Nation's Building News Online: July 14, 2008Print All Articles Text Version |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Extended Term Sought for Home Buyer Tax CreditIn a major grassroots effort, NAHB is urging its members to contact their U.S. senators and representatives and ask them to have the effective date of the proposed home buyer tax credit extended for an additional 90 days to make it as effective as possible in turning around the current downturn in home sales. “We are asking the House, as it begins making its changes to the bill, to add the months of April, May and June 2009 to the effective date of the credit,” said NAHB President Sandy Dunn. “The credit should have an effective date of April 9, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The message we need to deliver to our representatives is simple: in order to maximize the effectiveness of the home buyer tax credit and get the most stimulus for the housing market and the economy as a whole, the credit must extend to June 30, 2009,” Dunn said. NAHB members are being urged to contact their members of Congress through the association's free Legislative Hotline at 1-866-924-NAHB (6242). For complete instructions on how to participate in this telephone and e-mail campaign, click here. H.R. 3221, the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act, was approved by the Senate on July 11 by an overwhelming margin of 63 to 5. The bill now goes to the House. While House and Senate lawmakers largely agree on the core provisions of the bill, the House is likely to make some modifications. The Senate will then need to approve any changes made by the House before the legislation can be sent to the President to be signed into law. The centerpiece of the bill to help stimulate housing and the economy is a temporary, $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit for the purchase of any home. The tax credit would spur home sales, eliminate excess inventory, relieve downward pressure on house prices and bring otherwise qualified home buyers back into the market. As the legislation now stands, the tax credit could be used for homes purchased between April 9, 2008 and April 1, 2009. Since Congress has taken so long to pass the housing bill and is not expected to finalize the bill until later this month, home buyers in effect will lose four months of being able to use the credit unless this provision is modified. “The way the law is written, home buyers will not have the use of the credit during the critical 2009 spring and early summer buying season, when we believe the bulk of home purchases will occur,” said Dunn. “This is why it is so important for Congress to extend the effective date of the credit through June 2009.” With housing and the economy continuing to falter, and renewed turmoil in the financial markets, Dunn said that Congress must act quickly to pass the housing stimulus package. “Each passing day brings more layoffs, more foreclosures and more fear,” she said. “This legislation will help get home buyers back into the marketplace, stabilize house prices, stem the rising tide of foreclosures and restore confidence in our housing finance system. There’s no time to waste. Congress must finish the job now and pass this bill so that Americans can get some relief.” In addition to the home buyer tax credit, H.R. 3221 contains several other provisions that would help put the economy back on track, save jobs and restore confidence. The bill would:
To read H.R. 3221, click here and enter the bill number in the box at the center of the page. For more information, e-mail Greg Brown at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8421, or contact Scott Meyer, x8144. Fannie, Freddie Plan Underscores Need for Housing Stimulus BillThe federal government’s plan to bolster investor confidence in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has added even greater impetus for Congress to complete action on a major housing stimulus package. “We applaud the efforts of the Treasury and Federal Reserve to put an end to this reckless financial panic,” said NAHB President Sandy Dunn. “While Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac remain fundamentally sound, recent market events underscore the need for Congress to act now to pass housing bill H.R. 3221,” Dunn said. “The legislation will help shore up home prices, strengthen the regulatory oversight of the housing government sponsored enterprises, stabilize the housing and financial markets and pay huge dividends for the entire economy.” A July 13 statement by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, containing emergency legislative proposals, cited the central role that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play in the nation's housing finance system and emphasized that they would continue to operate in their current form as shareholder-owned entities. The new initiatives are far-reaching:
The Federal Reserve also took a step to provide short-term liquidity for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by providing them access to its discount window. This support is available immediately, but Fannie and Freddie have not announced any plans to borrow from the Fed. Congress is expected to try to add the provisions requiring statutory authority to the GSE section of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (H.R. 3221). An alternative would be to package the provisions in a separate emergency bill. House and Senate leaders have responded positively to the Administration’s announcement and are expected to move quickly to address these measures. While there is the potential for a delay due to the magnitude of the change contained in the GSE support provisions, the momentum currently favors rapid action. For more information, e-mail David Ledford at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8265. Calls and E-Mails Needed as Stimulus Bill Moves to Finish LinePhone calls and e-mails from all NAHB members are urgently needed as housing stimulus legislation H.R. 3221 moves back to the House for its final consideration. One of the key provisions in the bill is the home buyer tax credit. As currently crafted, the tax credit will expire on April 1, 2009, missing the peak spring/summer buying season. The expiration date of the tax credit needs to be extended by as much as possible to enable it to be used during this critical period. Please call your members of Congress at 1-866-924-NAHB (6242) and ask them to:
Please help put pressure on Congress and move us one step closer to providing housing relief to millions of Americans! NAHB Legislative Hotline Instructions Please take a moment to call the NAHB Legislative Hotline, at 1-866-924-NAHB (6242), and get connected, free-of-charge, to Capitol Hill.
Housing Market Not So Bad in Right PlacesNew developments in scattered spots in the Pennsylvania suburbs prove that location is what always sells homes even in a tough real estate market. Individual builders may be negotiating slightly different paths through the current housing malaise by offering, for example, lifestyle communities with low-maintenance and amenities such as a pool, a clubhouse and retail. Yet location is still the secret to success. The traditional neighborhood development of Woodmont is considered a “strong performer,” said Wayne Norris, regional sales manager of Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, which tracks new-home sales. Since 2005, 85 of Woodmont’s 120 homes have sold, said Jason Duckworth, vice president of Arcadia Land Co. of Wayne, the community’s developer. “I’d like to take credit for success, but it was the location,” said Duckworth, whose company contracted with four builders — Pulte, Gigliotti, Masterpiece and NV Homes — to construct the houses on 6,000-square-foot lots. The homes range in price from $500,000 to $900,000. Schools in the Lower Moreland district are a huge draw, he said, as is the easy commute to jobs in eastern Montgomery County and Philadelphia. Many builders have adjusted to the economy’s current conditions “by bringing product to market that meet the shift in demand,” Norris said. Some new developments, including Woodmont, offer small houses with many upgrades that are designed to be attractive to first-time buyers, he said. The trend to smaller houses appears to be a national one, and they are generally selling better, said Bernard Markstein, NAHB’s senior economist. (www.phillynews.com)
For Many Buyers, Common Space Is the New BackyardHaving mowed and raked their parents’ lawns when they were kids, Jennifer Lister and her husband, Eric Masters, bought a townhouse in 2006 without a lawn as a place where they could raise their children, now ages one and four. “We have a playground and an open field a half-block away,” said Lister. “Why take care of a yard when we can have this space right here?” Thanks to millions of home buyers who echo Lister’s sentiment, the Great American Yard could go the way of the wooden toboggan slide and the Sunday drive. While moving to single-family houses in the suburbs, where big yards abound, was automatic for millions of baby boomers when they married and had kids, many of their children, including Lister and Masters, have no such intention. “We’d rather be in the city, where we can walk to everything,” said Lister. Lot sizes for new single-family houses shrank from 1976 to 2006, according to NAHB. During those decades, the percentage of houses on lots less than 7,000 square feet (about one-sixth of an acre) grew to 35% from 18%. Those on 11,000-square-foot lots (one-quarter of an acre) dwindled from 41% to 32%. “It’s a combination of things,” said NAHB economist Steve Melman. “Baby boomers want less yard and no maintenance. The 20-somethings want proximity to entertainment and jobs instead of suburban houses with big yards. The last thing they want to do is mow. The middle group between, with kids, wants some yard but doesn’t have all weekend to ride a riding mower. They have soccer matches to get to.” (www.chicagotribune.com)
Sleepover ShowingsIn most markets, home buyers have the upper hand these days, which often means they have greater negotiating power when it comes to price or the ability to squeeze out extra perks from sellers ready to make a deal. But on occasion, they’ll ask a seller for even more to get to know the home better and determine if they’re ready to commit. The sleepover is not something being agreed to by droves of sellers, but it is a new tactic that some are considering, said Pat Skiffington, of Keller Williams Classic Realty in Orlando. He’s arranging for a prospective buyer to stay overnight in a downtown Orlando condo. “Buyers are being much more selective and there’s much more to choose from,” he said. This is one way sellers can make their home stand out. He wouldn’t recommend it for every home, however. The Orlando condo is a good candidate because the prospective buyers don’t live in the area, and experiencing what the downtown is like at night might sway them to make an offer, Skiffington said. Any seller who attempts this also should consider that while letting someone stay in your home can punctuate the positives, “it can also punctuate the negatives,” he said. Structuring a short-term contract to give the home a test-drive probably wouldn’t be that difficult to do, said Neil Garfinkel, a real estate attorney and partner with the New York-based firm of Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson. As long as home owners have sufficient coverage under their home insurance policies, there shouldn’t be an issue, he added. “My first phone call would be to my insurance company,” he said. “The second would be to my attorney, who could help structure the transaction.” (www.marketwatch.com)
American Dream Goes Global; More Immigrants Buying Land in Native CountriesA growing contingent of immigrants are gobbling up real estate in their native countries, discouraged by high housing prices and foreclosures in the U.S. and enticed by the possibility of returning home to a better life than the one they left behind. Developers from countries such as El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Peru are increasingly courting immigrants at housing fairs across the U.S. Thousands of immigrants are buying homes in their native countries every year, and more private lenders and some governments are offering financing to sweeten the deal. Buying houses has always been part of the immigrant experience in the U.S. An estimated 5% of immigrants — tens of thousands of people nationwide — invest every year in some type of house project back home, according to a 2005 survey of eight Latin American countries by Manuel Orozco, a senior associate at the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington. But Orozco said immigrants face barriers to buying homes. Often, they cannot qualify for mortgages because they live in the U.S., so they send money to relatives who oversee construction of a home. Even when immigrants qualify for loans, he said, interest rates are often prohibitively high. In recent years, though, more real-estate developers, private lenders and governments are making it easier for immigrants to buy homes directly, according to government officials and the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington. The Dominican Republic government is allowing immigrants to apply for up to $10,000 in aid for downpayments, for example. (www.boston.com)
The Gamble of a Pawn ShopStanding by row after row of construction and carpentry tools, David Jones, chairman of the Pawn USA chain, said what had been a steady flow has in recent months turned into a torrent of folks looking to unload drills, nail guns, circular saws, compressors and other tools. “When you start to see the professional tools, that tells you where the economy is at,” said Jones, a former mayor of Wilmington, N.C. “I bet you we’re a better barometer of the economy than all those economists with their Ph.D.s.” Today, a lot of people are looking to divest themselves of their construction and landscaping tools as residential construction falls to what NAHB describes as its lowest level since March 1991. Jones said that could be because people are shuttering side businesses as the market dries up or leaving the area or country to seek greener economic pastures. The flood of tools in the market has prompted Jim Lamonda to become very choosy about what equipment he’ll take. “They better be high-end and in good condition or I’m not interested,” said the owner of Atlantic Jewelry and Pawn. Lamonda has been open for only six months, and he only half jokingly said he picked the right time to get into the business. There’s no doubt people are hurting, he said. During good times, people don’t have the time or the inclination to come in and hunt for deals or sell their excess jewelry for some extra pocket cash. But when they’re struggling, every little bit of cash helps. (www.wral.com)
Mortgage-and-Credit Crisis Results in Thousands of Job Losses StatewideThousands of workers throughout Florida, including more than a few thousand in the central part of the state, have lost their jobs amid the mortgage debacle that has roiled the global financial markets since last summer. Although the construction industry has borne the brunt of the housing slowdown in Florida, shedding tens of thousands of jobs during the past year alone, positions in the financial-services sector have increasingly disappeared, too, from mortgage brokers and Realtors® to title agents and bankers. Florida’s financial sector had 6,100 fewer jobs in May than it did a year earlier, a 1.12% decline, according to the latest data from Florida’s Agency for Workforce Innovation. That’s the biggest employment hit in decades for a business known historically in Florida as a job-creation engine. (www.orlandosentinel.com)
Energy Efficiency Tax Credit Extension UrgedTestifying on July 10 on behalf of NAHB before a House Small Business Committee hearing on “The Role of Green Technologies in Spurring Economic Growth,” Cincinnati builder Andrea Lucke urged Congress to extend the New Energy Efficient Home Credit, which was enacted in 2005 and expires at the end of the year. “The nation’s home builders have the ability to profoundly affect sustainability and conserve precious natural resources and our environment,” Lucke said. NAHB members build about 80% of the new housing units in the U.S. Lucke, president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati and vice president of Robert Lucke Homes, also updated hearing participants on the progress of the NAHB National Green Building Program and the new National Green Building Standard. The tax credit “is a key market incentive that shifts builders towards significant energy savings in new home construction,” she said. “The program allows a $2,000 tax credit to a home builder who constructs a qualified new energy-efficient home that is certified to achieve a 50% reduction in energy usage, thereby adding a highly efficient home that will likely remain part of the nation’s housing stock for 60 years or more.” To encourage builders to construct more energy-efficient housing, Lucke also urged members of Congress to increase the amount of the tax credit to pay for a bigger percentage of the higher building costs that are incurred when making a home 50% more energy-efficient. Tax incentives work because they are market driven, Lucke said, and they are a much more effective approach than mandates. “With a tax credit, important production decisions are still reserved for builders, buyers and home owners. Consequently, a tax credit program costs little to operate and does not require expensive administrative oversight that is usually associated with a mandate,” she said. “As Congress continues to look for ways to promote energy efficiency and sustainability, NAHB urges it to use incentives, rather than mandates, to encourage the growth of green technologies.” For more information, e-mail Calli Schmidt at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132. Build on Change at State and Local Government Affairs Conference No matter what the outcome of the 2008 election, one thing is certain — change. The 2008 State and Local Government Affairs Conference on Nov. 20-22 in Memphis, Tenn, gives HBA government affairs staff and volunteer leadership the resources to navigate the shifting political landscape with ease. Learn the most effective ways to educate new leaders about the housing market and make housing a priority at the local and state levels. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/SLGAConference. State BUILD PAC Events Gear Up for Busy Campaign CycleThis summer and fall promise to be active seasons for BUILD-PAC fundraising, as state home builders associations host numerous events that are playing an important role in achieving BUILD PAC’s goals for the 2008 election cycle and are helping to increase membership participation. Some state events have come and gone, some are scheduled and others are in the planning stages. States that have yet to plan an event are encouraged to contact BUILD-PAC staff members and schedule one today. The following states have already held their fundraisers and helped get BUILD-PAC that much closer to its goal:
For more information, e-mail Rachel Sullivan at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8289; or contact Betsy Savage, x8510. Build on Change at State and Local Government Affairs Conference No matter what the outcome of the 2008 election, one thing is certain — change. The 2008 State and Local Government Affairs Conference on Nov. 20-22 in Memphis, Tenn, gives HBA government affairs staff and volunteer leadership the resources to navigate the shifting political landscape with ease. Learn the most effective ways to educate new leaders about the housing market and make housing a priority at the local and state levels. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/SLGAConference. Easing of Jumbo Loan Crunch Key to Recovery in CaliforniaLooking a year or two down the road, California’s beleaguered home building industry should be settling back into normal growth patterns, analysts from the University of Southern California's Lusk Center for Real Estate told a PCBC audience in San Francisco last month. In the meantime, builders in the state have just about seen the worst of the current downturn, the economists said, and barring any further major erosion of the capital markets or the economy, housing appears poised for recovery. In general, they said they expected markets along the coast to revive faster than inland locations where the reverberations from the slump have been more pronounced. The mortgage credit crunch has hit California’s high-priced housing markets particularly hard, the economists said, and the challenge is to get credit flowing again for jumbo loans, which are significantly less risky than their current pricing would suggest. But rising gasoline prices could hold particularly negative consequences for more remote parts of the state that had seen a surge in development during the housing boom, they warned. “The resilience of the U.S. economy and the financial markets is remarkable,” said Richard Green, the newly appointed director of the Lusk Center. “We have been through periods of pronounced turbulence in our financial markets only to see them return much more rapidly than people expected.” While conceding a gloomy short-term outlook and a “tough” next couple of years for housing, Green said that he was bullish about the long-term outlook for the home building industry in California and confident about the strength of the state’s economy. Previous periods of turbulence in the financial markets suggest that the amount of losses in mortgage securities stemming from last summer’s subprime mortgage meltdown has probably been overstated, he added. Green said that those watching the housing market could get a good indication of how bad, or good, things are by making two statistical comparisons, neither of which is providing much encouragement at the present time. Watching Interest Rate Spreads To gauge the health of the credit markets, Green looked at the spread between LIBOR interest rates and the three-month Treasury yield. An indicator of a return to normalcy is a LIBOR rate about half a percentage point higher than the Treasury rate, he said. The spread has spiked above one percentage point in the aftermath of recent crises in the financial markets. While the spread was below 100 basis points shortly before his presentation, it was still far above 50 basis points, “so there is still a crisis in confidence,” he concluded. A spread of 20 to 40 basis points between jumbo mortgage interest rates and rates on conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgages is normal, Green said; the spread at Wells Fargo on June 20 was 156 basis points, he said. On the same day, Citibank was charging a five percentage point premium for jumbo loans, with the implication that it was projecting a 5% default rate on prime jumbo loans with healthy downpayments, he said, which was an unreasonably negative expectation. And some other large banks won’t even quote a rate for jumbo mortgages, he added. The lenders are not pricing these mortgages in line with market fundamentals, Green said. “We need to see these spreads decline for a return to normalcy,” and for that to happen Congress needs to permanently increase the loan ceilings for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration, he said. The loan limits were increased by the Administration’s stimulus bill this spring, but those higher amounts expire at the end of this year. Changes in Consumer Behavior One more problem especially pronounced in California is the price of gas, which is the highest in the country, he said. So much of the state’s residential settlement patterns have been driven by automobile traffic that the $2 increase in the cost of a gallon of gas over the last 18 months could have consequences for new development, he said. Green estimates that each mile from “the center of convenience” equals a $3,000 to $4,000 erosion in the price of a home, which helps explain why home prices in urban cores are holding up better than those in the far-flung suburbs. “This is something to look at,” he said. Raphael Bostic, a director of the Casden Real Estate Economic Forecast, said that his sense is that “things are changing” when it comes to consumers’ spending and commuting habits in the face of today’s rising gas prices. “Consumers are thinking differently about how they live,” said Bostic, and that is translating into “changes in their preferences for housing,” including how it is configured and where it is located. Bostic said that builders need to be on the lookout for where economic growth will occur and how it will be driven, and they need to watch for a shift in the financial markets and regulatory policy. “It’s a problem for a transactional economy when creditors are not willing to lend,” he said, “but once the doors open, [financing] will come in like a flood.” Taking an overview of the housing market, Bostic said that “the pain we’re feeling today” in California is the result of the tremendous run-up in prices that occurred during the boom. “Although the overarching story is not positive, there is variation” across locations, he noted. “Decisions to purchase are driven by psychological factors. Economists don’t understand every facet of American consumers.” With jumbo loans prices high above their historic average, there is a psychology at work in the financial markets that doesn’t make sense, Bostic added. A Fast Slide in Home Sales While California has seen sizable declines in home sales and prices before, the big difference is how quickly the slide has occurred during this downturn, said Delores Conway, who is also a director of the Casden Real Estate Economic Forecast. Looking at price performance in Los Angeles County, it has taken only two years to see a roughly 20% decline today from a 2006 peak, compared to the six years from a peak in 1990 that it took to reach this level of decline, she said. The gap between the cost of owning and renting, which widened significantly during the housing boom as home prices surged more rapidly than rents, has narrowed dramatically, Conway said, with a sharp and swift decline in home prices and a reduction in the monthly mortgage payment. “We are moving toward convergence,” she said. “There is not a lot further to go,” and this is providing “a glimmer of hope that we won’t continue to see a sharp price decline.” A major challenge for California is that “the secondary markets have dried up and it’s difficult for home owners to get loans,” Conway said. This is especially true for the high end of the market, with inventories of homes priced at $1 million and above mounting because of the difficulty of finding jumbo loans. Job growth has been falling in the state and is now negative in Southern California, with unemployment more serious in Orange County, where the mortgage financing industry was concentrated, she said. The northern part of the state had already experienced job losses with the bursting of the dot.com bubble. However, the state’s joblessness is now running only about half as high as it was in 1990, she said.
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. Eye on the Economy: Home Sales and Prices Continue DownwardReal gross domestic product (GDP) growth has been running seriously below trend for several quarters and the labor market has been weakening systematically since late last year. That pattern promises to persist over the balance of the year and into 2009, producing a “growth recession,” if not an official economic recession. The major danger zone for the U.S. economy has shifted to the second half of this year, particularly to the fourth quarter, largely reflecting “payback” for the fiscal stimulus that’s supporting consumer spending during the middle two quarters of the year. A dwindling drag from housing, further improvements in our trade balance and a policy-related firming of business capital spending will be needed to keep the economy afloat as consumer spending weakens late this year. Commodity Price Inflation Should Not Generate Persistent ‘Stagflation’ Surging prices for energy and food have driven headline inflation numbers into the stratosphere, and inflation expectations in the private sector have risen significantly. Even so, key measures of “core” consumer price inflation (excluding food and direct energy prices) have been remarkably well contained. Growing slack in labor markets should hold down unit labor costs and put downward pressure on core inflation during the second half of this year and into 2009, diffusing fears of protracted “stagflation” in the U.S. economy. Financial Markets Suffer Relapse, Generating More Work for the Fed Financial market conditions have taken another turn for the worse, following improvements from the abyss reached in March when Bear Stearns essentially went under. Financial institutions are once again announcing sizable mark-to-market asset write-downs, volume in private securitization markets is spotty at best, credit quality spreads are widening again in bond and mortgage markets and the stock market has retreated into bearish territory. These unexpected developments have seriously complicated the near-term economic outlook and presented the Fed with yet another set of challenges — with respect to management of monetary policy as well as the special “liquidity enhancing” innovations put in place since last summer. The Fed Will Not Tighten Monetary Policy or Restrict Access to the Discount Window This Year The Fed held monetary policy steady at the June 24-25 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting while paying more lip service to potential inflation pressures. We expect the Fed to talk tough on inflation, but also to maintain the current “accommodative” monetary policy stance — a nominal federal funds rate of 2.0% and real funds rate in the negative zone — until the second quarter of next year. Fed funds futures markets are moving toward this view and long-term Treasury rates have receded in the process, following a sizeable mid-June spurt. Renewed instability in financial markets most likely will encourage the Fed to extend the life of new discount-window mechanisms established earlier this year under the central bank’s emergency lending powers — including the controversial Primary Dealer Credit Facility (PDCF) established in connection with the Fed-engineered “rescue” of Bear Stearns in March. Assurance of the ongoing presence of the PDCF and other innovative discount window facilities is needed to keep liquidity conditions in U.S. credit markets from deteriorating further. Home Sales and Prices Continue Downward Despite Revival of Affordability Measures Home sales have been mixed recently, continuing to erode in the new-home market while stabilizing in the existing-home market. But existing-home sales are simply reflecting rising foreclosures and foreclosure sales, a process that’s actually putting heavier downward pressure on the new-home market. NAHB’s surveys of home builders have yet to show stabilization of either net home sales or sentiment regarding the demand side of the market for new single-family homes. Weak demand and heavy oversupply continue to put substantial downward pressure on house prices, at least on a national-average basis. Median prices of new and existing homes sold continue to trail downward while prominent repeat-sales measures are falling sharply. The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city composite home price index fell at a 19% seasonably adjusted annual rate in April and was down by 17% from its mid-2006 peak. Price-to-income ratios now have fallen back toward normal historical ranges and standard measures of housing affordability have picked up a good bit from their mid-2006 lows. However, tight mortgage lending standards and expectations of further house price declines have kept prospective home buyers on the sidelines. Credit Tightening in AD&C Markets Adds to Downward Pressure on Housing Production Housing production still is on a downward path, and improvements in new-home sales and inventory positions must be achieved before any sustained pickup in housing starts can occur. We expect the recovery in housing starts to begin in the second quarter of next year, although we also expect both housing starts and residential fixed investment to be down in 2009 on a year-over-year basis. NAHB’s surveys of builders/developers show that we’re now facing a developing credit crunch in the markets for land acquisition, land development and construction (AD&C) loans. The availability of new loans has been cut back dramatically and lenders are tightening terms and conditions on many outstanding loans — prodded by financial regulators based in Washington. These financing difficulties compound downside risks to our baseline (most probable) forecasts of housing starts and construction activity. NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders analyzes the economy from the point of view of the housing market every other week in the free e-newsletter, “Eye on the Economy.” The preceding is a reissue of his July 9 edition. To subscribe to “Eye on the Economy,” click here.
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. Connecticut HBAs Team Up to Have Media Tell Their StoryWorking as a team with continuous outreach to the news media, the Home Builders Association of Connecticut (HBACT) and its five local home builders associations are starting to see more balanced coverage of the housing industry across the state. “We consider ourselves a team and often work together, combining our efforts and resources to improve the housing market throughout the state,” said Lisa Kidder, director of public relations and communications for HBACT. The state HBA is sending local HBA officers, executive officers and public relations committee members monthly communications containing Myth Buster resources on NAHB’s Web site, member feedback and suggestions, forecasts from local economists, state employment statistics and economic indicators. Kidder said that her association has seen that when everyone is on the same page, and armed with up-to-date numbers and facts, they become a stronger force statewide. The HBAs also coordinate and share media contacts to get stories placed. Media Outreach and Communications Developing and maintaining relationships with writers and editors is another crucial step in giving a higher profile to the state’s home building industry. Representatives from the state HBA regularly check in with reporters at Connecticut’s major daily newspapers to ask if they would like to talk to an HBA member in their circulation or coverage area to get the local perspective. “We’ve had some success getting papers to insert local statistics into national articles they pick up from the Associated Press, but it’s an uphill battle,” said Kidder. “When they do insert the local numbers, I always make sure to call or send reporters a follow-up note to thank them.” The group also sets up meetings with the editorial boards of local newspapers to discuss coverage. “When you have the key reporters and editors in the same room, at the same time, the discussion is much more open and positive,” said Kidder. “They see how their coverage affects our local economy and are more open to providing both the national and regional perspective.” The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Fairfield County recently scored success after hosting a panel discussion on how the housing industry was being portrayed in the local media. Along with several members of the press, more than 100 members of the association attended. The event generated an article in the Connecticut Post — “Experts: Housing market in good shape” — that included local statistics and quotes from the builders and remodelers. The Fairfield County association is also a regular contributor to the real-estate section of The Hour, a daily paper serving Norwalk, Stamford and Westport. National Recognition Bloomberg.com recently named three Connecticut localities — Stamford-Norwalk, New Haven and Hartford — as attractive, low-risk U.S. housing markets where home buyers should seriously consider buying a home. HBACT used the article, "Housing Bubble Didn't Burst Everywhere in U.S.," as an opportunity to educate their local media about why a strong economy and moderate home price increases make Connecticut a great place to invest in a home. “No bubble to burst” was the headline of a comprehensive and balanced article that followed in the June 14 edition of the Journal Inquirer — one more step in the right direction for the group of HBAs in getting the local story told. To have your side of the story told in the press, go to www.nahb.org/mythbuster to access the continuously-updated resources available and to read more Myth Buster success stories about locals around the country. For more information on the Myth Buster resources, e-mail Gwyn Donohue at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8447. Enter The Nationals Sales and Marketing Awards by Sept. 26Enter your best in new home sales and marketing and design for 2009's The Nationals — the National Sales and Marketing awards, the largest and most prestigious competition for new-home sales and marketing professionals and communities. Sponsored by NAHB’s National Sales and Marketing Council, The Nationals honor the best in architectural achievement, product and community design, advertising and promotion, interior merchandising, Web site design and more. The awards are open to individual sales and marketing professionals, home builders, associates and sales and marketing councils. All entries, including fees and exhibits, are due Friday, Sept. 26. Late entries will be accepted by Oct. 3, with an additional fee. The Nationals recognizes innovation and excellence in 52 categories. During a three-day judging process, a panel of industry professionals from across the country selects Silver and Gold award winners from a field that typically includes more than 1,200 entries.
To Apply
Awards Gala at IBS on Jan. 20 Category winners will be honored during a gala event at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Jan. 20 during the International Builders' Show. For more information, visit www.TheNationals.com, e-mail Lisa Parrish, or call her at 800-658-2751.
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. Builders’ Tip: Fabricating an Inexpensive Dust Collector
I came up with an inexpensive dust filter that works for my shop as well as for the interior remodeling that I do. I bought a 20-inch box fan for $13, a piece of 1-1⁄4-inch vinyl-siding J-channel for $2 and a 20-inch by 20-inch furnace filter for 50 cents. As shown in the accompanying drawing, I attached the J-channel in a U-configuration on the intake side of the fan and slid in the filter. It works great and the total cost was only $15.50. I usually buy the better particle filters for $2 or $3 and use my compressor to clean them out periodically. — Phil Giordano, Sterling, 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. Protect Against Personal Liability in Down MarketBy Marc E. Albert, Alisa C. Lacey, Katherine M. Sutcliffe Becker and Tracey M. Ohm There are several steps business owners can take to survive the challenges ahead. In this article, we present tips to help you operate your business that are appropriate to today’s market conditions. In addition, we also offer some purchasing opportunities to consider — through bankruptcy asset sales — that in a strong market might otherwise have been out of reach. First, let’s address what you need to do to consolidate your operations and protect your business: Conserve Cash — Cut Costs Reducing cash expenditures requires rethinking every aspect of business. In a down market, the goal is for the business to survive long enough to weather the down cycle. In order to accomplish this, you need to be able to operate twice as long on half the cash. Reduce overhead operating expenses every place you can. Common expenses that can be cut include:
When desperate, principals often decide to increase their own personal exposure rather than let their business fail. This is a terrible mistake.
Most lenders are willing to work jointly with borrowers. They really don’t want to own your project or property and, in general, would rather try to jointly market than foreclose. In today’s market, the issue is trust. Does your lender trust you? If he does, he will almost always work with you. If he doesn’t, he will ask you to turn over operations to a trustworthy operator. Asset Sales in Bankruptcy — Watch for Bargains and Opportunities
Watch the papers and trade publications in your area. Most sales of any size are advertised. The word “bankruptcy” is almost always prominent.
The authors are attorneys at Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, which employs more than 360 attorneys in nine offices and five states, has experience in more than 45 practice areas and represents clients in a full range of corporate, transaction and litigation matters. For more information, visit stinson.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. Critical Questions to Ask Before Installing TechnologyBy Erik Anderson, CGA, CGP, Lutron Electronics
Following are several critical questions that builders and remodelers should ask their customers, designers, architects and electronic systems contractor (ESCs) about the technology options to be installed that will help them maintain their construction schedule. The right questions ― asked at the right time ― can provide key insights into effectively managing their production schedule and improving their bottom line. Note that these questions should be asked during the design stage of the project, not after work has begun.
The best way to optimize your “critical path of construction” is to find a reliable ESC who can work with you and your team to communicate all aspects of the installation process prior to the first stake being hammered in at the site. Erik Anderson, CGA, CGP, of Lutron Electronics, is an active member of NAHB. He works with the 20 Club Program and Home Technology Alliance. For more information, e-mail Anderson, or call him at 484-809-3867.
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. Registration Open for 2009 Builders' Show in Las VegasRegistration for the 2009 International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas on Jan. 20-23 — the single, most important and largest industry event of the year — is now open. This year, IBS will feature:
Full registration provides attendees with access to four days of exhibits on one million net square feet of exhibit space, all the educational sessions and new, daily-featured speakers. Full registration is $295 for members through Nov. 7 and $425 thereafter. Full registration for non-members is $475 and $575, respectively. Exhibits-Only Registration Exhibits-only registration is $50 for members through Nov. 7 and $100 after and $50 for their spouses. Exhibits-only registration for non-members is $100 through Nov. 7 and $200 after and $70 for their spouses. Education Session Tickets Exhibits-only registered attendees can purchase tickets to individual IBS education sessions. Individual tickets are $50 for members and $70 for non-members. Registrants can purchase packages of four tickets and get one free or seven tickets and get three free. (Attendees who purchase full registrations do not have to purchases education session tickets or exhibits-only registration.) To Register For registration information, click here. For hotel information, click here. To register online, click here. For the latest IBS information — including floor plans, renderings and construction photos of The New American Home — visit the 2009 International Builders’ Show Web site at www.BuildersShow.com. New EPA Brochure Gives Tips on Lead-Safe PracticesThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a new, free brochure for remodelers on safe work practices for lead paint-exposed homes. “Contractors ― Lead Safety During Renovation,” available online at www.epa/lead, outlines the procedures remodelers must follow under the recently published Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule governing the work of professional remodelers in homes where there is lead-based paint. The brochure briefly outlines the tools and protective clothing needed, how to set up safe work areas, how to minimize dust, what to do inside and outside the work area and more. “As a contractor, you play an important role in protecting public health by helping prevent lead exposure. Ordinary renovation and maintenance activities can create dust that contains lead — even small amounts of lead can harm children and adults,” the brochure says. When working with lead paint, remodelers must wear protective eye wear, disposable shoe covers, N-100-rated disposable respirators, gloves, coveralls and painters’ hats. When preparing for the job, the brochure recommends that remodelers use heavy plastic sheeting, a misting bottle, HEPA vacuum, paper towels and a mop with disposable heads to help minimize dust and set up containment areas. The EPA also requires that remodelers use signs to keep residents out of work areas, to use heavy plastic sheeting to separate the work area from the rest of the residence when appropriate and to close and seal vents in the work area. Practices that may not be used include open flame burning or torching, sanding or grinding surfaces without a HEPA vacuum and using a heat gun at temperatures higher than 1,100 degrees F. After finishing the job, remodelers must HEPA vacuum all surfaces, carefully dispose of the plastic sheeting, wash the area with a general purpose cleaner and perform a cleaning verification check, according to the brochure. The EPA rule was published in the Federal Register earlier this year and takes effect in April 2010. The new 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. It requires a cleaning inspection after the work is completed and grants the remodeler flexibility in determining the size of the work area, which can reduce the size of the area subject to containment. NAHB has followed the development of this regulation and continues to work with the EPA on implementation and training necessary for following the rule. For more information on the circumstances under which the rule applies, remodelers’ responsibilities and procedures under the rule and what exemptions are possible, read NAHB’s “Lead Paint: EPA’s Final Rule on Remodeling and Renovation.” For additional articles and links to resources on the lead paint rule on the NAHB Web site, visit www.nahb.org/leadpaint, or visit the EPA Web site at www.epa/lead. 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. NAHB Remodelers Membership Has Its Advantages
Vince Butler, CGR, GMB, CAPS, of Butler Brothers in Clifton, Va. and a former NAHB Remodelers chairman, believes increased business comes through referrals from fellow NAHB remodelers and local association members. “Everyone can run a business in a strong market,” said Butler. “But you need to be a businessman to manage a down market.” “Let your fellow members know you’re looking for jobs and they will think of you for referrals,” he continued, while noting that he has received referrals from a member who worked in a bank. Staying connected and informed about the current marketplace will help you land these leads, he said. Butler also recommends that remodelers take advantage of NAHB’s educational and business management opportunities — including the NAHB 20 Club Program. Each remodelers’ 20 Club includes 20 or so similar-sized remodelers who work in non-competing markets. They meet several times a year to discuss business practices and learn from each other. Butler said his club has discussed how to make smart slowdown adjustments, including managing margins and more effective marketing. NAHB Remodelers membership is one of the most important tools in any remodeler’s toolbox, Butler said, while noting that remodelers should not drop their membership in difficult times. Instead, he said remodelers should take advantage of all the resources NAHB Remodelers and NAHB have to offer. The discounts on courses and special member discounts through the Membership Advantage affinity program can return major dollars to a remodeling business, he noted. “I think this is the best deal, bar none,” said Butler. “I can’t imagine going through this period without having these tools available.”
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. Remodelers Making a Difference in Their Local CouncilsThe first in a series that profiles members of local NAHB Remodelers who are strengthening their local councils through networking and recruiting new members. The grassroots champions who are being highlighted in this series have collectively recruited more than 400 new members for the NAHB Remodelers to date.
Rob Hajek
Business size and focus: 17-person, full-service home remodeling firm founded in 1998. What he does: “Having started out doing all the work myself, now most of my time is spent in sales, scheduling and purchasing. I’m also involved in the home building association at the local, state and national levels.” Most rewarding project: Bathroom remodeling project for an elderly man living alone. “When we were done, my customer was in tears, and said, ‘You don’t understand how it makes me feel to be able to use the bathroom without needing someone to help me.’ It really hit home with me, and I’ll never forget it.” His advice to others: “We struggled for some years to find the right people in the field. I have great guys now, and our productivity is better than ever. We started doing more work on the front end — doing drug testing, physicals, background checks and aptitude testing. We also developed more consistent training.” NAHB member recruitment secret: “I’m in my truck a lot driving around between projects so I just got on the phone and starting calling. It was fairly easy to get people to join.”
Business focus: Large volume residential construction and remodeling firm, founded in 1974. What drives him: “I enjoy working with home owners and building their trust. There’s always a need for someone in this business who follows the Golden Rule.” Pet peeve: “I hate hearing the word ‘problem’ on my work sites. ‘Opportunity’ is much better. Whether you’re the owner or a worker, take 100% of the responsibility.” Favorite resource: “Take advantage of the NAHB Remodelers Web site [found under “NAHB Community” at www.nahb.com]. There are so many useful case studies of what remodelers did in specific situations. I’ve even printed out pages and ideas about challenges I don’t have now, but might encounter in the future.” Tips for success: “Surround yourself with outstanding people by joining organizations, and you’re bound to pick up new skills and contacts. No builder or tradesman is a stranger to adversity — but the best just keep on plugging. Their enthusiasm is contagious.” 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. Digging In to Dig Out: Riding Out the DownturnBy Karen Dry and Linda Hebert Things look bad. But you’ve looked at your business and decided to ride it out. To make it through, though, you have to love the industry and have an unshakable belief in yourself and your business, according to Lisa Forsman, vice president of operations at Pezonella Associates, Inc., a consulting firm based in Reno, Nev. that provides geotechnical, environmental and civil engineering services. “Of course we have all seen a drop in business and I’m tired and feeling stretched a little thin,” said Forsman. “But I love it.” “We are digging in for the long haul,” she added. “You can circle the drain, put a plug in it or do nothing. We are filling the tub with hard work and success.” Once you’ve made the choice to ride out the market, evaluate your current business model, take a hard look at your non-essential costs and utilize every leadership opportunity because the coming months are going to be lean and mean. “Now is the time to pick up efforts and create the future of your company,” said Forsman. “Don’t take anything for granted. Success is out there — you just have to find it.” Evaluate Your Entire Business Operations Think back on how and why you started your business. How did you get the clients and projects you got? Revisit your mission statement. Then consider:
When business isn’t so hot, look at:
When business is down, people look for true leaders to pull them up. Because it’s been nearly 10 years since the last downturn, many of us have no experience as to how to weather tough times. As owner of your own company, you are the leader, so you need to:
Linda Hebert is the chair of the Women’s Council communications subcommittee and president of Diversified Marketing & Communications, of Pleasanton, Calif. For more information, e-mail Hebert, or call her at 925-577-5300. Next: Diversify and expand. 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. Deliver Exceptional Customer Service Take the “Profitable Business Through Quality Practices” course from The NAHB University of Housing and learn key strategies for providing a quality building/remodeling experience for home owners.
To find out where upcoming courses are being held, click here, or call 800-368-5242 x8154 for more information. Enter Building Systems Councils Excellence Awards
The entry deadline is Sept. 17. The awards are open to all BSC member manufacturers — concrete, log, modular and panelized — and associates and any NAHB builder member who uses building systems Awards categories in multifamily and green building for concrete, log, modular and panel construction have been added this year. As in the past, all winners will be featured in the January/February 2009 issue of Building Systems Magazine, in Nation’s Building News, on the NAHB Web site and through national and local press releases. Winners will be recognized and honored during a ceremony at the Building Systems Councils' SHOWCASE in Memphis, Tenn. on Nov. 16-19. Award winners also will be recognized during the 2009 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas in January. To Apply Entry guidelines and submission forms are available online by visiting www.nahb.org/showcase and clicking the “Special Events” tab. For details specific to the marketing awards, visit BSC Excellence in Marketing Awards. Mail entries to: NAHB/Building Systems Councils
Early-bird entry fees, due Sept. 10, are $65. Regular entry fees, due Sept. 17, are $75. For more information, e-mail Scott at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8676. Lean About Solutions That Build Your Business Data shows that 25% to 30% of all new housing in the U.S. now uses systems-built technology. NAHB’s Building Systems Councils SHOWCASE ’08 on Nov. 16-19 in Memphis, Tenn. is the only conference focused on ways to advance and promote building systems — especially in today’s housing market. Network with industry leaders, connect with suppliers and attend education sessions tailored for systems-built housing. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/SHOWCASE. Enter the BALA Design Competition by July 31
Entries are being accepted for the 2008 Best in American Living Awards (BALA), the foremost residential design competition in the country. Builders, interior designers, architects, land planners, developers and marketing and real estate professionals are invited to enter. The entry deadline has been extended till Thursday, July 31. The competition includes 36 categories — from single-family attached and detached homes in a variety of sizes to rental developments and custom homes, plus categories for interior design, communities and neighborhoods, affordable housing, smart growth and others. A panel of design professionals judge entries on design appearance and curb appeal, interior floor plans, how the project relates to its own local market and the construction techniques and materials used. Homes that were completed or that had their first model opened between May 1, 2007 and July 15, 2008 are eligible for this year’s competition. Entry Dates:
Winning entries also will be posted on the Professional Builder Web site (probuilder.com) for up to one year after the announcement. For additional information and to download a BALA entry form, click here, go to www.probuilder.com/bala, or contact Judy Brociek, Professional Builder, at 630-288-8184 or Jennifer Jones at NAHB, at 800-368-5242 x8343. Apply for 2009 Commerical Building Awards by Aug. 1
The deadline for entries is Friday, 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. Register for Custom Builder Symposium in Austin, TexasRegister for the 2008 Custom Builder Symposium, NAHB's premier educational and networking event for custom builders. The symposium will be held Oct. 24-26 at the Hilton Austin in Austin, Texas. Blazing a Trail to Success This year's program, "Blazing a Trail to Success," includes education sessions, keynote and general session speakers and resources that will enable participants to improve their businesses and enhance their networking opportunities. NAHB Custom Home Builder of the Year Award The NAHB Custom Home Builder of the Year Award call for entries is now open. The award recognizes a custom builder for his or her outstanding leadership and business practices, as well as craftsmanship in building one-of-a-kind custom homes. To apply, visit www.nahb.org/customaward. The entry deadline is Friday, Aug. 8. The award will be presented at the symposium on Oct. 25. To Register for the Symposium Online registration is now open. For more information and to register, go to www.nahb.org/custom. For more information, e-mail Marcia Childs at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8388. 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. NAHB Safety Card Helps Builders Avoid Silica HazardsTo help employers and their workers minimize exposure to silica, NAHB has developed a safety card on “Silica Hazards in Home Building.” Available in English and Spanish, the card provides a general overview of silicosis, its symptoms, recommendations for reducing or eliminating exposure, and additional silica-related resources. More than 1 million U.S. workers are exposed to crystalline silica, and each year more than 250 American workers die with silicosis, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. To download the NAHB safety card, click here. Silicosis is lung damage caused by inhaling dust containing crystalline silica, which is found in materials such as concrete, masonry, rock, ceramic tile and drywall joint compound. Lung damage can result when workers breathe in the fine dust that is suspended in the air when these materials are cut, sanded or ground. Sandblasting, rock drilling, masonry work, jack hammering and tunneling are some of the activities in the construction industry that pose the greatest potential risk for worker exposure. Workers who cut fiber cement siding, remove paint and rust from surfaces, work with stone or clay, and etch or frost glass may also be at risk of overexposure. Chronic silicosis is the most common form of the disease, and usually occurs after 10 or more years of exposure. Silica dust in the lungs can hamper the body’s ability to fight off infections, and workers are more vulnerable to certain illnesses such as tuberculosis. Affected workers may exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:
OSHA Inspections Target Silica In January, the U.S. U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to reduce employee exposure to crystalline silica. Under the program, OSHA’s field staff inspection efforts will target work sites likely to create high silica exposure — including those in the home building industry. For more information on the OSHA program, click here. The safety card on silica is the first in a series of cards being made available by NAHB to provide employers and their workers with safety and health information on emerging topics. To access the safety cards section on NAHB's Web site, click here. NAHB works with OSHA to provide the residential construction industry with information, guidance and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety. Through BuilderBooks, NAHB offers a comprehensive set of resources that are geared towards helping companies improve the safety awareness and practices of their employees. To see all of NAHB’s safety resources available through BuilderBooks, go to: www.builderbooks.com/safety. For more information on NAHB safety resources, e-mail Kevin Cannon, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8590. Green Home Business Brisk in Slow Delaware MarketIn a beach resort market that is afflicted with the same cyclical doldrums slowing home building activity in most of the country, Sussex County, Del. green builder Robert Thornton says his business is flourishing. “In a supposed down market, my bank says I’m their best performer,” Thornton said. He’s closed on seven homes on the first 25 lots open in Silverwoods, a new 350-home, 131-acre development in Ocean View, Del., near the town of Bethany Beach. The average sales price was $450,000. Thornton is one of the founders of the new Home Builders Association of Delaware Green Building Council, along with the project's verifier, Howard Fortunato of JCM Environmental. Last month, Thornton set a milestone for the NAHB National Green Building Program, when one of his Ocean View homes became the first gold-certified project in the program — and the first home certified in the state. One customer from Maryland who had heard about the home’s certification stopped by for a look and signed a check for a downpayment on a house that hadn’t even been started yet, Thornton said. “We’re doing absolutely fantastic right now in a market where everyone is saying that we’re looking for the market to come back in another year. This is what green building can do for you,” he said. Already a high-end small production builder, Thornton said that the cost of converting to green was comparatively insignificant, especially in light of today’s market. “We’re getting traffic right now that can’t be bought in a brochure or a full-page newspaper ad,” he said. The obstacles he has encountered as a green builder have not come from potential home buyers, but from trade contractors, he said. It can be difficult at times to convince them to try new materials, work on waste reduction and pay attention to environmental concerns. Referring to the positive impact of green building on their bottom line is the best way to gain the cooperation of subs, he said. “You sit down and have coffee with them, and you ask, ‘do you guys understand that this is what is going to give you your paycheck?’” Thornton said. The business is going green, and contractors who are not willing to go along will be left behind, he says. “If you tell them it’s the right thing to do, that’s not going to motivate a tradesman. You have to get to the economic impact first, and they understand later.” Thornton’s gold-certified home scored 480 points in the NAHB Green certification program, well above the 385 points needed to reach that level. Thornton highlighted a number of green choices in the seven areas measured for certification:
Thornton estimates that it cost him less than 1% more to get his homes to a gold certified level — with the benefit of building a high-end product in the first place. Some features won’t pay for themselves now, but may in the future, when costs go down. Silverwoods homes are pre-wired for photovoltaic panels and they are “zero-energy ready,” but solar panels weren’t installed because they were considered cost-prohibitive. “A year from now, I may find a solar company that is going to do every roof in our development, and now that we have the piping, now that it’s in the walls and the chases, it won’t be as costly,” he said. Thornton said he will continue to talk to contractors, building inspectors, appraisers and tax officials and try to get them to see the value of going green. The biggest obstacle is education — or the lack of it. “But they come to the site, they see the traffic,” he said. “Once they are educated, they aren’t disbelievers anymore.” For more information on NAHB’s green home building resources, click here; or e-mail Calli Schmidt, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132.
The Future of Residential Construction Is Green 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. Earning the CGP demonstrates to clients and peers your commitment to the best and latest in green building practices and techniques. More than 800 people have earned the CGPdesignation to date. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/CGPinfo. ‘National Green Building Standard’ Coming Soon From BuilderBooks.com The “National Green Building Standard” from the International Code Council and NAHB will be available from BuilderBooks.com soon. For multifamily, home remodeling and additions, site development and single-family housing, the standard covers lot design; resource, energy and water efficiency; indoor environment quality; and owner education. Visit BuilderBooks.com for availability. Durham Builders Help Families Own Green Habitat HomesHalf of the 10 homes built in Durham, N.C. last month in a Habitat for Humanity Builder Blitz have been certified green by the Green Home Builders of the Triangle. In a partnership between Habitat for Humanity of Durham and the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties (HBADOC) and the HBA of Raleigh/Wake County, the five homes were built in the 31-home Hope Crossing in East Durham, the state’s first affordable green residential community. Features of the green community include solar-heated water, rain barrels, a retention pond, protection of the site’s natural resources, a playground, a picnic area, a garden and a perimeter walking path. Nineteen of the 31 homes are now occupied, and the remaining homes are expected to be completed within the coming year. The Triangle certification guidelines are based on the NAHB Model Home Green Building Guidelines and were modified to accommodate local conditions, said HBADOC Executive Vice President Nick Tennyson. For example, he said, North Carolina’s climate makes sealing crawl spaces a major contributor to indoor air quality and indoor moisture control, and points were added to recognize this construction technique. Tennyson said that the NAHB Guidelines “are very comprehensive, and there is no question that they were adequately researched and prepared” and presented in a way that makes them useful to builders without a great deal of outside consultation or help. He added that the higher prices of many green products didn’t pose a problem for the nonprofit effort because those construction materials were donated. Durham’s Habitat chapter has been using energy-efficient and Energy Star-rated products for a few years and has been able to outfit some homes with solar panels with help from a state housing finance agency. The Durham housing market is the most expensive in North Carolina, and while the city boasts the state’s highest per-capita income, it also has the region’s lowest homeownership rate. The Habitat program makes loans affordable to families by providing no-interest financing in exchange for their contribution of labor to build homes for themselves and their neighbors. Among the new residents of the Habitat homes is Tammy Bennett, who grew up in New York City in a family that never owned a home. When she moved to Durham with her son, Keithen, she vowed that he would never have to live in the unsafe conditions she confronted when she was growing up. Before finding out that she qualified for a green Habitat home in Hope Crossing, Bennett spent the majority of her bank-teller paycheck on renting an apartment. “It’s a dream come true for her,” says Roxanne Hall, the local Habitat’s special events and gifts-in-kind manager. Homeownership has provided a safe place for Bennett to raise her son, said Hall, and her home has direct access to the playground. Bennett was at the job site every day before anyone else had arrived, Hall said, and she took a week of leave from her job to pass out food and drinks and take care of the builders, Hall said. At the end of the week, she assembled a beautiful collage of her photos of the construction process. Keithen, who is now 11 years old, is participating in a student group program to raise $50,000 to build another Habitat home in the community. Today, Hall often sees and chats with Bennett at the bank. “She’s a part of the Habitat family. It’s an amazing experience to be a part of,” she said. Karima Powell, a single mother of three girls who moved from Brooklyn to North Carolina, joined the planning committee and coordinated community volunteers to build the playground after she was approved to buy a home in Hope Crossing. Going a step further, Powell convinced her employer to sponsor a Habitat home for another family. Construction is scheduled to begin on that home on Aug. 16. The Habitat partnership with local builders is a model for Habitat affiliates around the country, Hall said. The home builders association asks its builders for help, and they step up to the plate so that the homes can be built at no cost, she said. For more information, e-mail Betsy Schroeder at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8068. The Future of Residential Construction Is Green 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. Earning the CGP demonstrates to clients and peers your commitment to the best and latest in green building practices and techniques. More than 800 people have earned the CGPdesignation to date. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/CGPinfo. ‘National Green Building Standard’ Coming Soon From BuilderBooks.com The “National Green Building Standard” from the International Code Council and NAHB will be available from BuilderBooks.com soon. For multifamily, home remodeling and additions, site development and single-family housing, the standard covers lot design; resource, energy and water efficiency; indoor environment quality; and owner education. Visit BuilderBooks.com for availability. NAHB Research Center Accredits 100th Green Home VerifierThe NAHB Research Center recently accredited its 100th verifier for National Green Building certification. As the sole certifying body for the NAHB National Green Building Program, the Research Center is responsible for training and accrediting eligible individuals to verify homes across the country. Accredited verifiers are authorized to conduct inspections to determine whether a home meets the national certification criteria, which are based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. Verification will be based on the National Green Building Standard once it has been approved by the American National Standards Institute. The scrutiny of accredited third-party verification lends credibility to green home building projects. The verifiers evaluate a home’s energy efficiency, water and resource conservation, use of sustainable or recycled products, indoor environmental air quality, and lot design and development. Builders who are ready to have a home certified and are looking to find an accredited verifier should click here. The NAHB Research Center continues to seek interested, qualified individuals to become verifiers. All verifier candidates must meet pre-requisites, participate in training and pass a verifier accreditation test administered by the NAHB Research Center. To learn more about becoming a verifier, click here. The Future of Residential Construction Is Green 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. Earning the CGP demonstrates to clients and peers your commitment to the best and latest in green building practices and techniques. More than 800 people have earned the CGPdesignation to date. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/CGPinfo. ‘National Green Building Standard’ Coming Soon From BuilderBooks.com The “National Green Building Standard” from the International Code Council and NAHB will be available from BuilderBooks.com soon. For multifamily, home remodeling and additions, site development and single-family housing, the standard covers lot design; resource, energy and water efficiency; indoor environment quality; and owner education. Visit BuilderBooks.com for availability. Builders Line Up for 'Certified Green Professional' DesignationLess than five months after its introduction, nearly 800 builders, remodelers and other industry professionals have earned the Certified Green Professional designation from NAHB. The rush to achieve the new educational designation is another sign that NAHB members continue to lead the home building industry toward resource-efficient home building, said NAHB President Sandy Dunn. "Our clients — both new home buyers and home owners interested in a renovated kitchen or similar projects — are much more concerned about energy efficiency and utility bills this year, and that's driving even more interest in green building techniques," Dunn said. The Certified Green Professional designation is issued by the NAHB University of Housing, the educational arm of the association. The designation is part of the NAHB National Green Building Program, which also includes a green home rating system and scoring tool. The program is designed for all home building industry professionals, from builders and remodelers to real estate agents, designers and marketers, and is open to non-NAHB members as well. Earning the designation requires completing a 16-hour Green Building for Building Professionals class and eight hours of business management instruction and a minimum of two years of industry experience. Designees also must adhere to a prescribed code of ethics. Texas claims the greatest number of Certified Green Professionals, with 107 designees, and Dunn noted that Austin is the home of the nation's first voluntary green home building program. Dallas will host the 11th Annual NAHB National Green Building Conference next May. Other states with high numbers of designees include North Carolina, Florida and Indiana, but there are some in every state, Dunn said. Consumers can use the "Find a Builder or Remodeler" search engine at www.nahb.org to locate a local Certified Green Professional, or they can click here. Educational specialists are continually working on refinements to the Green Building for Building Professionals class content. "Green building is very dynamic, reflecting new technologies and the growing experience of many of our members," Dunn noted. "NAHB is keeping on top of these changes." Green builder volunteers also are working with the University of Housing on a curriculum for a new Master Certified Green Professional designation. Scheduled to be introduced next year, The Master designation will focus on technical and building science issues and is intended for home builders and remodelers. For more information, e-mail Calli Schmidt at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132. ‘National Green Building Standard’ Coming Soon From BuilderBooks.com The “National Green Building Standard” from the International Code Council and NAHB will be available from BuilderBooks.com soon. For multifamily, home remodeling and additions, site development and single-family housing, the standard covers lot design; resource, energy and water efficiency; indoor environment quality; and owner education. Visit BuilderBooks.com for availability. Modular Home Builders Need Storm Water Permits and PlansFollowing a recent high-production home builders’ settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over storm water discharge violations, the NAHB environmental regulatory staff is reminding members that the compliance requirements apply not just to stick-built homes, but to modular homes as well. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into so-called waters of the United States, regardless of the kind of home being built. Modular builders are also required to have a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan for above-ground oil storage tanks. Home builders must meet the requirements of both programs in order to be in compliance with the Clean Water Act. Both the NPDES and SPCC documents are renewed every five years and require monitoring reports. Builders and developers must submit copies of the permits and plans to the appropriate agency — either the EPA or the state agency charged with overseeing the permitting process on the federal government’s behalf — and have another copy available at the job site. Both documents also must be provided to the EPA or state agency upon their request. For additional information, e-mail Larissa Mark at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8157.
'Storm Water Permitting: A Guide for Builders and Developers' Available at BuilderBooks.com “Storm Water Permitting: A Guide for Builders and Developers,” available through BuilderBooks.com, provides a starting point for builders and developers to use in locating and understanding storm water permitting requirements. The publication has been prepared to help builders comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's storm water requirements, and includes information on state permitting programs and more than 50 of the most commonly used Best Management Practices. Also included are tips on compliance, including how to handle visits from inspectors. To view or purchase this guide online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. Iowa HBAs Swing Into Action After FloodingFollowing tornadoes and flooding that drove 38,000 people from their homes in Iowa last month, the Greater Cedar Rapids Area Homebuilders Association joined forces with city inspectors to undertake the daunting task of initial home inspections, determining which houses were safe to reinhabit and which were beyond repair. Wayne Winn, president of the association, reported that in just one week, 100 volunteers from the Greater Cedar Rapids HBA completed 5,063 inspections. “Never before have I been prouder of this association and its members,” said Midge Barvinek, the association’s executive officer. “I was always aware that the people in this association were caring, giving, ready-to-sacrifice individuals, but it never became more evident than in the weeks after the flood,” she said. “Volunteers stepped up to the plate and helped the city with inspections, they filled and stacked sandbags, they were on the backhoes helping with the downtown clean-up efforts, they worked in shelter, they volunteered at food banks, and the list goes on and on,” Barvinek said. “The clean-up work is actually only just beginning,” she said, “but our association will be there to rebuild, refurbish, remodel and remain united until the job is done, many, many months from now.” Other areas in the state are also struggle to return to some form of normalcy and will undoubtedly feel the effects of the flooding for some time. Unlike most states, Iowa began the year without many money worries, in part because farmers were prospering from high corn and soybean prices. “Storm damage will have long-term effects, not only economically,” said Flora Schmidt, executive officer of the Home Builders Association of Iowa. “The usual activities of HBAs will take back seat to the current crisis, with members physically and emotionally exhausted” in the immediate aftermath of the floods. Schmidt produced a one page checklist of key tips for HBA members on steps they can take to help their businesses and community recover from the disaster. Initial damage estimates in Iowa have topped $3 billion. Project CRAFT Training Draws Housing Industry SupportThe Home Builders Institute's award-winning program for adjudicated youth — Project CRAFT (Community, Restitution, Apprenticeship-Focused Training) — continues to move forward in preparing young trainees for careers in the home building industry. Along with HBI trustee Bill Paul, representatives from the program’s site in Orlando met recently with Beth McGee, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando, to increase the awareness of local builder members of Project CRAFT as a training resource in their community. The HBA said that it will be providing coverage of the next CRAFT graduation in its member publication, and future graduations will be held at its headquarters. On May 30, Project CRAFT/Orlando graduated six students. Five of them are under 18 years old and have returned to school to earn GED diplomas before entering the workforce. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Orange County Public Schools and the Orlando Sentinel, which covered the event and is currently working on a follow-up story on the graduates. “We are excited to have the local HBA involved with Project CRAFT in any capacity and look forward to working with them in the future,” said Paul. “These builders will have the opportunity to see the great work Project CRAFT is doing and establish a direct pipeline to a future workforce.” First Graduating Class in Hartford Project CRAFT/Hartford, Conn. had its first graduating class in May. The Hartford program was established in 2007 through a partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and a grant from the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The University of Connecticut and NIH are monitoring the progress of students in the program and comparing their progress with the performance of non-CRAFT students. The inaugural graduation ceremony was held at a community center in downtown Hartford and was attended by members of the Department of Children and Families and Court Support Service Division. In a keynote address, Clarence Corbin, Hartford’s director of public works, cited “the important role of facilities maintenance personal” and encouraged the young graduates to apply for jobs with the city. Project CRAFT has been recognized by members of the U.S. Congress as a model intervention program for adjudicated youth, and its graduates average an 85% job placement rate. HBI, the workforce development arm of NAHB, operates Project CRAFT training programs at nine sites in Connecticut, Florida and Tennessee. For more information on Project CRAFT, e-mail Dennis Torbett at HBI, or call him at 800-795-7955 x8908.
Home Builders Institute Offers New Program to Teach English to Spanish Speakers
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. Bose and Rinnai Show ‘Cool’ New Products at PCBCRinnai’s LS Series of tankless water heaters and the Bose Lifestyle BUILD-INvisible home entertainment system were among the home building industry’s 15 “Coolest New Products” exhibited at last month’s PCBC in San Francisco. PCBC’s Cool Products contest has been held for the past six years to identify products that have a certain “cool” factor that makes builders and home owners take notice. More than 600 exhibitors market their products at PCBC, which is the largest tradeshow for the housing industry on the West Coast. The winners are selected by PCBC attendees, including builders, architects, designers and other professionals. With a Lifestyle BUILT-INvisible system from Bose, most of the usual elements — wires, amplifiers, the module and even the speakers themselves — can be completely hidden within the framework of the home. Rather than a menu of separate components, Bose offers home builders and remodelers complete systems packages that are pre-engineered to work together. This eliminates the need for any time-consuming analysis by the builder, and home owners can avoid having to review confusing options. Home owners can choose where they want sound, indoors and out, with control in the palm of their hand. Customers can enjoy a custom home theater sound whatever the floor plan. The system evaluates a room’s acoustics, including its dimensions and furniture placement, and can adjust the sound accordingly. Premium systems store up to 340 CDs, and smart technology learns musical tastes as people listen and automatically plays the selections they want to hear. For a previous NBN story on the Rinnai Series tankless water heaters, click here. Both Bose and Rinnai are members of the National Council of the Housing Industry — The Leading Suppliers of NAHB. This feature is solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on this page should be construed as policy, an endorsement, warranty or guaranty by the National Association of Home Builders of the featured product or the product manufacturer. The National Association of Home Builders expressly disclaims any responsibility for any damages arising from the use, application or reliance on any information contained on this page. 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. Glunt Scholar Timothy Mueller Interns as NAHB Law Clerk
Mueller, who studied architecture and engineering as an undergraduate at Penn State and earned a graduate degree in architectural engineering, became a summer intern at NAHB after completing his first year of law school at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Mueller, who is from a family of builders, said he wants to enrich his legal education with a more in-depth understanding of construction law during his internship. “While in school, I knew that NAHB was a large organization that you could belong to, but I didn’t fully understand how it related to individual builders. It isn’t like a company that a builder would work for,” Muller said, adding that the internship is giving him deeper insight of NAHB’s role in the industry. “I now understand all the different ways that NAHB helps its members that I never even thought about before ― like advocacy, membership services and all the work that goes into the International Builders’ Show,” Mueller said. The Glunt scholarship, named for the 1993 NAHB president who is also a trustee and former chairman of the endowment, provides financial assistance to undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Engineering at Penn State who have a special interest in housing. Mueller said he hopes to use his law degree to become an advocate for builders and to work in preventative contracting. He wants to create sound contracts that will protect builders and contractors alike from costly legal fees as a result of vague agreements. He also said he is interested in the legal aspects of land development and legislative support and looks forward to helping the industry achieve success in furthering its goals of producing quality, efficient and affordable housing. “Tim Mueller was a wonderful student in the Penn State College of Engineering. He was also a fine and very effective president of the NAHB Student Chapter at Penn State,” said Glunt. “The Glunt fellowship that Tim earned was a great investment in a fine young man from our hometown of Pittsburgh and an investment by the housing industry in our future,” Glunt added. “I am very pleased that he is now in law school and excited to know that he is a summer intern at NAHB. He will make a difference in our industry.” About Endowment Scholarship Programs The endowment administers 12 scholarship programs and awards more than $350,000 each year to students pursuing careers in residential construction and related fields. For more information, visit the endowment Web site at www.nationalhousingendowment.org. HBAs: Apply for NAHB/NOD Disability Initiative AwardState and local home builders assocations are invited to enter the 2008 NAHB/NOD Disability Initiative Recognition Awards program. The award, conducted in partnership with the National Organization on Disability (NOD) and the National Housing Endowment, recognizes outstanding examples of programs, projects and activities conducted by HBAs that further the goal of full participation of people with disabilities in community life. Entries are due by Sept. 2. The winner will be announced at the 2009 International Builders Show in Las Vegas in January. The winning HBA will receive $1,000. To Apply For more information and an application, click here, or e-mail Ariel Moyer at NAHB or call her 800-368-5242 x8595. Save $25 on Hertz ‘Green,’ ‘Fun’ or ‘Prestige’ Weekly RentalsNAHB members can save $25 on weekly rentals of Hertz “Green,” “Fun” or “Prestige” collection vehicles in the U.S. No blackout dates apply. All collection vehicles can be reserved by make and model. Fun vehicles include SIRIUS Satellite Radio. Green Collection vehicles are fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly. Prestige vehicles include NeverLost® in-car satellite navigation. For information about this offer and Hertz collection vehicles, click here. For information on special NAHB member savings with how NAHB members can join Hertz #1 Club Gold® with the fee waived for the first year (a $60 value), click here. 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 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. Save 10% With Office Depot Large-Format Printing ServicesNAHB members can save an additional 10% off their Member Advantage discounted prices through Thursday, 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 the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Willams Scotsman Offers $1.99 First-Month Storage ContainerThrough July 31, Williams Scotsman is offering 20- and 40-foot storage containers at $1.99 first month’s rent with a three-month minimum lease to NAHB members — plus a free door lock rental with each unit. The storage container deal is in addition to Williams Scotsman’s NAHB member discount of one month free rent — up to $500 ― for each mobile office, storage container or specialty trailer leased for six months or longer. For more information, call Williams Scotsman at 877-884-4065, or visit www.willscot.com/storage. 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 the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. GM $500 Private Offer: Easy as 1-2-3Receiving $500 towards the purchase or lease of most new GM vehicles, whether for business or personal use, is now as easy as one, two, three. Follow these simple steps to get your GM authorization number and turn it in at your GM dealer for your $500 discount. The $500 NAHB private offer may be combined with most current GM incentives: One: Create a username and password.
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 the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Sign Up for ‘Spokesperson Training’ Sessions at Fall Board
Leaders of local and state home builders associations and their members have an opportunity to learn the latest interviewing and public speaking techniques through NAHB’s “Spokesperson Training” program during the association's fall board of directors meeting in San Diego in September. Dates for “Interview Skills” and “Presentation Skills” have been set and members can register securely online with a credit card for one or both of the popular training sessions on the NAHB Web site. The program includes two different one-day seminars:
Session Schedules:
Interview Skills and Presentation Skills cost $495 per person for each one-day seminar. More than 15,000 NAHB leaders have taken Spokesperson Training since the program began in 1979. For more information or to register, e-mail Brooke Fishel in NAHB Public Affairs, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8061. Calendar of Events
Learn More About Upcoming Conferences and Designations Interested in attending a University of Housing conference or learning more about NAHB designation programs? Visit www.nahb.org/notifyme, and sign up to receive more information.
Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips 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.- |