over two weekends in mid-May.
The home, owned by Hilda Levy, is in the historic St. Roch neighborhood bordering the Ninth Ward. Because of the extensive flooding, Levy and her mother were separated during the evacuation of New Orleans. Levy is now living with relatives in Florida while her mother is with relatives in Alexander, La. In addition to the flood damage, the home was also vandalized after the hurricane and a back section of the home was set on fire. Incorporating Universal Design and Energy-Efficient Features For the rebuild, builders, architects and other housing professionals volunteered their design knowledge and building expertise to retrofit the turn-of-the-century shotgun home with universal design and green features. When completed later this summer, the home will have a no-step entrance, wider doorways, ADA-compliant grab bars, raised countertops, comfort-height toilets, Energy Star appliances and other energy-efficient features.
“NAHB wanted to do its part to assist in the post-Katrina rebuilding effort and coordinated a volunteer effort around our two spring conferences in New Orleans,” said Joanne Theunissen, president of Howling Hammer Builders in central Michigan and chair of the Green Building Conference and NAHB’s 50+ Housing Council. “Our volunteer crews enjoyed sharing their talents with Rebuilding Together New Orleans, which has helped so many families in the area get back into their homes. The work of these volunteers will ultimately make the home age-appropriate and environmentally friendly.”
Promoting Social Responsibility and the Ethical Treatment of Seniors The Senior Lending Network kicked off its Senior Independent Living Month from May 15 to June 15 during ceremonies at the rebuilding project. Mortgage originators affiliated with the organization are being asked to promote social responsibility and the ethical treatment of seniors and discuss the positive benefits of reverse mortgages.
“So many seniors today are living independently and the Senior Lending Network is committed to encouraging and assisting this group to continue doing so in a secure and stable living situation,” said Robert Wagner, actor and spokesperson for the Senior Lending Network. “We are so pleased to be able to join with NAHB and Rebuilding Together New Orleans.” Ninety-Five Homes Completed and Counting
Rebuilding Together New Orleans relies on volunteer labor and corporate sponsorships to rebuild the homes of low-income, elderly and disabled residents who are still trying to return home after Hurricane Katrina. The organization has rehabilitated 95 homes since the hurricane struck. Rebuilding efforts on another 30 homes, including the Levy home, are still underway. “The National Association of Home Builders is vital to all of us in Rebuilding Together’s rebuilding efforts, here and nationwide,” said Kristin Giselton Palmer, executive director of Rebuilding Together New Orleans. “We enjoyed NAHB's visit and were thrilled by its commitment to New Orleans as well as its willingness to highlight the issues that affect us as we rebuild our great city. The presence of NAHB’s members and the support of companies such as the Senior Lending Network is definitely being felt in New Orleans.”
Charlotte, N.C. Media Campaign Builds on ‘Unbeatable’ MarketAccording to national reports, home buyers can’t beat the Charlotte, N.C., market. It is the only top-20 market in the S&P/Case-Shiller report showing an increase in home prices over the past year, Forbes named it a top-10 recession-proof city and Relocate-America.com ranked it the best place to live in the country. But Charlotte builders were not about to rely on those accolades to maintain their market’s position. In April, the Home Builders Association of Charlotte (HBAC) launched a media campaign that has drawn the attention of both local home buyers and national media. A May 27 Wall Street Journal Online story with the headline “Why Housing in Charlotte is Holding Strong” talked about www.charlottebetweenthelines.com, the consumer Web site launched by the HBAC in April. “There were more than 1,000 unique visitors to the site the day the story ran,” said Mark Baldwin, executive vice president for the association. “And we’ve had more than 40,000 hits in the two months since we launched it.” The site includes comments on the market from local lenders and real estate authorities, audio clips from radio talk shows, YouTube video interviews and testimonials from consumers who’ve recently bought homes in the area. “Our goal was to help members sell homes,” said Baldwin. “So we tapped into the right blend of third party analysts and respected community authorities for content, and minimized the HBA’s presence on the site.” The Web site is featured on almost a dozen billboards placed around town, and it has been mentioned in articles in the Charlotte Observer. Charlotte residents flocked to the association’s recent parade of homes. Traffic increased over last year’s event, especially at high-end homes and those located closer to the city. A local public relations firm, Corder Philips, was brought in to plan and run the campaign, which was funded from the association’s reserves. The association is also partnering with the Charlotte Business Journal to hold a series of speaker forums about the new home market. Journal subscribers, HBAC members and other representatives of the business community will be invited. The first forum is planned for mid-summer. To educate and engage their more than 1,200 members in the campaign, the association used e-mail blasts, articles in their bi-monthly magazine and a direct mailing. “The members have been very excited about the campaign,” Baldwin said. “It showed them that their association was doing something about the negative media stories, and many have linked to the Web site from their company sites.” Read more stories about locals around the country that are using resources from NAHB to combat negative media stories and restore the confidence of hesitant buyers by going to www.nahb.org/mythbuster. For more information, e-mail Gwyn Donohue at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8447. Reader Survey: Tell Us What Housing News Is Important to YouBecause you regularly read Nation's Building News, we value your ideas and would like your help. Please tell us what information in Nation's Building News is important to you — what you read and what you might like us to add — by answering our short online reader survey. To take the survey, click here. (Please note: If you have already answered the survey questions, thank you.) Housing Affordability Back to Pre-Bubble LevelsA survey conducted for financial research firm Global Insight and banking company National City Corp. found that following a sharp dip in home prices during this year’s first quarter, only eight out of 330 metropolitan housing markets can now be considered overvalued. That’s down from 14 markets during the previous quarter and 53 metro areas in mid-2006. “We’ve covered a lot of territory in terms of restoring balance in the housing market,” said National City’s chief economist, Richard DeKaser. “The froth has been completely blown away.” The survey analyzes data on household income, population density and historical price trends, in addition to current home prices and interest rates. In Stockton, Calif., the average price of a single-family home fell 35% to $230,800 in the first quarter of 2008 from $357,800 in the first quarter of 2006. Over the same two-year period, Stockton has gone from being 71% overvalued to 4.3% overvalued. In Las Vegas, home prices have come down nearly 20% since the first quarter of 2006, when the city was found to be 30% overvalued. As of this year’s first quarter, the area’s home prices accurately reflected the fundamentals of supply and demand. (www.cnnmoney.com)
Housing Bubble Didn’t Burst Everywhere in the U.S.Some home markets have flown under the global media screen and are benefiting from employment, population surges and moderate increases in housing prices. Many of these bubble-averse locales seem to be expanding or holding their own for employment and demographic reasons. Americans are getting older, want to move somewhere warmer and need to find a smaller home for less money. Or younger workers are going where they can find decent jobs and affordable housing. Population growth is another driver. While many cities in the upper Midwest are depopulating due to manufacturing-job losses, employment is robust in the South where new white-collar occupations are growing. There really is no national real-estate market in the U.S. The tech-savvy Seattle area is a quantum leap from decaying Detroit, and mature Cleveland is light years away from the young, job-producing Salt Lake City corridor. Dallas is one of the top producers of jobs — followed by the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle-Tacoma, Wash. — and it leads in the total number of people moving in, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau. And for the five-year period through 2007, according to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, its home prices gained an average of 16% compared to 41% nationally. Other top markets include Bethesda, Md.; Stamford-Norwalk, New Haven and Hartford, Conn.; Providence, R.I.; the Boston-Worcester areas; and Lexington, Ky., according to homesmartreports.com. Only Lexington may offer a true housing bargain, though. Places to watch for central cores that attract more buyers with cultural attractions and great values with little or no commuting include: San Antonio and Austin, Texas; Chicago; Milwaukee; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Denver; Portland, Ore.; Minneapolis-St.Paul; and Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (www.bloomberg.com)
Hispanic Workers Hit Hard By Construction Slowdown, But Most Stay PutHispanics who provided the bulk of the construction work force during the housing boom are suffering as many of those jobs evaporate, according to a new study by the Pew Hispanic Center. However, there are no signs Hispanics are quitting the U.S. labor market, a strong indication that immigrants are choosing to bear down and hustle for jobs in the U.S. rather than return to their countries of origin. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate among Hispanics reached 6.5% in the first quarter of 2008, up from a historic low of 4.9% at the end of 2006. Hispanics mainly lost jobs over the past year due to the slowdown in construction, a longtime mainstay of job growth for Hispanic workers, particularly immigrants. Weekly earnings in construction tumbled to $480 a week in this year’s first quarter compared with $512 in the same quarter of 2006. “The economic slowdown led by a single industry has impacted the one group of workers who had benefited most from the construction boom,” says Rakesh Kochhar, a Pew Hispanic economist who prepared the report. Even as home building stumbled, Hispanics were able to find nearly 300,000 more new construction jobs in the first quarter of 2007 than in the first quarter of 2006. The study suggests that the slowdown has finally caught up with the workers in the last year. “The latest trends in the labor market represent a dramatic reversal for Latino workers,” the report says. “The ongoing slump in construction has wiped out those gains virtually in their entirety.” (www.wsj.com) Mortgages With No Money Down Still AvailableDespite the bursting of the housing bubble, it’s still possible to buy homes with no money down. Freddie Mac says its “HomePossible” mortgages can help buyers with limited credit or savings, including teachers, firefighters and members of the military. Although borrowers are sometimes required to show they have money in the bank to draw upon in a crunch, Freddie Mac said people can qualify for its no-money-down purchases with no cash reserves. However, borrowers must undergo homeownership education. Such programs can reduce delinquency rates by about 34%, the company said. Freddie Mac allows home buyers to borrow more than the purchase price if they use a second loan, sometimes called a piggyback, from special lenders such as government housing agencies, nonprofit groups and employers. Fannie Mae typically applies a similar requirement when home buyers borrow more than 97% of the price. Both companies are required to devote certain percentages of their funding to affordable housing, and no-money-down or low-downpayment loans can help the companies meet those quotas. One reason buyers borrow more than the purchase price is to cover transaction costs. However, it isn’t clear how many of these no-money-down purchases are taking place these days. (www.washingtonpost.com)
California Frets Fire’s Early Start, Real Fight Isn’t With Mother NatureFollowing one of the driest March-to-May periods on record, the predominant color in California’s wildlands is brown, and that is fueling an unusually early start to the state’s fire season. Already, firefighters have been deployed to more than a dozen wildfires, including a massive conflagration in the Santa Cruz Mountains that broke out on May 22 and scorched more than 4,000 acres and 31 homes. As people have poured into California in the past century, homes have popped up in backcountry places that are highly susceptible to fire. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, between 2002 and 2006, 27,000 fires blackened 1.2 million acres in the state and caused an estimated $1.4 billion in property damage. In the same five-year period 40 years earlier, the scale of fire was roughly comparable, but those fires caused about $150 million in damage, adjusted for inflation. “There’s just a lot more housing in harm’s way than there used to be,” said Ed Sutton, a senior staff vice president for NAHB. “People move to these places because they like the particular environment they move into. That’s why you see so many people in Florida and California.” Since getting people to stop living in risky places isn’t likely to happen anytime soon, government officials are trying to protect property as best they can. Marin County, for example, now requires that all new homes near wildland areas have fire-resistant rooftops. And in some areas, so many homes have been built in fire-prone places that insurers increasingly are refusing to underwrite those in particularly hazardous zones. (www.wsj.com)
The Vegetable Patch Takes RootAs consumers balk at the rising cost of groceries, home owners increasingly are cutting out sections of lawn and retiring flower beds to grow their own food. They’re building raised vegetable beds, turning their spare time over to gardening. At Al’s Garden Center in Portland, Ore. sales of vegetable plants this season have jumped an unprecedented 43% from a year earlier, and sales of fruit producing trees and shrubs are up 17%. Sales of perennial flowers, on the other hand, are down 16%. Even before this year’s food-price crunch, interest in vegetables was already growing. An annual survey of more than 2,000 households by the National Gardening Association found that the average amount spent per household on flowers was flat in 2007 compared with a year earlier. But spending on vegetable plants rose 21% to $58 per household last year, and spending on herbs grew 45% to $32. Bruce Butterfield, the association’s research director, expects 2008 to be another strong year for vegetable gardening thanks to “the combination of gas prices, food prices and people staying at home because the world’s gone crazy,” he says. “At least they can have some control over their backyard.” George Ball, chief executive of W. Atlee Burpee & Co., says his business has seen more baby boomers “entering their prime gardening years.” Burpee’s sales of vegetables and herbs are up about 40% this year, twice last year’s growth rate. Tomatoes, summer squash, onions, cucumbers, peas and beans continue to be top sellers. (www.marketwatch.com)
Builders Look for Stimulus Bill to End Downward SpiralStimulus legislation is needed to break the downward cycle in the nation’s housing industry before it further undermines the strength of the nation’s economy, Joe Robson, first vice president of NAHB, told members of the House Small Business Committee on June 5. “Home builders, who are largely small businesses, are struggling to even stay solvent in the current economic environment,” Robson warned the congressional panel. “They are taking drastic steps to minimize costs, generate capital and keep their businesses afloat, including laying off workers and raiding personal retirement accounts, just to name a few.” If nothing is done to generate an upturn in home sales and prices continue to fall, he said, economic growth, which slowed to a crawl in this year’s first quarter, could eventually lapse into recession and conditions in the credit markets could deteriorate further. “Continued downward pressure on home prices also further reduces the quality of outstanding mortgage credit, making it even more difficult to refinance or restructure adjustable-rate mortgages that have encountered or are facing payment resets. These effects, in turn, will worsen the alarming upsurge in mortgage foreclosures; move even more homes onto the for-sale market; put even more downward pressure on house prices and mortgage quality; and stretch out the contraction in new housing production even further,” Robson testified. “This vicious circle,” he said, “can create the conditions under which the housing market will overcorrect on the downside, imposing huge costs on our nation’s home owners, state and local governments, financial institutions, housing- and construction-related small businesses and other stakeholders in housing.” Robson told the committee members that the temporary home buyer tax credit proposed in H.R. 3221, the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, could stimulate a wave of home buying and quickly reduce excess housing inventories and halt the dangerous erosion of house prices and mortgage credit quality. That provision would provide a temporary, first-time home buyer tax credit of $7,500 for the purchase of any home used as a principal residence and closed on between April 9, 2008 and April 1, 2009. "NAHB believes that the home buyer credit model in H.R. 3221 would help address many elements of the current housing crisis," said Robson. "The tax credit would increase home sales, which would cause inventories to fall and stabilize home prices and mortgage markets. NAHB would urge Congress to consider options for increasing the size of the credit to maximize its impact and effectiveness." In crafting a final housing bill, Robson also urged lawmakers to incorporate the following tax provisions to achieve a comprehensive solution to the housing crisis:
For more information, e-mail Greg Brown at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8421. NAHB Members, Be Counted in the Economic Data CensusThe U.S. Census Bureau is urging NAHB members to complete their economic census forms. Members can use estimates to complete the form if book figures are not readily available. The economic data, which is collected by the Census Bureau every five years, is used to support public policy and business decisions at the national and local level. The government also uses the data to help measure how the economy is performing. More than 4 million Census forms were sent to businesses of all sizes late last year. Federal law — Title 13. U.S. Code — requires the forms to be completed and returned to the Census Bureau. For more information or help completing the form, visit the Census Bureau help site at www.census.gov/econhelp, or call 800-233-6136.
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. 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.
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. Builders’ Tip: How to Revitalize a Finishing Trowel
Cement masons are usually proud of their tools and will tell you the trowels are “broken in just right.” Unfortunately, no matter how talented the finisher, he or she can’t do a great job with a less-than-perfect trowel. Not only are out-of-tune trowels counterproductive, they also can be downright dangerous. Finishers who have never cut themselves on a sharp trowel are as rare as carpenters who have never hit themselves with a hammer. Instead of buying new trowels when mine become chipped and jagged, I file new edges on them. Here’s how:
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. NAHB Members Celebrating Homeownership MonthIn celebration of National Homeownership Month this June, NAHB is offering its members and home builders associations free online promotional materials highlighting the benefits of homeownership and providing positive messages about the home building industry. Based on materials in the promotional kit, here are 10 great ways to celebrate homeownership month in your market:
Subscribe to Sales + Marketing Ideas Magazine for Cutting-Edge Information For additional cutting-edge sales and marketing information, subscribe to NAHB’s Sales + Marketing Ideas Magazine (www.smimagazine.com). Click here to learn about membership benefits of the National Sales and Marketing Council and the Institute of Residential Marketing. 'Sales and Marketing Checklists' Covers the Ins and Outs of New Home Sales “Sales and Marketing Checklists for Profit-Driven Home Builders,” available through BuilderBooks.com, covers the major steps involved in successful new home sales. Learn the ins and outs of the comprehensive contract, the move-in, warranty service, asking for referrals and a great close. This expanded second edition also includes a new chapter on utilizing technology in your marketing and a more extensive chapter on multicultural sales. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. 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. 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 Resources Help Members Weather the SlumpWith the current housing downturn dragging on longer than expected, the NAHB Senior Officers, in their visits to home builders associations around the country, are reminding members of NAHB resources geared to helping small businesses. “While we knock on doors and keep the phones ringing off the hook on Capitol Hill to get housing stimulus legislation passed, NAHB knows that our builder members need help weathering this economic downturn right now,” said NAHB President Sandy Dunn. “We’ve developed a massive number of resources designed to help the small business owner,” Dunn said. “We’ve put these resources right at your fingertips — they’re accessible free of charge to NAHB members via our Web site. We know that information is key to the survival of your business, so information is what NAHB is providing.” Among resources that can be found at www.nahb.org:
The International Builders’ Show itself provides the greatest networking and educational opportunity offered by NAHB to its members. Adapting to the current downturn and preparing for the new marketplace that will emerge during the recovery were major topics of educational presentations at the show in February, and exhibitors emphasized products designed to give builders an edge with prospective buyers who are looking for value. The show gathered a wealth of resources on green building, one sector of the industry where builders are finding they are able to differentiate themselves from their competitors in the current industry slowdown. The 2009 IBS will be held in Las Vegas on Jan. 20-23. NAHB’s Builder 20 Clubs are among the association’s most popular and effective networking forums. These bring together organized groups of builders from different parts of the country who have similar business interests and profiles. Members share with each other their observations on what’s working and not working in their individual markets — and they come away with ideas on how to boost their business through tried-and-true methods. NAHB members have round-the-clock access to all of the association’s membership resources at www.nahb.org. Members need to be logged in with a member password to get all of the resources that are offered on the site, many of which are exclusively for members only. NAHB devotes a great deal of its resources to dealing with the challenges that builders in the field are facing each and every day on the job site. These areas include:
Improve Company Marketing With These Nine Easy TipsMarketing is a facet of nearly every business operation that can be improved. As such, business owners should reevaluate their marketing periodically. Most savvy business owners consult three professionals to help determine the path of the company — their attorney, banker or accountant and a marketing expert. I rank the marketing expert on a par with the attorney or banker because strong marketing is essential to keeping a company strong. The marketer helps determine the voice of the company and how it is perceived by customers. And like the banker and attorney, the marketer will help determine the company's success. The following are nine tips that will help you improve name recognition and effectively market your company's products and services — even in a downturn:
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. 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. Use Home Technologies as an Effective Selling ToolBy Sean Weiner, Starr Systems Design The automakers have figured out the power and appeal of technology and how to sell it. Drivers can now control music, lighting and temperature with controls on their steering wheel or through voice activation. They can also receive real-time traffic and weather reports and talk hands-free with Bluetooth technology. Car manufacturers have proven that technology is a salable option to those who are in the market today. Why aren’t many home builders doing the same thing? The house and the neighborhood are what bring prospective home buyers to new homes and communities, but the options, features and amenities are often what make them buy. Younger home buyers as well as active adult consumers are demanding more technology in their homes. When packaged and marketed effectively, technology will not only answer buyers' needs and wants, it can be a profit center. Builders need to keep this in mind when working with their technology partners. Also, the technology upgrades don’t have to be priced inexpensively, they just have to be priced appropriately. Well-designed, properly priced systems can generate significantly more revenue than discounted cable and phone jacks. In fact, taking the bargain-priced base options off of your selection sheet may actually help sales on upgraded wiring and system packages. Here are a few ideas to help improve profitability on your technology options:
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. Apply for Livable Community Awards by Thursday, June 12AARP and NAHB are accepting applications for the 2008 Livable Community awards program. Applications are due by midnight Thursday, June 12. The awards program recognizes the development, construction and marketing of livable homes and communities that improve the daily comfort, ease of use and safety for residents. Five builders, remodelers and developers were recognized with 2007 Livable Communities Awards at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando in February. To apply, or for more information about the Livable Communities Award, visit www.nahb.org/livablecommunities, e-mail Blake Smith at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8583. Index Shows Weaker Demand for Rental Apartment MarketBuilder confidence in the rental apartment market dropped sharply during the first quarter of this year, according to the latest results of NAHB’s Multifamily Rental Market Index (MRMI). “The economic downturn is affecting the rental market as well as home building,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. “Rental vacancy rates are rather high and the demand for rental apartments is being held back by various economic conditions — including a weakening job market and record-high prices of food and energy.” In the face of weak demand and less ready access to capital, he added, multifamily builders and developers are cutting back their production of new rental projects. The MRMI is derived from a quarterly survey of multifamily builders and developers, whose responses are on a scale of 0 to 100, with 50 generally indicating that the number of positive and negative responses is about the same. While oversupply is not as serious a problem for multifamily rentals as it is for condos, the index for the first quarter did indicate that multifamily builders are cutting back on new production. The components of the index tracking current supply conditions for low-rent (federally subsidized) and market-rent apartments stood at 31.7 and 34.4, respectively, in the first quarter of 2008, down from 46.6 and 53.5 the same time a year earlier. The component measuring expectations for market-rate apartment production for the next six months registered 51 on the index, down 12 points from the first quarter of 2007. Expectations for low-rent apartment starts fell to 45.1, down 15 points over the same time period. Components of the index gauging demand were lower for all classes of apartments in 2008’s first quarter: Class A (luxury) units fell 20.1 points from the same quarter a year earlier, to 40.6; Class B apartments slipped 18.3 points, to 49.0; and Class C apartments were down 18.6 points to 59.4. On the positive side, the index showed that the number of calls from prospective renters rose in this year’s first quarter to 59.6, four points higher than a year earlier. However, asking and effective rents were lower. Although not as optimistic as a year earlier, builders polled in this year’s first quarter did expect rental apartment market conditions to improve over the next six months, with demand for Class B and C units remaining at 50 or above. The market for luxury units, on the other hand, registered 42.9, down from 73.2 during last year’s first quarter. For more information on multifamily resources available from NAHB, e-mail Ann Marie Moriarty, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8350. EPA Sets Lead Paint Clean-up and Verification Procedures
The EPA rule addresses remodeling and renovation projects disturbing more than six square feet of potentially contaminated painted surfaces for all residential and multifamily structures built before 1978 that are inhabited or frequented by pregnant women and children under the age of six. The rule establishes required lead-safe work practices, including posting warning signs for occupants and visitors, using disposable plastic drop cloths, cleaning the work area with HEPA vacuuming and wet washing, and individual certification through a training course. According to the EPA, post-remodeling clean-up for the home’s interior and exterior must be monitored by a certified renovator. Debris and paint chips must be collected in heavy-duty garbage bags and the drop cloths should be misted and folded inwards to prevent dust from escaping, the rule says. For interior remodels, the surfaces also need to be cleaned using a vacuum with a HEPA filter and wiped with a wet cloth. The filters should be replaced each time the vacuum fills. They will need to be replaced frequently if the dirt and debris particles are large. After cleaning is completed, the certified renovator must conduct a visual inspection to insure that there is no lingering dust and debris, according to the rule. After the inspection, the rule also lays out additional steps for cleaning verification of interior spaces. The surface is wiped with a wet cloth and compared to an EPA test card. If the cloth appearance matches or is cleaner than the card, no further cleaning is needed. If the cloth is darker than the test card, the clean-up procedure needs to be repeated and then the surface retested. If the cloth is still darker than the card, the remodeler must clean once more with a dry, disposable cloth to finish the procedure, the rule says. More details on clean-up and cleaning verification, plus other requirements of the rule, can be found on NAHB’s Web site at: www.nahb.org/leadpaint. The EPA rule was published in the Federal Register on April 22 and will take effect in April 2010. For more information, e-mail Matt Watkins at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8327.
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.
Let Clients Know How Green Remodeling Can Improve a HomeGreen remodelers can make many suggestions to improve a home’s energy-efficiency, maintenance and environmental health that the home owner may not have considered but would appreciate, said Michael Strong, GBP, CGR, GMB, CAPS, vice president of the Houston-based Brothers Strong, during the National Green Building Conference last month in New Orleans. To make these suggestions, remodelers must check all the home’s vital signs in order to detect problems and offer solutions not necessarily identified by the client, Strong said. These green improvements can include such additional considerations such as sealing and better managing home airflow, installing more energy-efficient windows and upgrading insulation, as well as using or recycling materials and using appliances and fixtures that improve energy and water usage efficiency. Remodelers can use various tools and applications on green projects, depending on their level of knowledge and resources, Strong said. During the pre-construction phase, for example, remodelers can use a checklist to assess the house or they can conduct blower door and blaster testing for a more comprehensive report on the status of the house. Under NAHB’s impending National Green Building Standard, the remodeler will need to establish a home efficiency baseline that can be compared with the results after the remodel. This is necessary to measure the improvement and determine the level of certification. Remodelers can recycle materials from the home or have the home deconstructed (instead of demolished) during pre-construction and sell or donate unwanted materials. NAHB’s Green Building Standard requires remodelers to create a waste management plan for certification and additional points can be earned if a minimum of 50% of construction waste is recycled or salvaged. Strong advised remodelers to also make sure that the ventilation is sized appropriately for the home to maximize efficiency. Additionally, they should consider improving ventilation in the attic and laundry areas. Strong said he preferred using non-toxic paints and finishes including zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and low-formaldehyde and low-VOC wood finishings. He also uses paperless drywall whenever possible. The zero-VOC paints don’t off-gas or emit gases as they dry, making the home's air healthier. NAHB’s National Green Building Standard specifies low-VOC paints, which off-gas less than standard paint. Regarding reducing energy and water consumption, Strong recommended that remodelers use durable plastic PEX piping, tankless water heaters, low-flow fixtures and Energy Star appliances. He said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program provides a list of quality, water-efficient plumbing fixtures that have passed the EPA’s rigorous testing requirements. Strong said he also uses Energy Star lighting fixtures, bulbs and other appliances to reduce home energy usage. He said he is able to convince clients that these products should be used in the remodeling project because they are of better quality and better for the client’s home. Once the remodel is completed, Strong said he gives an owner's manual to his clients with information on how to clean and maintain their newly-green remodeled space so that they can keep it in prime condition for many years to come. The owner’s manual is part of the National Green Building Standard for remodeling projects.
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.
Builders Advised to Prepare for Busy Hurricane SeasonThe hurricane season that started this month and runs through the end of November is expected to spawn a near-normal to above-normal number of storms in the nation’s Atlantic Basin region, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is advising businesses and residents in these coastal areas to be prepared. “Living in a coastal state means having a plan for each and every hurricane season,” said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “Planning and preparation is the key to storm survival and recovery." NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is calling for considerable hurricane activity, with a 65% probability of an above-normal season and a 25% probability of the season being near-normal, giving the season a 90% likelihood of being normal or above-normal. For this year, there is a 60% to 70% chance of 12 to 16 named storms, according to the outlook, including six to nine hurricanes, two to five of which are predicted to be major and at least Category 3 storms. Restoring business is an important part of recovery from disasters, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Businesses that plan for disaster before a storm typically have less damage and downtime than those that do not, the agency says. FEMA advises businesses to consider several elements in preparing for a disaster. “Not only is it important to protect the staff, building, data and inventory of a company during a damaging event,” FEMA says, “it’s also critical to prepare a plan to continue operations after most everything is destroyed. A good plan may include provisions to relocate to a pre-identified site; retrieve data, including employee, customer and vendor records; and operate efficiently with a smaller staff of key individuals." FEMA provides a step-by-step approach to emergency planning, response and recovery for companies of all sizes in its “Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry,” which is in the agency’s publication library. Click here for information from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Web site on disaster preparation tips and a list of topics business owners should consider in planning. For information on disaster-recovery resources available from NAHB, e-mail Ken Ford or Calli Schmidt at NAHB, or call them at 800-368-5242, x8228 or x8132, respectively. Apply for 2009 Commerical Building Awards by Aug. 1
The deadline for entries is Aug. 1. NCBC sponsors the Awards of Excellence program to bring recognition to commercial building projects that range from less than 5,000 to more than 100,000 square feet. Projects must have been completed after Dec. 31, 2005 and may be entered in commercial, industrial, institutional, medical, mixed-use commercial/retail, recreational, retail and green building categories. One or several projects can be entered in this competition. Projects may be submitted by the builder, developer, architect or contractor of the project. The six divisions in which a project can be entered include:
Winners will be notified by mail no later than Nov. 7. A public announcement will follow at NAHB’s International Builders’ Show, Jan. 20-23, 2009, in Las Vegas. Recognition includes a desk obelisk; a photo of the project on display with the other winners at the International Builders’ Show; acknowledgment in Commercial Builder magazine; and the opportunity to participate in educational sessions at the Builders’ Show. In addition, some winners may be featured in future issues of Commercial Builder magazine and Nation’s Building News. For more information, e-mail Kisha DeSandies at NAHB, call her at 800-368-5242 x8455, or visit the NAHB Web site. NAHB University of Housing Seeks Feedback on EducationThe NAHB University of Housing is seeking feedback from participants in NAHB courses, designations and conferences about how the education opportunities may have helped increase their profits, expand their networking or enhance their careers. Among the feedback sought:
For more information, e-mail Elizabeth Moore at NAHB. 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. Graduating Class for Women Trainees Biggest EverIn its third and largest commencement ceremony since it opened in November of 2006, Home Builders Institute's (HBI) Project TRADE (Training, Restitution, Apprenticeship, Development, Education) program in St. Petersburg, Fla. recently presented 14 graduates with Pre-Apprenticeship Training (PACT) certificates. Operated in partnership with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Project TRADE/St. Petersburg is exclusively dedicated to training adjudicated women. Following completion of 12 to 16 weeks of skills training, graduates receive the PACT certificate indicating that they are proficient in entry-level building skills for employment in the housing industry. They also receive job placement assistance. Three of the students participating in the ceremony completed the program earlier in the year and are already working in home building jobs. “This was one of the more emotional graduation events I have attended,” said HBI's immediate past chairman and Florida builder Bill Paul. “The graduates who spoke shared heart-wrenching stories and it’s a testament to their perseverance that they are working to turn their lives around.” Many of the women specifically thanked Florida Circuit Court Judge Frank Quesada for referring them to the program. Judge Quesada has been a strong advocate of Project TRADE and accompanied the HBI trustees on their visit to the program at the Pinnellas County Jail during last year's planning retreat in St. Petersburg. Initiated in 1995, Project TRADE has placed 80% of its graduates in industry jobs. Students who have completed the program have had a recidivism rate of 7.8%, about half the national average. In addition to St. Petersburg, HBI currently offers Project TRADE programs in Colorado Springs, Colo. in partnership with ComCor and at the Sheridan Correctional Center in Sheridan, Ill. For more information on Project TRADE, e-mail Dennis Torbett at HBI, or call him at 800-795-7955 x8908.
Sed de Saber™-Construction Edition is an easy-to-use, take-home learning tool created by Home Builders Institute (HBI) to improve job site communication, construction quality and safety by teaching English to Spanish-speaking workers, who make up 25% of today’s construction industry workforce. Sponsored by Lowe’s Commercial Services, Sed de Saber™-Construction Edition was developed by a team of subject matter experts — including superintendents, craft skills experts, remodelers and builders — to ensure that its contents was relevant to today’s home building workforce. HBI also created a seventh book based entirely on the NAHB-OSHA Job Site Safety Handbook to address job site safety issues related to the language barrier. Sed de Saber™-Construction Edition uses proven LeapFrog technology to allow learners to listen, record and play back their pronunciation of more than 500 vocabulary words and 340 phrases. Participants who practice 30 minutes each day will complete the program in about five months. Learning at home, on their own time, also eliminates scheduling conflicts. NAHB members can purchase the learning system, all seven books and a skills assessment to chart progress for $395 per kit. The non-member price is $495. Order today at www.seddesaberconstruction.com or at www.lowesforpros.com. Rinnai Introduces Dual-Use Tankless Water HeatersRinnai Corporation has recently introduced its LS Series line of high-output, high-efficiency tankless water heaters that can be used for residential and commercial applications — a first in the industry. Unlike other tankless water heaters, the LS Series offers home owners the reliability of a commercial-grade heat exchanger. For home owners and contractors, this means that the same unit can be used for either domestic hot water or domestic hot water plus space heating. The heaters have a sleek, sculpted design and come with a 12-year warranty. The R94LSi has a maximum input of 199,000 BTUs and maximum output of 9.4 gallons per minute. A smaller heater is available with 7.5 gpm outflow. Available in interior and exterior models, Rinnai’s LS Series has an attractive, powder-coated silver finish with available matching pipe covers. The manufacturer says that the resulting installation is the sharpest in the industry. For interior installations, Rinnai uses a concentric venting system, a single vent assembly featuring an inner, metal vent for exhaust gases and an outer PVC or metal tube for bringing combustion air from outdoors. The result is a direct-vent, sealed-combustion system that provides optimum safety, performance and ease of installation. The exterior units require no additional venting and can even be installed in a recessed enclosure, then painted or textured to flush with the outer wall. Tankless water heaters can be worth water-efficiency points for builders certifying their projects through NAHB Green, the NAHB National Green Building Program. In addition to being extremely efficient, the easy installation and low maintenance of tankless water heaters make them ideal for builders working in the 50+ housing market, Rinnai says. “With many boomers moving into smaller homes that require less maintenance, Rinnai tankless water heaters can provide the ideal combination of performance and value, fueling popular amenities such as body spray/massage showers, soaking tubs and walk-in seating tubs,” according to the manufacturer. “And with no tank to rupture, Rinnai tankless water heaters leave traveling 50+ home owners with peace of mind.” For those building off the main natural gas line, Rinnai tankless water heaters can also be fueled by clean and efficient propane. The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) has a number of resources — including a green online course, “Green Water Heating With Propane: Retrofitting From Electric” — to introduce 50+ builders on the benefits of building with propane. With an American headquarters in Peachtree City, Ga., Rinnai Corporation is a member of the National Council of the Housing Industry (NCHI) — The Leading Suppliers of NAHB. Based in Washington, D.C., the Propane Education and Research Council is also an NCHI member. This feature is solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on this page should be construed as policy, an endorsement, warranty or guaranty by the National Association of Home Builders of the featured product or the product manufacturer. The National Association of Home Builders expressly disclaims any responsibility for any damages arising from the use, application or reliance on any information contained on this page. NAHB-Produced Programs on DIY, Fine Living and HGTVThe NAHB Production Group produces weekly television shows on DIY, Fine Living and HGTV for consumers. The following is the latest lineup: "Rock Solid" on DIY
"I Want That" on Fine Living
HGTV Seeking ‘Dream Home’ Builder/Architect Teams HGTV is seeking developers, builders and architects to create dream homes for the network’s Dream Home Sweepstakes. To learn more, click here. About the NAHB Production Group The NAHB Production Group is a full-service, self-contained, media production unit creating programming for cable television, broadcast television, non-profit, museum and corporate clients. Productions range from magazine format shows for general audiences to museum-installation videos for specialized use. The production group includes award winning journalists, writers and photographers with experience in broadcast, documentary and corporate television.
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. Pardee Homes Honored for Refurbishing St. Jude’s Ranch
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children wasn’t asking for an extreme makeover. The home for abused, abandoned and neglected children in Boulder City, Nev. was only in need of some simple renovations to make the lives of the children in its care a little more comfortable. But the management, staff and subcontractors of the Pardee Homes Las Vegas division saw things a little differently. “A leaky roof did not turn into a roof repair. It turned into a roof replacement,” said Christine Spadafor, CEO of St. Jude’s Ranch. “A leaky faucet turned into a new bathroom.” For its extensive rehabilitation of the children’s ranch, Pardee Homes received honorable mention in the 2007 Builder Achievement Awards for Outstanding Community Service from the National Housing Endowment, which was presented at the International Builder’s Show in Orlando in February.
Pardee Southern Nevada Division President Klif Andrews said it didn’t take long before Pardee employees and their subcontractors realized that a lot more could be done at St. Jude’s. “We build things,” said Andrews. “We’re not necessarily good at fixing a wall but we’re good at building a new wall. Instead of finding the simplest way to solve (a problem), we looked at the most complete way to solve it.” Pardee was originally notified of the ranch’s needs by the area HomeAid chapter, which partnered with Pardee to supervise the six-week project. Volunteers landscaped the campus-style facilities, poured concrete and repaired buildings. They installed plumbing, cabinets, countertops and air conditioning and repaired or replaced windows, walls, trim and other features in St. Jude’s bungalows. “We have a long tradition of charitable work at Pardee, so we know how to do these projects,” Andrews said. For the renovation, a Pardee employee was assigned to supervise the progress of each bungalow. The company also granted leave to employees so they could work on the project. Some employees worked after hours. Pardee subcontractors — who Andrews described as “local, family-owned, with a great charitable spirit” — also helped with supplies and labor. “We just asked for volunteers and the volunteers signed up left and right,” Andrews said. “The story of the facility and how they deal with these kids and this family setting, it’s just very inspirational.” Fifty-four children whose “caregivers were unable or unwilling to take care of them” currently live at St. Jude’s, Spadafor said. “They came to us with nothing but the clothes on their back.” Ranging from ages five to 21, the young residents have suffered from a dispiriting variety of physical or sexual abuse, neglect or outright abandonment. “The kids come from very difficult circumstances,” said Spadafor. “But these are good kids.” Some lived in cars. Others had fallen behind in their education because their parents didn’t bother to enroll them in school. Many were in an environment where one parent was in jail and the other was battling addiction. Often, the oldest child, many times no older than 12, had to care for his or her younger siblings, Spadafor said. “That 12- or 13-year-old needs to be a kid,” she said, adding that kids can reclaim their childhood at St. Jude’s. The children sleep and eat in eight U-shaped bungalows. Their living quarters are on one side of a large kitchen and dining area, while St. Jude’s staff stays on the other side. The average stay at St. Jude’s is two years. Some children have lived there for as little as two months while two sisters whose mother dropped them off and never returned have called St. Jude’s home for 14 years. As part of its award, Pardee Homes Las Vegas received a $1,000 donation from the endowment, which it gave to the St Jude’s endowment. Seven other builders were honored with 2007 Builder Achievement Awards for Outstanding Community Service during the presentation at the Builders' Show. The awards were established through a grant to the endowment by Isaac Heimbinder, chairman of Rockville, Md.-based BuildTopia, a provider of Web-based construction management software for home builders, and his wife, Sheila. For more information about the awards, e-mail Gwyn Donohue at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8447.
Save 10% With Office Depot Large-Format Printing ServicesNAHB members can save an additional 10% off their Member Advantage discounted prices through July 31 on printing signs, posters, schematics, blueprints, banners and photo enlargements — all up to 60 inches wide ― with Office Depot’s large-format printing services. Office Depot’s large format prints are available in black and white or color on a variety of media types, including matte presentation paper, glossy photo paper, artist canvas and indoor/outdoor vinyl materials. In addition, members can turn basic large format prints into professional looking, durable signs, displays and presentations through foam-board mounting, lamination and grommets available through Office Depot.. Members can use these services at select Office Depot stores, or online at www.officedepot.com/a/design-print-and-ship. With the online services, members have the option of picking up the printed order at any nationwide Office Depot retail store of having it delivered directly to their office or home. NAHB members can receive an automatic 10% discount on all online and phone orders if they are registered as Member Advantage customers. To register for these exclusive Member Advantage Office Depot discounts, call 800-274-2753, or click here for more information. For a coupon that gives members an additional 10% off Office Depot large-format printing services, click here. The coupon expires July 31, 2008. Other Member Advantage Discounts For information on the Member Advantage discount program and all its participating companies, go to www.nahb.org/MA.
Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips in 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 t |