Nation's Building News Online: September 22, 2008Print All Articles Text Version |
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Solution to Calm Financial Storm Centers on Housing
At the fall meeting this week of the association’s board of directors in San Diego, addressing the turmoil in the financial markets, which reached grave proportions with the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers on Sept. 15 and the bailout of insurance giant AIG on the following day, is expected to be the overriding concern. Restoring the nation’s housing market to full health from one of the most difficult cyclical downturns in living memory was already at the top of the agenda as the association prepared to deliberate in California. With the dramatic succession of events over the past several weeks — including the federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — restoring the housing finance system itself will be a leading topic of discussion among the directors. Noting that the outcome of negotiations in Washington this week holds profound consequences for the American economy, NAHB President Sandy Dunn promised to lend the association’s expertise wherever it is needed in the difficult period that lies ahead. In a Sept. 19 statement, NAHB Executive Vice President and CEO Jerry Howard urged the U.S. government to get out in front of the collapse in confidence that has afflicted the financial markets by addressing its origins in the housing industry. Going to the Root Causes “Policymakers realize the root causes — falling home prices, mounting foreclosures and a frozen credit market — must be addressed now,” Howard said. “The plan being developed must get to the heart of the problem to successfully stabilize mortgage markets and home prices and restore confidence in global financial markets,” he said. “Ensuring that credit-worthy home buyers, builders and other small businesses have access to credit is absolutely essential to putting this economy back on track.” On Friday, Sept. 19, Dunn informed the NAHB Executive Board that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, in consultation with the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission, was meeting on Capitol Hill to present a “troubled asset relief program” in which the federal government would purchase problem mortgage loans from current holders through an operation similar to the Homeowners Loan Corporation that was established for a similar purpose in the 1930s. “The purchased loans ultimately would be re-sold by the government with the intent of minimizing costs to the tax payers,” she said. “Some are labeling the plan an RTC-like operation, but the key difference in the current proposal is that the assets will be purchased from ongoing institutions. RTC disposed of assets from failed or restructured institutions." Comments from Sec. Paulson “revealed a dramatic shift in focus in the Administration’s approach to addressing the financial system turmoil,” said Dunn. “First, he stated the need to move from a case-by-case approach to more comprehensive action. Second, his statement contained strong language on the need to address the root cause of the problem — illiquid mortgage assets — rather than simply continuing to prop up troubled institutions.” “As illiquid mortgage assets block the system, the clogging of our financial markets has the potential to have significant effects on our financial system and our economy,” she quoted Paulson. “What began as a sub-prime lending problem has spread to other, less-risky mortgages, and contributed to excess home inventories that have pushed down home prices for responsible home owners.” The secretary, Dunn said, “went on to note that ‘these troubled loans are now parked, or frozen, on the balance sheets of banks and other financial institutions, preventing them from financing productive loans. The inability to determine their worth has fostered uncertainty about mortgage assets, and even about the financial condition of the institutions that own them.’” Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Under New Control While it is far too early to tell how the larger economic events now unfolding will impact housing, there have been promising signs in recent weeks that home sales are near, or have reached, bottom, setting the stage for an eventual recovery in production next year (See “Eye on the Economy” by NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders in this issue.) In the two weeks since Sec. Paulson announced on Sept. 7 that he was handing control over Fannie and Freddie to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, mortgage interest rates have been moving down significantly. For the week ending on Thursday, Sept. 18, Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaging 5.78%, down from 5.93% the previous week and 6.34% a year earlier. This brought the rate to its lowest level since mid-February, when it averaged 5.72%. Mortgage rates have been declining for five straight weeks and have fallen about three-quarters of a percentage point, although the effects of the decline so far have been most pronounced in applications for refinancings, which surged 122% since Aug. 15, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Builders have received further reason for optimism about the financial markets through recent assurances that the federal government is working to strengthen Fannie and Freddie. Dunn noted that Sec. Paulson announced some immediate steps to improve mortgage and financial market conditions by having the two mortgage giants increase their purchases of mortgage-backed securities as part of their ongoing mission to support mortgage market liquidity. “In addition, to further boost mortgage market liquidity, the secretary said Treasury will expand its recently announced program to purchase mortgage-backed securities backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,” said Dunn. “Reports are that this will involve a doubling of the program from $5 to $10 billion.” Top association economist Seiders said that he has been pleased with how the Bush Administration has dealt with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and he predicted this would promote market stability and help the housing markets recover. However, Seiders said that policymakers should be doing more to promote the home buyer tax credit and foreclosure relief provisions in the recently enacted landmark housing bill as a means to shore up consumer confidence in the housing market. NAHB builder members have been directing their customers to comprehensive information on the tax credit through the association’s special Web site — www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com. (Click here to see a related story in this week’s issue of NBN.) Addressing the Housing Credit Crunch The long-term implications of the federal government’s control of Fannie and Freddie and the role of these institutions under a new Administration and with a new Congress is being reviewed by the NAHB Housing Finance Task Force, which held its first meeting in Chicago last week. Moving forward, the task force has been charged with developing a series of policy recommendations on how best to restore the vitality of the nation’s housing finance system. Home builders have not only had to grapple with the emergence of a more conservative lending environment for their prospective customers, but over the past year they have had to deal with an escalating crunch in the availability of credit for sound residential construction projects, many of which are ongoing and have been jeopardized by the retreat of established lenders. On an ongoing basis, NAHB has been surveying its membership to compile information on the full extent of the AD&C credit crisis and it has been advising decision makers in Washington of the urgent need to address this component of the housing credit crisis, which has the potential to delay the industry recovery that is expected to materialize in 2009. Nation's Building News Will Not Be Published Sept. 29Nation's Building News will not be published on Sept. 29. Regular weekly publication will resume Oct. 6. Soft Remodeling Market Looks Good to Home BuildersEven with the remodeling industry in the midst of its most challenging cyclical downturn since the early 1980s, a substantial number of home builders are diversifying into the home improvement and maintenance market, making the competition for jobs even tougher, according to remodelers attending the Sept. 9-12 Remodeling Show in Baltimore. Home owner improvements, the key segment of the remodeling sector, were falling at a 4% annual rate by the end of last year, and that decline is expected to accelerate to a 9% pace by the end of this year and 11% during the first quarter of 2009, according to Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Baker said that the industry is likely to register further declines in 2009, averaging in the mid to upper single digits for the year as a whole, “unless the economy takes a turn for the better very quickly,” which appeared anything but certain in the week following the show when the U.S. financial markets suffered the worst tribulations yet of the ongoing credit crunch. But home builders have been drawn to remodeling because the business has been holding up fairly well compared to residential construction and sales, which have taken a beating in many parts of the country, particularly on the single-family side. Green remodeling and modifications to homes to enable residents to age in place are two niches where demand appears to have been holding up better than average in today’s soft marketplace. From a peak production rate at the beginning of 2006, single-family starts have now declined by about 65% and have a bit further to fall, flattening out toward the end of this year or in early 2009, said Gopal Ahluwalia, NAHB’s vice president for research. By comparison, today’s remodeling slump is expected to result in a decline of 15% to 20% from peak to trough, Baker said, reducing volume to roughly the level of 2005. “Remodeling grew 40% in the last cycle,” he said, “and will lose one-third to half of that back.” Sole Income From Remodeling In a recent NAHB survey of remodelers for the Remodeling Market Index (RMI), a quarterly gauge of conditions in the industry, 84% of those polled reported that they were seeing more home builders diversifying into remodeling, Ahluwalia said. Half of the association’s builder members are now undertaking remodeling jobs, Ahluwalia said, and once they have successfully diversified — a process that is not risk-free — they are unlikely to abandon this new sideline once the housing market regains its strength because they want to be prepared to weather the next down cycle when it inevitably arrives. Ahluwalia said one diversified custom builder commented in the survey that, “I haven’t sold one home in the last 12 months; my only income is from remodeling.” Although the RMI has drifted below 50 for three consecutive quarters, the level that is the dividing line between what’s considered good and what’s bad, Ahluwalia said that a solid third of survey respondents have been positive in their comments. Those in the industry who have been looking on the bright side say that they are still finding enough lower-priced jobs to stay reasonably healthy even though requests for larger projects in the range of $20,000 and higher are significantly down. However, for many of the remodelers who had made those larger assignments their stock in trade in the years leading up to the downturn, the abundance of smaller-scale work is providing cold comfort. Finding New Business Alan Hanbury, Jr., for instance, whose four-employee full-service company House of Hanbury Builders n Newington, Conn. rang up $1.5 million in business last year, complained that large projects in his area have dried up, and that’s his biggest problem. “We have lots of little work,” he said, “but that’s not the way we’re set up.” With sales typically down by one-quarter in the remodeling industry at this time, remodelers participating in a town hall discussion with Remodeling Show attendees told moderator Tom Swartz, of the J.J. Swartz Company in Decatur and Bloomington, Ill., that they have had to step up efforts to bring in new business. “We are swinging hammers in the field,” said Hanbury. His company is also banking on the reputation it has established over the years, and focusing on the base of 3,100 clients it has served. “Ramp up your Web site,” he suggested. “Make it more user-friendly for getting information.” Even in good times, customer referrals are an essential component of the remodeling industry, and Ahluwalia said that his surveys have found that 96% of remodelers rely upon them. Michael Anschel, president of the Otogawa-Anschel Design Build in Minneapolis, said that he currently is devoting about 5% of sales to marketing. He brought in $2.8 million last year and hopes to eventually grow to $5 million or more. Only about 10% of his marketing budget is being spent on print advertising, with the bulk — 80% — being targeted to past clients through blogging and networking with their families and invitations to showcase houses, dinner parties and the like. Anschel said he isn’t using direct mail, and in general he tries to “avoid things leading to small projects.” Hanbury questioned the advisability of cutting prices to survive the current decline in remodeling. “It’s counterintuitive to lower prices when you have less volume,” he said, adding that low-balling should scare prospective customers away, because they can figure that the contractor is cutting corners to get the job done at a rock-bottom price. Robert Criner, of Criner Construction Company in Yorktown, Va., said that his $2 million-a-year company emphasizes value and charges accordingly. When home owners are looking for bids, “we’re usually the most expensive contractor in there,” he said, stressing his strengths and the weaknesses of the competition in order to land the contract. That approach, Criner said, has worked well through thick and thin. “For the last four to five years, we have always had a backlog of business,” he said, and projections for 2009 look firm. Likewise, Anschel said that his business is already booked six months to a year out, but he is trying to bolster his sales by offering services to remodeling peers and working with architects. Over the longer haul, both Baker and Ahluwalia indicated they have high expectations for the remodeling industry. For years, industry analysts have been predicting that remodeling would close the gap in dollar volume with housing construction, but that goal has proved elusive. But looking at the increasing average age of the nation’s existing housing stock and the demographic patterns supporting spending on remodeling, Baker suggested that the two sides of the housing industry may approach parity in a matter of years. Proceeding at an average annual growth rate of almost 4% once it recovers, remodeling volume should rise to $402 billion by 2015, closing in on that year’s projected $455 billion worth of new construction, he said. Looking at a similar timeframe, Ahluwalia said that remodeling could actually exceed residential construction. For more information on remodeling resources available from NAHB, e-mail Kelly Mack, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8451. Fire Official Surge Sweeps Sprinkler Mandate to VictoryFire sprinkler mandates will be part of the 2009 International Residential Code and will be required in all one- and two-family homes and townhouses that build to the code as of Jan. 1, 2011. The sudden — and controversial — arrival on Saturday of 900 fire officials eligible to vote at the International Code Council's final action hearings in Minneapolis swelled the number of sprinkler proponents and the measure was approved by a vote of 1,283 to 470 on Sunday morning. In other business, voting members disapproved the so-called “30% Solution” from a coalition of insulation and window manufacturers that would have significantly revised the International Energy Conservation Code. The votes were split on a number of wall bracing proposals. About 1,200 voting devices were turned in immediately after the residential fire sprinkler mandate was approved, suggesting that most of the proponents left immediately after the vote was taken. “We welcome the insight and experience that fire officials bring to the code development process because our model codes are focused on life safety issues,” said James “Andy” Anderson, chair of the NAHB Construction, Codes and Standards Committee. “However, it seems clear that these particular officials were focused on one issue only — residential fire sprinkler mandates — without any benefit of perspective regarding how such mandates jibe with the hundreds of other code proposals considered at this hearing. That’s unfortunate, because such reasoned discussion is what the model code process was designed to accomplish.” The residential fire sprinkler mandates will provide a sizable financial boon for the fire sprinkler manufacturing industry, which, like NAHB, helped provide funding for building officials to attend the hearings. In 2005, when there were about 1.65 million new homes constructed at an average 2,340 square feet, sprinkler manufacturers would have reaped about $5.8 billion in revenue, based on average sprinkler costs of $1.50 per square foot, had the sprinkler requirement been in effect. NAHB had identified several concerns over residential fire sprinkler systems — among them, questioning whether most home owners are prepared to perform the maintenance required to ensure that the sprinklers remain operational.
Both the American Fire Sprinkler Association and the National Fire Sprinkler Association, two sprinkler industry trade groups, offer training programs for residential sprinkler installation and certification. Because there is only a limited number of subcontractors who are certified, the sprinkler requirement will appear in the 2009 International Residential Code but not take effect until 2011, giving the industry three years to prepare. In other final hearing action:
Many Find Success in Volatile Housing MarketBad news about the housing market is almost a daily occurrence, but it’s not all doom and gloom out there. Many real estate agents, builders, buyers and sellers are anxious to talk about their success in this volatile market. Judy Sanaiha, co-owner of Tempe, Ariz.-based Palacia Homes, has noticed traffic picking up at her sales offices. The builder has four subdivisions open, including a gated community in Chandler. “In the Chandler community, as an example, it’s not uncommon for me to have 35 to 45 people in a weekend walk through,” she said. “We have 59 homes available in that community, and the traffic has just been phenomenal.” Potential buyers are now tired of waiting, Sanaiha said. Interest rates and prices are dropping, which has left many potential buyers wondering “if I don’t get off that fence, maybe it will be a little bit too late,” she said. Contractors Luis Cruz and Michael Jenkins were raking in the money during the housing boom, building 100 tract homes at a time. When the bubble burst, rather than close up shop, they switched gears and began taking any construction job they could get, including small commercial projects and fix-up jobs in bank-owned homes and custom homes. “Before it was ‘We do this and we do this only,’” Jenkins said. “Now…you can call us whether it’s a broken window on a house…or doing tenant improvements whether it’s a barber shop or someone putting in a coffee shop. You just adapt to what’s there and then you work with it.” (www.eastvalleytribune.com)
‘Board-Up’ Guys See Boom in Housing BustJason Norton, a 27-year-old contractor in the San Francisco Bay area, knows how to handle sophisticated remodeling projects. But these days, instead of installing granite countertops or spa-like master bathrooms, he handles the lowest common denominator of contracting work: boarding up windows with plywood, hauling junk to the dump and visiting color-matching scanners at Home Depot and Lowe’s to identify which exterior color will best cover up graffiti. Norton is working for lenders and banks who have repossessed properties through foreclosure proceedings. “The business has picked up quite a bit,” says Norton, who began taking on “board-up” jobs in 2006 and now handles five to 10 jobs a week. “Banks can’t just let properties sit there.” Bank-repossessed homes accounted for about 17% of all U.S. homes for sale as of June, according to monthly estimates by RealtyTrac. The actual number of bank-owned homes could be higher, since some are not formally listed for sale, as lenders hold on to them hoping the market will improve. Rick Sharga, senior vice president at RealtyTrac, says that under normal market conditions a lender will put a repossessed property onto the market within 30 days of foreclosure. Now, he says, the market is so backed up that some repossessed homes take as long as 11 months to hit the market. (www.msnbc.com)
Senior Housing Still StrongSenior housing continues to be one of the bright spots in Minneapolis-St. Paul’s sluggish residential construction market. Work on one complex began last week and developers recently announced plans for another. Bloomington-based United Properties has begun construction of Applewood Pointe of Winona, a 42-unit cooperative housing complex for people 55 and older that is expected to be completed next summer. The four-acre, $8 million complex includes amenities such as heated underground parking, a common room with a large kitchen that can be used for parties, a craft room, a game room and an Internet café-style library. About 57% of the units, priced from $150,000 to $300,000, have been sold. Meanwhile, the Goodman Group of Chaska announced plans to build a 150-unit seniors housing development adjacent to a golf course. Amenities will include casual and fine dining facilities, a bank, a billiard room, pub, library, computer center, boutique shopping area and an indoor park with a stage. Clinical services and a holistic fitness and wellness center will also be available. (www.startribune.com)
7,500 Reasons to Buy a HomeTwo big-ticket purchases are coming up for Spencer Craven and his fiancee. They’re buying a townhome and having a wedding. Which will cost them more this year? “Oh, I don’t know,” Craven said with a laugh. “I’ll let you know after it’s done.” But he is certain that the recently enacted $7,500 federal tax credit for first-time home buyers has gone a long way toward making it possible to purchase a Pulte Homes townhome in Bartram Park in the Jacksonville, Fla. market and also stage a memorable wedding. “We’re getting married in April, so getting that tax credit right before our wedding was a decisive factor,” he said. Signed into law last month by President Bush as part of a bigger housing bill, the federal tax credit is aimed at luring fence-sitting home buyers back into the real estate market. (www.jacksonville.com)
More ‘Green’ False Advertising Claims Will Be Brought, Lawyers PredictThe increase in companies’ claims about “green” products and services and consumers’ growing concern for the environment will drive more enforcement and litigation in the area, several lawyers predict. The Federal Trade Commission is revising its environmental marketing guidelines, and the Better Business Bureau’s National Advertising Division, the industry’s self-regulating body, has already started to see more cases. “The proliferation of environmental marketing claims is growing,” said Robert S. Huie, a litigation associate in the San Francisco office of Latham & Watkins. “I think we’ll see an increase in private suites because frankly, juries are going to be more receptive to weeding out claims that are deceptive or not informative.” Green marketing claims are already playing a growing role at the National Advertising Division (NAD), which reviews about 150 cases a year. More products are being reformulated to be environmentally friendly and there are more companies challenging competitors’ green claims, said Andrea Levine, the division’s director. In a recent case, for example, NAD agreed with Panasonic’s claims that its plasma televisions are free of lead and mercury but recommended the company discontinue claims that its televisions are “environmentally friendly.” (www.nlj.com)
That Sucking Sound Isn’t the Sink DisposalFall is a good time for home owners to re-evaluate their energy use and do some cost-saving home improvements, says Calli Schmidt, NAHB’s environmental communications director. Among her suggestions, residents may want to beef up their insulation because, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes can lose up to 60% of their heating through areas where insulation or ducting is inadequate. Environmentally friendly insulation such as blown-in cellulose is recommended, and the water heater and pipes should be covered, too. Home owners should use caulk, new weatherstripping or a spray foam to patch cracks and openings around the house that let in cold air. Checking to determine that the HVAC system is the correct size is also a good idea. If the unit is too big it won’t perform the way it should and it will cost more to operate. Programmable thermostats that cost $40 to $100 but save the average home 10% to 15% on energy bills are also a wise investment. (www.denverpost.com)
Tax Credit Moves First-Timers Off the Fence and Into a HomeAmanda Patterson and her fiancée, Tim Hindley, are the proud owners of their first home in Billings, Mont. “We had been thinking about buying a home for awhile, but the timing never seemed quite right and it just didn't seem we would be able to make it work,” said Patterson. Then Congress passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 on July 26 and President Bush signed it into law on July 30. One provision of the landmark legislation provides a $7,500 tax credit for first-time home buyers. Patterson and Hindley fit the bill perfectly. Up until then, neither had ever owned a home. “I heard about the tax credit when it was still in the early stages of negotiation in Congress, so my fiancée and I decided to start looking at homes,” she said. “The tax credit made a huge difference for us buying a home. We probably would have bought something eventually, but this gave us that extra little push to do it now instead of waiting.” The tax credit amount will go a long way for Patterson and Hindley, who said they are excited at being able to put the tax credit to good use, especially since there are no restrictions on how the money can be spent. “My fiancée’s parents lent us the money for our downpayment, so we are going to use the tax credit money to pay them back,” said Patterson. “The rest we will either put into savings or use for our wedding, which will probably be in April or May 2009.” In a news teleconference held on Aug. 4, NAHB President Sandy Dunn said that first-time home buyers make up about 40% of the housing market. “They don’t have a home to sell and they bring demand to the market. As more than two million anticipated first-time buyers enter the market and claim the credit, this will stimulate buying further up the housing ladder,” she said. Patterson and her fiancée are just two of the more than two million who are expected to benefit from the first-time home buyer tax credit. But for her, it felt like the credit was tailor-made. More information about the first-time home buyer tax credit, including frequently asked questions, can be found at www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com.
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. Education sessions and panel discussions will cover such topics as leveraging the economic stimulus package, advanced immigration case studies, the latest trends in inclusionary zoning, NAHB’s Green Building Standard, honing home builders association political operations, a 2009 legislative preview and lobbying fundamentals. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/SLGAConference. Housing Starts Decline Further in AugustHousing starts declined 6.2% in August to an annual pace of 895,000 units as home builders continued to slow new construction in order to pare down their unsold inventories and help pave the way for a cyclical recovery in the home building industry, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department on Sept. 17. “Builders understand that there is still a substantial amount of unsold inventory to be worked down, and they continue to do the right thing by reducing production and pulling fewer permits for new homes to help restore better balance between supply and demand,” noted NAHB President Sandy Dunn. “With help from the new first-time home buyer tax credit and improving interest rates on home mortgages, the long downswing in production activity is slowly but surely putting us back on track to a healthy housing market,” she said. “Our latest builder surveys have indicated a substantial improvement in builders’ sales expectations for the next six months, in part because of the newly enacted tax credit,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. “Meanwhile,” Seiders said, “the government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the ongoing turmoil on Wall Street actually have produced downward pressures on key home mortgage rates, which should also help get more buyers to the table. But until sales have clearly turned the corner, it’s very important that builders continue the process of pulling in the reins on new production, which is exactly what they are doing and is right in line with our forecast,” he said. “NAHB continues to project a stabilization of new-home sales in the final quarter of 2008, which should, in turn, allow production to begin a slow and steady recovery by the second quarter of 2009,” Seiders said. The rate of housing production in August was the slowest since January 1991. Single-family starts fell 1.9% to 630,000 units, while multifamily starts — still evening out after a huge bump in June tied to a New York City building code change — declined 15.1% to 265,000 units. Two of the nation’s four regions posted double-digit declines in housing starts for August — the Midwest, down 13.6%, and the Northeast, off 14.5%. Starts were down 7.4% in the South but up 10.8% in the West, where they had posted an equivalent decline in July. Permit issuance, which can be an indicator of future building activity, also fell to a 17-year low in August. Permits fell 8.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 854,000 units, with single-family permits dropping 5.1% to 554,000 units and multifamily permits down 15% to 300,000 units. On a regional basis, permits fell 21% in the Northeast, 9.9% in the South and 7.1% in the West. Permit issuance edged up by 0.7% in the Midwest. Attend the NAHB Construction Forecast Conference on Oct. 22 Don't miss NAHB's 2008 Fall Construction Forecast Conference and Webcast for the latest economic news about the housing industry. Join NAHB on Oct. 22 in Washington, D.C., where the country’s leading economists and finance experts will provide insight into the uncertainties of the housing market. To register for the conference or Webcast, and to see the full conference agenda, visit www.nahb.org/cfc. Want to Know the Housing Forecast for the Top 100 Metros? Find out in HousingEconomic.com’s 2008 to 2009 Metro Forecast (free preview). Get the metro forecast with in-depth analysis, overviews and downloadable Excel tables. To learn more, visit www.HousingEconomics.com. Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips to Navigate the Slowdown What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn. To help members navigate the uncharted waters of this slowdown, NAHB has compiled a comprehensive “Back to Basics” online toolkit — the best of the basics, the tried and true and the truly new. To access the toolkit, click here. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Builders More Confident About Single-Family Sales OutlookBuilder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes has risen for the first time in seven months this September, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released on Sept. 16. The HMI was at 18, rising two points from its record low of the previous two months. “Builders have several reasons to be more optimistic at this time,” noted NAHB President Sandy Dunn. “Many are sensing that home sales are nearing a turning point with the support of the newly enacted first-time home buyer tax credit. Meanwhile, with the government’s explicit backing of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now assured, this should help keep mortgage rates at very favorable levels going forward.” In the week following the Treasury Department's announcement that it was placing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship, the average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell below 6% for the first time in several months. Market responses to the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy filing and the purchase of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America subsequently put additional downward pressure on prime conforming mortgage rates. “Nearly half of the builders in our September survey indicated that they expect to see a positive impact from the tax credit in their market areas,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. “Of those respondents, 20% said their market has already experienced some of this effect. Meanwhile, consumer confidence has risen and more households are saying that now is a good time to buy a home. All of these factors, along with the recent downward movements in mortgage rates, suggest that new-home sales will be stabilizing in the final quarter of the year.” Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for more than 20 years, the HMI gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales, sales expectations for the next six months and the traffic of prospective buyers. Scores for each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor. All three of the HMI’s component indexes registered gains in September, with current sales conditions and traffic of prospective buyers each up a single point, to 17 and 14, respectively. The index gauging sales expectations rose by six points, to 30, which was four points higher than its year-earlier level. All regions of the country showed improvement in the September HMI, with the Midwest, South and West each up two points, to 15, 22 and 12, respectively, and the Northeast posting a six-point gain to 22. Attend the NAHB Construction Forecast Conference on Oct. 22 Don't miss NAHB's 2008 Fall Construction Forecast Conference and Webcast for the latest economic news about the housing industry. Join NAHB on Oct. 22 in Washington, D.C., where the country’s leading economists and finance experts will provide insight into the uncertainties of the housing market. To register for the conference or Webcast, and to see the full conference agenda, visit www.nahb.org/cfc. Want to Know the Housing Forecast for the Top 100 Metros? Find out in HousingEconomic.com’s 2008 to 2009 Metro Forecast (free preview). Get the metro forecast with in-depth analysis, overviews and downloadable Excel tables. To learn more, visit www.HousingEconomics.com. Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips to Navigate the Slowdown What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn. To help members navigate the uncharted waters of this slowdown, NAHB has compiled a comprehensive “Back to Basics” online toolkit — the best of the basics, the tried and true and the truly new. To access the toolkit, click here. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. FHA Downpayments Set to Rise on Jan. 1At the start of the new year, home buyers who use Federal Housing Administration mortgages for their financing will be required to make a higher downpayment, one of many changes to the FHA single-family mortgage program resulting from recent changes in the law. Currently, FHA borrowers are required to make a contribution of 3%, which can be applied toward both the downpayment and closing costs. The current maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratios are 97.75% for loans greater than $125,000 in states and territories that have “high” closing costs and 97.15% in those with “low” closing costs. (For a list of the high and low closing cost locations, click here.) As of Jan. 1, FHA home buyers will have to make a cash contribution of 3.5%, and the new law makes no mention of “closing costs.” In Mortgagee Letter 2008-23, the FHA has interpreted this change to mean that closing costs will no longer be factored into the mortgage/downpayment calculation. The maximum mortgage amount under the new law is calculated by applying 96.5% to the lesser of either the appraiser’s estimate of value or the contract price for the property. Sellers will still be permitted to provide financing concessions up to 6% of the sales price (or value, if less), which can include closing costs. Other inducements to purchase must be deducted from the sales price or value, as appropriate, in calculating the maximum mortgage amount and downpayment. Here is a comparison of the downpayment requirements under the current and under the new law for a home in a “high” closing cost state, assuming that the appraised value is at least equal to the sales price:
For more information, e-mail Bill Renner at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8597. Attend the NAHB Construction Forecast Conference on Oct. 22 Don't miss NAHB's 2008 Fall Construction Forecast Conference and Webcast for the latest economic news about the housing industry. Join NAHB on Oct. 22 in Washington, D.C., where the country’s leading economists and finance experts will provide insight into the uncertainties of the housing market. To register for the conference or Webcast, and to see the full conference agenda, visit www.nahb.org/cfc. Want to Know the Housing Forecast for the Top 100 Metros? Find out in HousingEconomic.com’s 2008 to 2009 Metro Forecast (free preview). Get the metro forecast with in-depth analysis, overviews and downloadable Excel tables. To learn more, visit www.HousingEconomics.com. Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips to Navigate the Slowdown What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn. To help members navigate the uncharted waters of this slowdown, NAHB has compiled a comprehensive “Back to Basics” online toolkit — the best of the basics, the tried and true and the truly new. To access the toolkit, click here. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Eye on the Economy: Housing Demand Beginning to StabilizeThe heady 3.3% growth in real gross domestic product (GDP) that has been reported by the Commerce Department for the second quarter of the year was a temporary — and somewhat suspicious — bounce. Some sectors of the economy, particularly consumer spending, have been weakening since mid-year, and overall GDP growth is bound to weaken in the second half of this year. We still expect positive growth in the third quarter, but we anticipate small negatives in the fourth quarter and in the first quarter of 2009 as well. NAHB’s economic outlook, if realized, certainly keeps alive the chances for an official recession “call” by the Business Cycle Dating Committee at the National Bureau of Economic Research. We currently estimate the probability of official recession within the 2008-2009 period at roughly 60%, although we expect the setback to be mild by historical standards. The Job Market Provides Clear Evidence of Economic Deterioration The job market has been weakening systematically since late last year and there’s certainly more to come. Payroll employment fell by another 84,000 in August, bringing the cumulative loss since last December to 605,000. Furthermore, the unemployment rate jumped by 0.4% to 6.1% in August, compared with the cyclical low of 4.4% reached last March. We expect payroll employment to continue downward through the first quarter of 2009 at roughly the same average pace that was registered during the first eight months of this year. We also expect the unemployment rate to gravitate upward further, topping out around 6.3% by the third quarter of 2009. These profiles are reasonably consistent with mild recessionary conditions in the U.S. economy. The Inflation Situation Is Looking Better Growing slack in labor markets inevitably puts downward pressure on labor costs in the business sector, and unit labor cost traditionally has been the key driver of core consumer price inflation in the U.S. economy (excluding direct energy and food prices). NAHB’s forecast shows a slowdown in both top-line and core inflation over the balance of this year and in 2009, an expectation that’s shared by policymakers at the Federal Reserve. Carnage on Wall Street Reaches Extraordinary Proportions The financial markets have endured successive rounds of extraordinary volatility for more than a year. The trigger was the meltdown of the subprime mortgage market that began early last year, and mortgage credit problems have expanded and multiplied as other components of the mortgage market (including Alt-A and prime) have been drawn in — within an environment of declining house prices. The result has been a massive write-down of portfolios of mortgages and private mortgage-backed securities, decimating capital positions at a number of large, highly-leveraged financial institutions. The most recent round of turmoil includes the Sept. 7 federal takeover of the secondary-market GSEs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Sept. 14 bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the federally-encouraged purchase of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America, and the Sept. 16 Federal Reserve “rescue” of the American International Group (AIG). There is naturally rampant speculation about the next major steps being taken by the federal government. The Stampede Toward Credit Quality Drives Down Home Mortgage Rates The silver lining amidst the most recent round of financial market turmoil has been a massive flight to the Treasury securities market and to markets for securities that have strong federal backing, a flight that has driven prices of these investments upward, and their required yields downward. In the mortgage market, the key beneficiaries have been FHA and VA loans that have the backup of the Ginnie Mae-guaranteed securities program, and prime conventional conforming mortgages salable to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — companies that now have had the explicit backing of the federal government since Sept. 7. Rates on these types of mortgages have fallen sharply in the past two weeks, and NAHB’s forecast shows a significantly lower profile of mortgage rates through 2009 than we had expected a month ago. The Fed Holds Monetary Policy Steady — For Now The Federal Reserve held short-term interest rates steady at the Sept. 16 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), keeping the federal funds rate at 2.0% and the discount rate at 2.25%. The unanimous decision disappointed financial markets, in the context of the unprecedented turmoil in domestic and international capital markets. The Sept. 16 FOMC statement highlighted “strains in financial markets” as well as “tight credit conditions,” but the monetary policy decision came down to a traditional assessment of the downside risks to real economic growth, on the one hand, and the upside risks to inflation, on the other — risks that the FOMC apparently considers to be roughly in balance, at least for now. As usual, the FOMC statement said that the policy committee “will monitor economic and financial developments carefully and will act as needed to promote sustainable economic growth and price stability.” We believe that evolving weakness in economic growth, the evolving slowdown in key inflation measures and further tightening of credit market conditions will compel the Fed to ease monetary policy a bit further before the end of the year, and we do not expect the funds rate to move back above 2.0% before the middle of next year. The Housing Market Should Stabilize Before Long The current housing contraction already is the most serious of the entire post-World War II period and includes the kinds of downward price adjustments not seen since the 1930s. But there now are a number of indicators suggesting that housing demand is beginning to stabilize. Furthermore, recently enacted federal policies to support home buying and limit foreclosures, along with the recent declines in home mortgage rates, will help to support housing demand going forward. We expect new-home sales to stabilize in the fourth quarter of this year at a level that’s 63% below the record high registered in the third quarter of 2005. We expect single-family housing starts to bottom out in the first quarter of 2009 at a level that’s 70% below the early-2006 peak. The housing production component of GDP, residential fixed investment (RFI), includes not only production of new single-family homes but also multifamily production, manufactured home shipments, improvements to residential structures and commissions on home sales. RFI will continue to exert a strong drag on GDP growth over the balance of this year. But the drag should diminish by early next year and RFI should convert back into a positive contributor to economic growth by the second quarter of 2009. That pattern is one of the keys to solid economic recovery beginning in 2009. The Longer-Term Housing Outlook is Excellent The trough of this cycle in housing production will be at an extremely low level, compared with our estimate of the longer-term potential for housing production in the U.S. Thus, once off the bottom, the growth potential for the housing market will be tremendous, and we’re looking for strong expansion during the 2010-2012 period as we climb back to sustainable trend levels ― around 1.85 million housing starts. The path back to trend figures to be relatively smooth, and the kind of boom-bust housing cycle we’ve experienced during the past six years certainly is not on the horizon. That boom-bust pattern is traceable to financial market excesses that provoked a violent snap-back, and we hopefully will not see anything like that for a very long time — if ever. 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 Sept. 17 edition. To subscribe to “Eye on the Economy,” click here. Attend the NAHB Construction Forecast Conference on Oct. 22 Don't miss NAHB's 2008 Fall Construction Forecast Conference and Webcast for the latest economic news about the housing industry. Join NAHB on Oct. 22 in Washington, D.C., where the country’s leading economists and finance experts will provide insight into the uncertainties of the housing market. To register for the conference or Webcast, and to see the full conference agenda, visit www.nahb.org/cfc. Want to Know the Housing Forecast for the Top 100 Metros? Find out in HousingEconomic.com’s 2008 to 2009 Metro Forecast (free preview). Get the metro forecast with in-depth analysis, overviews and downloadable Excel tables. To learn more, visit www.HousingEconomics.com. Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips to Navigate the Slowdown What was once expected to be a relatively mild housing slump following three years of record new home construction and sales has given way to a significant downturn. To help members navigate the uncharted waters of this slowdown, NAHB has compiled a comprehensive “Back to Basics” online toolkit — the best of the basics, the tried and true and the truly new. To access the toolkit, click here. To access the “Back to Basics” toolkit, you must be an NAHB member and have a login to www.nahb.org. To create a login, go to www.nahb.org/login or click on the log-in button on the main menu bar. For assistance, call the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242. Get Essential Housing Analysis at Construction Forecast ConferenceDuring the daylong NAHB Fall Construction Forecast Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 22 in Washington, D.C., nationally-recognized housing and economics experts will provide answers to the most critical questions facing the industry today. Panelists at the conference, which will also be presented on a webcast, will discuss key questions including:
The panels include:
To Register Online registration is available through Wednesday, Oct. 8. To register and learn more, visit www.nahb.org/CFC. Can't Attend in Person? Webcast of Conference Also Available For webcast information, visit www.nahb.org/CFC. The purchase price includes unlimited access to the webcast archive for three months and electronic copies of the presentation materials. Useful Links to Monitor Economic and Housing TrendsThe following are links to useful information from government agencies and NAHB that will enable you to monitor the housing market. To access the latest information available, simply click the links.
Don't miss NAHB's 2008 Fall Construction Forecast Conference and Webcast for the latest economic news about the housing industry. Join NAHB on Oct. 22 in Washington, D.C., where the country’s leading economists and finance experts will provide insight into the uncertainties of the housing market. To register for the conference or Webcast, and to see the full conference agenda, visit www.nahb.org/cfc.
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. Home Builders on the Scene in Early Ike Recovery Efforts
The restoration of electricity was a major challenge in a large swath of the area more than a week after the storm pounded the coastline on Sept. 7. The return of the population has been slow, and a comprehensive assessment of the damage, which is extensive, is only in the early stages. Almost 4 million customers were without power. In some of the worst-hit locations, such as Galveston, which were flooded by a powerful storm surge, many home owners now have little, or nothing, to which they can return. NAHB is working with HBAs to provide information that will help communities assess damaged structures, rebuild and address other issues that arise following natural disasters — such as alerting consumers on how to recognize and avoid unscrupulous contractors and hire builders or remodelers who will get the job done. NAHB and the Greater Houston Builders Association have been asked by FEMA to assist in calculating the extent of the damage and to identify factors that caused structural damage to homes. The nation’s home builders will also be working with FEMA to provide educational programs in the hazard-prone areas on new construction techniques based on newer codes and standards that have been developed specifically to deal with wind damage, flooding and other challenges brought under extreme weather conditions. Builders from the Houston HBA were among the building officials, architects, engineers and other construction professionals who were dispatched to the Houston area on Sept. 18 to shortlist buildings and damage areas for further studies. This will provide the basis for recommendations to reduce future damage and property loss in hazardous areas. Forensic engineering investigations will be looking for ways to increase damage resistance through improvements in construction codes and standards, designs, methods and materials used for both new construction and post-disaster repair and recovery. Among the observations that have already been made:
Builders’ Tip: Using a Form to Create Built-Up Crown Molding
Normally, I would build the crown molding by installing each of its elements individually, but my client didn’t decide that he wanted the molding until after he had moved all his expensive furniture into the house. So, to minimize the assembly time in each room ― and any possibility of damaging his furniture ― I decided to assemble the molding beforehand so I could install the assembly as one piece rather than build it up the way I normally do.
I did have one other hurdle to overcome when installing the crown molding this way, however. The room configurations required that the crown molding be installed using quite a few returns and short sections. The prospect of fitting and handling these tiny, brad-nailed pieces was not that appealing. Luckily, my partner suggested that I glue the bed molding and lattice pieces together to create a solid assembly before cutting it to create the returns and short pieces. This made complete sense, so I took several scrap pieces home and marked clear sections between nails. Then I poured epoxy thickened with filler into the gap between the lattice pieces (see image). After cutting the finished molding to length, I safely carved, rasped and sanded each piece for a good fit. — John Michael Davis, New Orleans 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. Last Minute Touches Put on The New American Home
Like the star it is, The New American Home must be ready for magazine, newspaper and publicity photography, industry parties and other demands several months before the show itself. Las Vegas builder Blue Heron is working hard to deliver the home on deadline, said Bill Nolan, chairman of The New American Home Task Force. “They worked through the Labor Day holiday and they just recently finished installing the drywall. Now they are running two shifts to work on a wide range of finish details.” Sponsored by the National Council of the Housing Industry (NCHI) ― The Leading Suppliers of NAHB — and Builder magazine, The New American Home is one of the NAHB’s most successful and visible programs. Equal parts laboratory, educational tool and product showcase, the home incorporates elements such as builders’ best practices, energy efficiency, indoor-air quality, safety, convenience and aesthetics. NCHI and the show home also provide an excellent way to highlight the products of NCHI members. The home was designed by Danielian Associates, of Irvine, Calif. The show home’s unique traits make it a bit of a challenge, said Nolan, president of The Nolan Group, a housing industry consulting firm based in Altamonte Springs, Fla. As an example, Nolan said that Las Vegas building inspectors are seeing materials and building techniques that they are not accustomed to seeing in residential construction. “The residential inspector who was assigned to this house recognized that there were aspects of the home that are outside his area of expertise,” Nolan said. “He actually reached out to the city’s commercial inspectors and asked them to review some of the plans.” “I think the city’s construction inspection team has been impressed with the quality of the plans and the construction, and we’ve been impressed with the inspectors in terms of their knowledge and the effort they have made to learn the details of this very unusual house,” Nolan said. Because the home is as much a laboratory as a showcase, product suppliers are often very involved in the installation of their product ― with engineers and product experts helping to make sure the product is properly applied. One of the first products to go into the home this year were insulating concrete forms (ICFs) provided by Arxx. “We supplied product on an ongoing basis for the basement, and first- and some second-story walls throughout the course of wall construction,” said Randy Daniels, the Arxx West Coast regional manager. “We provided offsite architectural and engineering support with meetings and materials, and we are providing ongoing answer support for related subtrades as they interface with the insulated concrete formwork.” Arxx is involved in the New American Home, Daniels said, because it gives the company the opportunity to show how their product performs. “ICFs are a simple, yet powerful way to build a better world. The value in this program is the opportunity to get this message out and the studies that accompany the home that validate what it is that happens when you build with insulated concrete walls,” Daniels said. While the project is moving along well, Nolan said much work still needs to be completed during the next several weeks. “The toughest challenge from this point on will be all the little finish odds and ends,” he said. “One thing we’ve found in the history of the program is that the builder and the crew are often late to recognize just how much more detailed this home is ― compared to a traditional home.” “We are dealing with a photo shoot on the back end. Everything has to be finished,” Nolan said. “Builders often look at the completion date and think, ‘I need to have everything 95% complete by that date.’ But we don’t have that 5% wiggle room,” Nolan said. With the deadline looming, however, Nolan said Tyler Jones, a principal at Blue Heron who has the lead on The New American Home 2009, and Kris Osterman, the company’s construction supervisor, have the situation under control. “I am confident that they will pull it off — with a lot of push,” Nolan said. Photos of The New American Home under construction:
Register for the 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. Build Home Buyer Appeal With Low-Cost Audio TechnolgyBuilders seeking new ways to move their inventory may want to take a second look at multi-room audio (MRA), an option in tune with the market. But before balking at the cost of installing a full-fledged system in their existing model home, builders can put in a low-cost alternative that will let them gauge consumer interest just as effectively. Multi-room audio has strong consumer appeal that continues to grow. Consumers are expanding and personalizing their digital music libraries so they can enjoy their music in their cars. They want similar technology for their homes so they can play their music in as many rooms as they choose. According to a recent study by the Consumer Electronics Association, 57% of the builders surveyed said that offering and installing multi-room audio systems helped boost their profit potential last year. How to Increase Housing Differentiation for Little Cost
Builders wanting to test the market appeal of a multi-room audio option, but who don't want the expense of putting a full-fledged system in their model, should consider creating a lower-cost system based on iPods and MP3 portable audio players. To create the system, builders will need to install an amplified source input and connect it to an iPod or MP3 dock and in-wall or in-ceiling speakers. Builders won’t have to install a live audio control pad with this system. They can use a blank plate covered by a transparent graphic to represent the control interface. While simple, the system can effectively demonstrate how a full-fledged system would sound in a prospective buyer’s home and make an immediate, “I want that” impact on the home buyer. Builders can make the presentation even more personal by encouraging their prospective home buyers to plug their own iPods and music into the system so they can hear their personal favorites played throughout the model home. This demonstration system is affordable, too. Builders can create it using speakers that cost approximately $200 a pair, an iPod dock for about $50, an amplified in-wall local source input kit for about $125 and a nominal cost for speaker wire and installation.
Multi-room audio systems can generate strong profits and enhance the value and appeal of a home while differentiating it, and the builder, from the competition. Differentiation is key and providing an added experience in the model that the competition lacks just might provide the difference to trigger the sale. David Rodarte is president and chief operating officer of NuVo Technologies LLC, a manufacturer of multi-room audio systems based in Hebron, Ky. Rodarte is the chairman of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Builder Initiative and a board member of CEA TechHome, a consumer-oriented resource to discover the benefits of home technologies. Rodarte also is a member of NAHB’s Home Technology Alliance (HTA). For more information, e-mail Rodarte, call him at 866-79-64904, or visit www.nuvotechnologies.com.
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. 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. Best of 50+ Housing Awards Open for NominationsNAHB is now accepting nominations for its 2009 Best of 50+ Housing Awards, which honor excellence in building, designing and marketing housing for boomers and beyond. “The Best of 50+ Housing Awards is a great opportunity for those serving the 50+ market to showcase their best work,” said 50+ Housing Council Chair Jo Theunissen, a builder from Mt. Pleasant, Mich. “The awards exemplify the most innovative work being produced for the mature market today, and we look forward to recognizing those at the forefront of our industry.” Launched by the NAHB 50+ Housing Council to encourage quality and innovation in the 50+ housing market, the awards are widely considered the most prestigious and influential in the industry. Highlighting innovation, emerging trends and quality housing, the awards showcase the best in active adult and service-enriched communities across the country. Awards are presented in three categories: completed 50+ housing projects, projects in the design or construction process, and marketing efforts. Winners will be recognized at an awards gala held during the Building for Boomers and Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium in Philadelphia on April 27-29. Nominations will be accepted until Dec. 5. To apply for the award or for more details on eligibility requirements and categories, visit www.nahb.org/50plusawards. For more information on the awards program, e-mail Lynn Basso at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8130. Improve Your Focus on the 50+ Market With Publications From BuilderBooks.com The 50+ market provides some great opportunities for builders today. BuilderBooks.com brings together the essential resources for builders seeking to grow their businesses while bringing high-quality product to this demanding, often affluent consumer group that has planned well and is ready to build or buy. BuilderBooks.com also offers publications on customer service so builders can start building strong relationships before breaking ground and turn these experienced consumers into enthusiastic sales people. To view or purchase these and a wide variety of industry publications online, click here or call 800-223-2665. The Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH) designation gives housing professionals serving the rapidly burgeoning 50+ market the essential knowledge, tools and skills that will help them succeed — from conducting initial research to design considerations and features to serving the customer. Find upcoming CAASH classes by clicking here. For more information, call the Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242 x8154 or e-mail CAASHinfo@nahb.com. Pillars Award-Winning Web Site Turns Leads Into LeasesThe 2008 Pillars of the Industry award-winning Web site of The Zenith, a downtown Baltimore rental apartment high-rise, demonstrates how multifamily developers can use the Internet to showcase all their community has to offer and provide apartment-hunting consumers with a fast, convenient resource. With a targeted demographic in mind, Merrick Towle Communications of Beltsville, Md. began with basic elements to develop the site for The Zenith — apartments, amenities, the area and contact information. An image of the building was used as a graphic centerpiece for the site, with interactive links integrated into it. The Web site provides easy access to in-depth information on every page, including features such as 360-degree night and day views of the complex and surrounding area, a walking map blending satellite imagery with pop-up information, and a residents' corner for community updates and information. With the goal of making the Web site as effective as possible, a real-time apartment availability feature was incorporated. Users can scroll over the building and choose any of the residential floors to get a look inside. Close-up views and a virtual furniture arranger are available for every apartment home. Once the desired apartment is found, the prospective renter can reserve the unit in one simple process. The Web site produced the highest lead-to-lease ratio of the various elements of the marketing campaign for The Zenith, which included brochures and advertisements. For a first-hand visit to the Web site of The Zenith, click here. For more information, e-mail Erin Grant at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8577. Enter Pillars of Industry Marketing, Design AwardsEntries are open for the 2009 Pillars of the Industry Awards competition honoring excellence in apartment and condominium design and development — including the best mixed-use community — as well as leadership in marketing and property management. Apartment owners and developers, property managers, architects, interior designers and others involved in the multifamily housing industry are invited to enter. The application deadline is Nov. 7. Entry notebooks are due Nov. 21. The Pillars of the Industry Awards program is the largest and most prestigious of its kind, and both housing professionals and the media look to the awards as a showcase of future trends and innovation. The awards recognize superior achievement in three areas: building, marketing and individual excellence, including “Multifamily Development Firm of the Year” and “Best Multifamily Community of the Year.”
For complete details, including eligibility requirements and application forms, go to www.nahb.org/pillarsawards, e-mail multifamily@nahb.com or call 800-368-5242 x8215. Nominees Sought for HCCP of the Year AwardNominations are now being sought for the Housing Credit Certified Professional of the Year Award. The award honors individuals or companies that have made their mark and demonstrated the highest professional success in the affordable housing industry. Candidates will be judged on their professional experience, knowledge and dedication to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Industry. Nominees must be active HCCPs. Current members of the HCCP Board of Governors are not eligible. The deadline for nominations is Monday, Dec. 1. To access the nominatiion form, click here. For more information, e-mail Janice Coyle at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8386. Apply for NAHB SAFE Award by Oct. 13Applications for the 2008 NAHB Safety Award For Excellence (SAFE), which provides recognition for home builders who develop outstanding work-site safety programs, are now available. For information, requirements and an online application, click here (nahb.org/SAFE). Applications are due by Oct. 13. The award honors the achievements of builders and trade contractors who have developed and implemented high-quality construction safety programs, as well as those government officials and NAHB-affiliated associations who have made successful efforts to advance safety in the home building industry. Last year, 14 companies were cited for their safety achievements. Read about them here. “The home builders and housing industry professionals who have received SAFE awards during the past two programs are an outstanding representation of the commitment to safe behavior and safety education practiced by NAHB members across the country,” said Buck Roberts, president of A.B. Roberts Construction Company in Anderson, S.C. and chairman of NAHB’s Construction Safety and Health Committee. “We look forward to recognizing many more safety best practices in Las Vegas in January in the 2008 SAFE awards.” NAHB member companies in good standing that build residential homes or town homes using light construction methods can apply for a SAFE award. Specialty trade contractors, remodelers and light commercial and multifamily builders, as well as NAHB-affiliated associations and federal or state Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials who have been nominated by an NAHB member or association, are also welcome to apply. Awards will be made in a variety of categories; for a detailed listing, click here. Award winners will be recognized during a breakfast ceremony on Jan. 20 during the 2009 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. Winners will receive an award and coverage in this publication. NAHB is seeking companies to become sponsors for this safety awards program. For sponsorship information, click here, e-mail Andy Flank at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8059. NAHB provides members and others in the residential construction industry — including non-English and limited English-speaking employees and trade contractors — with information, guidance and access to training resources to help them protect employees' health and safety. A variety of safety resources and guidebooks, including the NAHB-OSHA Jobsite Safety Handbook: English-Spanish Edition, are available for purchase through www.builderbooks.com. For more information on the SAFE Awards Program, click here; or e-mail Lindsay Cather at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8163.
Boost Job Site Safety With Fall Protection Training Products In an effort to increase job site safety and reduce the chance of job related accidents, NAHB has produced the “Fall Protection Video, English-Spanish” and “NAHB-OSHA Fall Protection Handbook, English-Spanish.” Both are available through BuilderBooks.com. The 30-minute “Fall Protection Video, English-Spanish” can be used by builders to train workers to use safe work practices that eliminate fall hazards and comply with OSHA fall-protection standards. The “NAHB-OSHA Fall Protection Handbook, English-Spanish” provides guidelines for creating a written fall-protection plan and identifying safe work practices that can prevent costly accidents and injuries. Written with clear text, photographs and illustrations, the book serves as a user-friendly resource for promoting safety on any job site. To purchase the handbook and video online, click here, or call 800-223-2665.
Four common hazards cause 90% of the injuries and fatalities on residential construction job sites. The “Recognizing the Big-Four Safety Hazards for the Home Building Industry” course from The NAHB University of Housing shows how to comply with OSHA regulations and to recognize and minimize those hazards most likely to cause accidents. The course teaches builders to protect their workers from harm and themselves from liability. This course is also available in Spanish. To find out where upcoming courses are being held, click here, or call 800-368-5242 x8154 for more information.
Home Builders Institute Offers New Program to Teach Hispanic Adults English Sed de Saber™-Construction Edition is an easy-to-use, take-home learning tool created exclusively for the construction industry by the Home Builders Institute to improve communication, quality and safety on the job site. The product, now available at www.seddesaberconstruction.com, uses proven LeapFrog technology to allow workers 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 just four months. Learning at home, on their own time, also eliminates scheduling conflicts. Sed de Saber™-Construction Edition was developed by a team of subject matter experts assembled through HBI — including superintendents, craft skills experts, remodelers and builders — to ensure that the information is relevant to today’s home building workforce. To address worker safety issues related to the language barrier, HBI created a seventh book based entirely on the NAHB-OSHA Job Site Safety Handbook. NAHB members can purchase the learning system, all seven books and a skills assessment to chart employee progress for $395 per kit. The non-member price is $495. Order today and empower your workers to learn English at www.seddesaberconstruction.com. Member Profile: Education and Trust Mean Good BusinessThe latest 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.
Todd Newman, CAPS, CGR, CGB, GMB, CGP
Todd Newman, the president of Newman Company, Inc. based in Riley, Ind., is a strong believer in approaching remodeling as a true profession, worthy of all the time and effort needed for professional development and certification. The Remodelers Council member of the Home Builders Association of Greater Terre Haute in Indiana has earned five certifications through NAHB and his HBA. “Education is everything,” Newman says. “Most remodelers who go out of business don’t even see it coming. They may think if they’re out there swinging a hammer, they’re making money. But if they don’t understand their financials, cash flow needs and profit and loss statements, they don’t know how to be profitable. Or, how to stay in business.” “What’s more, the industry is changing so fast, you need to stay aware not only about what’s available today, but also what’s coming. You have to attend trade shows, see what’s out there and meet the vendors,” Newman says. “You may not use everything you learn — but at least you know what’s available.” Newman, in his 18th year of business, oversees a company with a staff of 14 and annual revenues of about $1.1 million. He and his company have not experienced much of a downturn in the remodeling market for the past few years. In fact, he expects 2008 to be a strong year. “Most of our clients are baby boomers,” Newman says. “Their kids are gone and they have large houses that no longer meet their needs.” “We’re helping them add the features and amenities they need to make their homes more comfortable, such as combining smaller bedrooms to make master suites, adding heated floors and ADA-compliant showers and other improvements. It’s very gratifying to help bring people’s dreams into reality.” Newman is also a firm believer in making sure his people build trust with customers and demonstrate respect. “You’re basically a member of your customer’s family during a project. You’re there all day — often, more than the owners themselves. You sign for packages and may even get to know the kids,” Newman says. “Customers trust us with their most valuable assets, so our people have to act accordingly.” Running a Tighter Ship Newman also oversees a variety of policies that help ensure that his team functions effectively and delivers maximum value. “We require drug testing of all our employees to make sure that there’s not a dependency that could change their mindset and behavior,” Newman says. When using subcontractors, Newman requires them to be insured and bonded — and members of the Terre Haute HBA. “With all the support that remodelers and subcontractors get from our local HBA, as well as the state and national organizations, I don’t think anyone should get a free ride,” he says. Newman sets a high standard for performance and he and his company are constantly working to raise that bar. “No matter what our standard is, I believe we can always raise our level of quality,” Newman says. “Once you stop improving, I really think it’s time for you to get out of the business.”
The Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation emphasizes business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation. Remodelers who earn the CGR become members of an exclusive national program and gain recognition as industry leaders. To learn more about the CGR designation, visit www.nahb.org/CGRinfo, or call The Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242 x8154.
'How to Find a Professional Remodeler' Available at BuilderBooks.com "How to Find a Professional Remodeler," available at BuilderBooks.com, promotes the professionalism of your remodeling business by offering valuable advice to your customers on the process of selecting a remodeler. The brochure guides consumers from the dream to the reality of having their homes remodeled by skilled and trained professionals. Sections include what to look for in a professional remodeler and what questions to ask. To view or puchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665 to order.
NAHB Remodelers Booth Wins Design Award at Remodeling Show
Visitors to the NAHB Remodelers booth on the show floor at the Remodeling Show in Baltimore earlier this month heard expert presentations on different aspects of remodeling, learned about remodelers council membership and education opportunities and played virtual golf. The booth’s activities and creative design ― with its classroom seating, visuals, information kiosks, networking lounge and electronic golf game ― were responsible for winning the show’s award for “Most Innovative Booth.” For the presentations, NAHB Remodelers members and others from NAHB discussed business best practices, business planning for profit, choosing the right client, green remodeling and products and Sed de Saber™-Construction Edition, the easy-to-use, take-home learning tool created by Home Builders Institute to improve job site communication, construction quality and safety by teaching English to Spanish-speaking workers.
The Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation emphasizes business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation. Remodelers who earn the CGR become members of an exclusive national program and gain recognition as industry leaders. To learn more about the CGR designation, visit www.nahb.org/CGRinfo, or call The Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242 x8154.
'How to Find a Professional Remodeler' Available at BuilderBooks.com "How to Find a Professional Remodeler," available at BuilderBooks.com, promotes the professionalism of your remodeling business by offering valuable advice to your customers on the process of selecting a remodeler. The brochure guides consumers from the dream to the reality of having their homes remodeled by skilled and trained professionals. Sections include what to look for in a professional remodeler and what questions to ask. To view or puchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665 to order.
Chicago Museum Exhibits Green Modular HomeBy Building Systems Magazine and NAHB’s Building Systems Councils
The three-story, 2,500-square-foot home, built using seven factory-constructed modules and located in a park east of the museum, demonstrates some of the latest innovations in smart energy construction and healthy-living environments. Five modules were used to build the home. Two were used for the garage. All seven modules were “test fit” at the factory to ensure accuracy in construction prior to being transported to the museum site where they were placed on a foundation. Called the mkSolaire™, the home features family-friendly interior architecture and shows some of the possibilities and benefits of energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and earth-friendly building materials. The “Smart Home: Green + Wired” exhibit and home tours run through Jan. 4. Some detailed information on the exhibit and home features is available on the museum’s Web site. The home was manufactured and put in place by All American Homes of Decatur, Ill. and designed by Michelle Kaufmann Designs of Oakland, Calif. The exhibit illustrates why many in the green building movement are embracing modular building systems. Modular construction, with its efficient use of materials, labor and energy, has been environmentally friendly almost since its inception. In addition, modular construction can shorten the construction cycle by as much or more than two-thirds when compared to conventional site construction — reducing energy usage during construction and potentially saving on financing. Quality control procedures in the factory assure energy efficiency during construction and many modular builders believe their homes are tighter than stick-built homes built on site. Some modular home owners reportedly have certified their turn-key homes as Energy Star-efficient. The homes used only standard insulation and window packages. Homes using entirely modular construction receive seven points each under the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines because of their efficient use of materials. (Visit www.nahbgreen.org to learn more.) “This has been an exciting project in that many of the environmentally friendly materials and vendors specified by Michelle Kaufmann Designs to build this home were new to us,” said Dwight Martin, the quality assurance manager at All American Homes. “From roofing to rain shield barriers to tile flooring materials composed of recycled goods and even uniquely-engineered floor joist systems, this project has provided us with a better understanding of what it really means to engineer and build an environmentally friendly home. Green building is the future for All American Homes and we’ll take this experience forward,” Martin said. For more information about the “Smart Home: Green + Wired” exhibit, visit www.msichicago.org. BSC SHOWCASE Offers Solutions in a Challenging Market Sales and marketing, business management and green building seminars that can help companies survive, or even thrive, in the current housing downturn will be featured at the 2008 Building Systems Councils’ SHOWCASE in Memphis, Tenn. on Nov. 16-19. SHOWCASE 2008, by NAHB’s Building Systems Councils (BSC), will also feature breakout sessions on the growing influence of green building, sales and marketing techniques, business management tools and liability that emphasize the benefits systems-built technologies and strategies and how building systems can expand market share. In addition, NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders will present NAHB’s latest economic and housing forecast and Doug Duncan, chief economist for Fannie Mae will discuss housing financing in “The Past, Present, and Future of Housing Finance ― How the Credit Crunch Has Changed the Guidelines.” To register online, or for more information, visit www.nahb.org/showcase. Log Homes Council Embarks on Membership Drive Through Dec. 31NAHB’s Log Homes Council (LHC), one of six sub-councils of the Building Systems Councils, is conducting a membership drive through Dec. 31 to strengthen the size and diversity of the council. During the drive, members will reach out to peers in the log home industry, offering potential members the benefits of membership and incentives to join. The council will also run ads in major log home industry publications. To qualify, prospective members must be or become NAHB members, manufacture their own logs, participate in a log-grading program, provide a construction manual and sign the council's code of ethics. To qualify for the membership drive incentives, which total more than $40,000 in savings, a company must apply for or finalize their Log Homes Council membership by the end of the year. Incentives include discounts on a variety of industry-related products and services such as trade show participation, magazine advertising, mortgage applications, sealants, fasteners and design software from leading industry providers including American Log Mortgage, F+W Media, Home Buyers Publications, hsbCAD, Johnson's Log Home & Timber Frame Shows, M&T Bank, OMG and Sashco. "The strength of the Log Homes Council comes from attracting leaders in the log home industry," said Jan Koepsel, LHC chair. "When members recruit the peers they respect, they infuse the council with new ideas and new talent. That benefits the whole industry," she said. "The Log Homes Council has been one of the best investments of time and money that I have made since beginning my career in the industry," says Rob Cantrell, president of StoneMill Log Homes and co-president of the LHC Board of Trustees. "I have learned much from my peers at council events and our company is better for that education."
BSC SHOWCASE Offers Solutions in a Challenging Market Sales and marketing, business management and green building seminars that can help companies survive, or even thrive, in the current housing downturn will be featured at the 2008 Building Systems Councils’ SHOWCASE in Memphis, Tenn. on Nov. 16-19. SHOWCASE 2008, by NAHB’s Building Systems Councils (BSC), will also feature breakout sessions on the growing influence of green building, sales and marketing techniques, business management tools and liability that emphasize the benefits systems-built technologies and strategies and how building systems can expand market share. In addition, NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders will present NAHB’s latest economic and housing forecast and Doug Duncan, chief economist for Fannie Mae will discuss housing financing in “The Past, Present, and Future of Housing Finance ― How the Credit Crunch Has Changed the Guidelines.” To register online, or for more information, visit www.nahb.org/showcase. SHOWCASE Offers Solutions in a Challenging MarketSales and marketing, business management and green building seminars that can help companies survive, or even thrive, in the current housing downturn will be featured at the 2008 Building Systems Councils’ SHOWCASE in Memphis, Tenn. on Nov. 16-19. SHOWCASE 2008, by NAHB’s Building Systems Councils (BSC), will also feature breakout sessions on the growing influence of green building, sales and marketing techniques, business management tools and liability that emphasize the benefits systems-built technologies and strategies and how building systems can expand market share. In addition, NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders will present NAHB’s latest economic and housing forecast and Doug Duncan, chief economist for Fannie Mae will discuss housing financing in “The Past, Present, and Future of Housing Finance ― How the Credit Crunch Has Changed the Guidelines.”
Green building sessions include:
The networking gala will be from 7:00-10:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18 at B.B. King’s Blues Club. Apply for BSC Marketing and Design Awards Entries are being accepted for the 2009 Excellence in Marketing and Home Design Awards, the BSC’s annual competition recognizing the builders and manufacturers responsible for the finest marketing materials and home designs in the concrete, log, modular and panelized home building industry. Awards categories added this year include multifamily and green building for concrete, log, modular and panel construction. The entry deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 17. The early-bird deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 10. Winners will be honored during a ceremony at SHOWCASE. Winners also will be recognized during the 2009 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas in January. All winners will be featured in the January/February 2009 issue of Building Systems Magazine, Nation’s Building News, on the NAHB Web site and through national and local press releases. To apply, visit www.nahb.org/showcase and click on the “Special Events” tab. To Register for SHOWCASE To register online for SHOWCASE, or for more information, visit www.nahb.org/showcase. Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunities at SHOWCASE NAHB is seeking vendors and suppliers of the systems-built industry to exhibit on the trade floor or sponsor activities and events at SHOWCASE. For more information, e-mail Andy Flank at NAHB, call him at 800-368-5242 x8059 or visit www.nahb.org/showcase and click on the “Sponsorships and Advertising” tab at the top of the page. Custom Builder Symposium Can Help Navigate DownturnThe 2008 Custom Builder Symposium on Oct. 24-26 in Austin, Texas is offering a wide range of educational courses that can help custom home builders navigate through the industry downturn. Courses at NAHB's premier educational and networking event for custom builders feature the latest in home technology, business management, design and green building. “Every educational course will help provide an idea, a concept or new excitement for improving your own home building company,” said Brad Simons, NAHB Custom Home Builders Committee chairman. “In today’s home building environment, only the best will be successful. Investing in making your company the best is now more important than ever before.” In addition, the symposium features a home tour, pre-show designation courses and several networking opportunities. The symposium will be at the Hilton Austin. General business management and technology courses include:
Home Tour Highlights Emerging Trends Design trends that incorporate green initiatives and building techniques and technology that are unique to the Texas home building market will be part of the one-day symposium tour of premier custom homes in Austin and the surrounding area. “Austin is a unique venue,” said symposium chairman Randy Rinehart. “We’re going to see infill within the city, refreshing contemporary architecture along with the green/energy movement and we will see good examples of Western architecture. Those who attend will be very impressed.” 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 Wedneday, Sept. 10. 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. Earn CGP Designation at Custom Builder SymposiumCustom builders and other industry professionals interested in earning the Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation can take both required courses at the Custom Builder Symposium in Austin, Texas. “Green Building for Building Professionals” and “Business Management for Building Professionals” will be offered as pre-show courses at the annual conference from Oct. 24-26 at the Hilton Austin.
More than 1,000 builders, remodelers and other members of the home building industry have earned the Certified Green Professional educational designation since it was introduced early this year by NAHB. To register for pre-show courses at The Remodeling Show, visit www.nahb.org/custom. For complete CGP requirements, go to www.nahb.org/CGPinfo.
‘Profit from Green Building’ Available at BuilderBooks.com “Profit from Building Green — Award-Winning Tips to Build Energy Efficient Homes,” available through BuilderBooks.com, showcases what energy conscious award-winning builders are doing, provides innovative energy-efficient features and covers successful techniques for building this niche market. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. Enter The Nationals Sales and Marketing Awards by Oct. 17Enter 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. Entries, including fees and exhibits, are due Friday, Oct. 17. Late entries will be accepted by Oct. 24, with an additional fee. Sponsored by NAHB’s National Sales and Marketing Council, The Nationals honors the best in architectural achievement, product and community design, advertising and promotion, interior merchandising, Web site design and more. New residential projects with homes available for sale between Sept. 1, 2007 and Sept. 28, 2008, and entries in individual and sales and marketing council categories for the same time period, are eligible. The awards are open to individual sales and marketing professionals, home builders, associates and sales and marketing councils. The Nationals recognizes innovation and excellence in 63 categories — including a new "On the Boards" category that showcases projects not yet completed and new clubhouse and marketing for green-built communities categories. During a three-day judging process, a panel of industry professionals from across the country will select silver and gold award winners from a field that typically includes more than 1,200 entries. “With everything that has been going on in our industry right now, The Nationals is a great reminder of why we do what we do," said Mary DeWalt, MIRM, of Mary DeWalt Design Group, Inc. in Austin, Texas and and chairman of the 2009 Nationals. “These awards celebrate the achievements of the best new home sales and marketing professionals and I am thrilled to be a part of it.” To Apply The Nationals features a new, streamlined entry process that reduces the amount of images, paperwork and information required. In addition, a new PowerPoint format is being used for "Sales and Marketing Council of the Year" entries.
Awards Gala at IBS on Jan. 20 at Caesars Palace 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. Options Selling Can Boost Sales, Make Lasting Impression In “Option Selling for Profit: The Builder’s Guide to Generating Design Center Revenue and Profit,” authors Gina Gullo and Angela Rinaldi share their hands-on understanding of high-powered selling in the ever-expanding market of options for new homes. By offering a range of options and upgrades, the design phase provides the best opportunity to make a lasting impression and ensure that buyers will favorably remember the entire buying experience. To view or purchase this publication online, click here, or call 800-223-2665. 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.
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. Coalition Calls for Extending Energy Tax IncentivesNAHB Executive Vice President and CEO Jerry Howard joined leaders from environmental and renewable energy advocacy groups at a Washington, D.C. press conference last week to call on Congress to extend the energy tax credit programs that expire at the end of this year. The Clean Energy NOW coalition, sponsored by the American Wind Energy Association, includes 200 organizations asking for congressional action to extend the tax credits before the end of the September legislative session. The Senate Finance Committee has agreed to an $18 billion package containing the tax incentives, and the full Senate is expected to vote on the measure within the next several days. Howard emphasized the importance of extending the so-called “45L” provision, which gives home builders a tax credit of $2,000 per home when specific energy efficiency measures are included. “Home buyers are asking for energy efficiency, and our members build homes that are significantly more energy-efficient than those of a generation ago,” Howard said. “But in today’s economic climate, home builders need incentives to spur them to even more action — to put their money where their hearts are.” Other speakers emphasized the importance of renewable energy tax credits, which spur more wind and solar power production and provide new “green” jobs. “Today, the wind industry is experiencing record growth, and hiring new workers every day,” said Randall Swisher, AWEA’s executive director. Failure to promptly extend the renewable energy tax incentives puts at risk 116,000 jobs in the wind and solar industries and more than $19 billion in clean energy investment, he said. In addition to an economic boost, extending the tax credits would offer environmental benefits, speakers at the press conference noted. “We can't afford to wait for the next President and new Congress to renew the tax credits for wind and solar power and energy efficiency,” said Margie Alt, executive director of Environment America. “It’s a false choice” to say business interests are more or less important than environmental concerns, she said. “America is at an energy crossroads right now, and the only path we can take is toward a clean energy future.” For more information, e-mail Calli Schmidt at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132. Ruling Makes Storm Water Permit Effluent Limit Guidelines LikelyHome builders and developers are now one step closer to seeing effluent limitation guidelines (ELG) tacked on to storm water permits for their construction projects. Last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA, a lawsuit brought against the agency for its 2004 decision to not issue ELGs for the construction and development industry. NAHB and the Associated General Contractors had intervened on EPA’s side to defend its “no rule” decision, which was issued after the agency determined that the sediment running off construction sites in storm water is not a “toxic or unconventional” pollutant, unlike some discharges from industrial plants or other sources. The ruling came as little surprise to NAHB leaders, who have been meeting with EPA officials to help devise ELGs that are technology-based rather than numerical, which makes sense for the industry because storm water discharge is caused by rain, which cannot be controlled. NAHB is also participating in a U.S. Small Business Administration panel that is studying the financial implications of ELG regulations for smaller builders and developers. The panel is scheduled to finish its work well in advance of the court-mandated deadline that requires EPA to issue the ELGs by Dec. 1, 2009. While the EPA had never identified the construction industry as a source of toxic and non-conventional pollutants, the Ninth Circuit ruled that the agency had no discretion to exempt the industry from the ELG regulations. The court also ruled that a 1999 EPA document stating that storm water runoff “may” contain contaminants was enough reason to allow the Natural Resources Defense Council to have standing to sue the EPA — even though none of the advocacy group’s affidavits in this case complained about toxic or non-conventional pollutants. “It’s always unpleasant to be on the short end of a case like this,” said Duane Desiderio, NAHB’s staff vice president for litigation. “However, it doesn’t really change things,” he said. “The EPA is committed to a new ELG for builders and developers, and our members are already engaged in that rulemaking process. We’ll continue to advocate and demonstrate the need for ELGs that are based on sound science and cost-effective technologies.” he added. Click here for a copy of the Ninth Circuit decision. For more information, e-mail Calli Schmidt at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8132. '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. Mitigation Banking Conference Seeking SpeakersOrganizers for the 12th Annual National Mitigation & Ecosystem Banking Conference are now accepting calls for presentations for the event, which is set for May 5-8, 2009, in Salt Lake City. NAHB is supporting the conference, which offers education and networking for users and supporters of mitigation and conservation banks that builders and developers can use when onsite mitigation for environmental impacts is not feasible. The theme for the upcoming event is “Banking Under the New Rule,” referring to new direction for mitigation banking released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers earlier this year. The conference is seeking presentations from experienced mitigation and conservation bankers, regulators, users, engineers, investors, environmental organizations and others who have experience in the expanding mitigation and ecosystem banking industry. Submissions are due by Oct. 15; guidelines are available on the conference Web site. Established 11 years ago as the only national conference that brings together key regulators, bankers, users and providers of services in the mitigation, conservation and ecosystem banking marketplace, the conference provides attendees educational and networking opportunities. In addition to a workshop on the Corps’ new mitigation banking rule, the conference will include regulator, banker and user forums; updates on other environmental rules and regulations; field trips and exhibits; and a number of social events. Jefferson Star for Community Service Goes to HBI EducatorBrian Coller, the coordinator of the Home Builders Institute's Project CRAFT/Orlando, was recognized by the Orlando media on Sept. 9 with the Jefferson Star Award for Outstanding Community Service. The Jefferson Star Awards were founded in 1972 when Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Sen. Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard established the American Institute for Public Service to create a “Nobel Prize” honoring community and public service at the national and local levels. Among the many winners of the national award are Thurgood Marshall, Alan Greenspan, Henry Kissinger, Arthur Ashe, Caesar Chavez, Oprah Winfrey, Paul Newman, Bill Gates and Lance Armstrong. In each of 90 U.S. communities, five or six local awards are generally given out each year by Jefferson’s 150 local media partners — including major newspapers and television and radio stations. The communities then send one local winner to Washington, D.C. to compete for the national awards. Coller and his staff in Orlando are dedicated to helping young people turn their lives around through trades training, a high school diploma and job placement in the residential construction industry. Community service is a key component of Project CRAFT’s curriculum, allowing students to sharpen their trade skills as they take responsibility for improving their neighborhoods. Project CRAFT programs frequently work with Habitat for Humanity and other charitable organizations in the building industry. In his nomination for the Jefferson Star Award, Coller was cited for establishing a partnership with the Ivey Lane office of the Center for Drug Free Living that has augmented traditional Project CRAFT training with education on regimented life skills and HIV awareness and counseling on substance abuse. “It was a great honor to receive the award, and I am grateful that HBI is so well respected here in Florida,” said Coller. “Project CRAFT has been operational here for many years, and it’s great to see this program recognized for all the good that it does for our communities.” For more information on Project CRAFT, e-mail John Hattery at HBI, or call him at 800-795-7955 x8916. Timberlake Kitchen Cabinet Accessories Prevent Clutter
Applying its expertise in universal design, Timberlake Cabinetry has created storage accessories for kitchen cabinets that will enable all homes owners — from active adults to families on the go — to get organized. Introduced last month, the organizational accessories have been designed to provide home owners with space-saving convenience and point-of-use functionality. Among the new options:
“Home owners are constantly wishing for more room in their kitchens,” she said, “and now they will be able to make the absolute most of their space.” Headquartered in Winchester, Va., Timberlake Cabinetry is a member 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. Grant Aids Florida Students at Future Builders Camp
The students were able to attend the leadership training camp through a $3,100 Challenge/Build/Grow matching grant initiative from the National Housing Endowment. Through the initiative, local and state home builders associations can receive matching grants of up to $5,000 to bolster their education and labor shortage/worker training programs. The Charlotte-area students were among more than 80 students from three southwest Florida area high schools attending the camp. All the students who attended are enrolled in post-secondary courses in both construction technology and architectural drafting. The camp was held June 12-14. “The Future Builders of America Summer Leadership Camp was an absolute success and an experience our students would never have had without this grant from the National Housing Endowment,” said Debbie Emmons, a Future Builders of America state delegate with the Charlotte Desoto BIA. “Many of the students who attended from our area are now working in the construction industry and others are continuing their education in the drafting or construction fields at area technical schools and universities.” “Building homes for the nation is too important a priority to neglect the education and training that will be needed to support the residential construction industry,” said Gary Garczynski, endowment chairman and 2002 NAHB president. “Through the Challenge/Build/Grow matching grant initiative as well as other grants, the endowment is answering the call by meeting the industry's long-term challenges with bold thinking and action.” Since Challenge/Build/Grow began in 2001, the endowment has awarded more than $165,000 to state and local associations nationwide to support local education and land use and labor shortages/worker training initiatives and to help build new partnerships that the state and local levels. For more information about endowment grant or scholarship opportunities, visit www.nationalhousingendowment.org.
Applications for Endowment IBS Scholarships Due Oct. 31
Applications for students to attend the 2009 International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas are now available and due by Oct. 31. The scholarships ― sponsored by the National Housing Endowment in conjunction with the Home Builders Institute ― enable NAHB Student Chapter members to offset some or all of their travel and attendance expenses at IBS. Providing funding to students has proven to be instrumental in helping them learn outside the classroom and prepare careers in the home building industry. The IBS scholarship program also helps give young NAHB members the tools to enter into the federation as graduates and to become future leaders. The endowment has allocated $100,000 for scholarships in this, the second year of the program. “IBS is something that everyone who intends to enter into residential construction should see,” said one student scholarship winner last year. “The National Housing Endowment is proud to continue this scholarship program for NAHB’s student chapter members,” said Gary Garczynski, endowment chair and 2002 NAHB President. “The endowment is working to increase the number of college graduates entering residential construction and this scholarship, along with other programs we sponsor, is leading the effort to reward and encourage the best and brightest to choose a rewarding career in residential construction.” To be considered for funding, a student must meet the following qualifications:
State and local home builders associations can apply for up to $2,500 in matching funds to distribute to their local NAHB Student Chapter. Students can apply for up to $500 in non-matched funds. Individual NAHB Student Chapters can apply for up to $2,500 in non-matched funds. Preference will be given to chapters represented by a Residential Construction Management Competition team at the IBS. To apply online, visit www.NAHB.org/2009IBSscholarship. Recipients will be notified by Nov. 21 and funds will be distributed in mid-December. More Endowment Scholarship Programs The endowment administers 12 scholarships and awards more than $350,000 each year to students pursuing careers in residential construction and related fields. For more information, visit the endowment's Web site at www.nationalhousingendowment.org. Members, Save 10% at Omaha Steaks When Shopping OnlineJust in time for autumn cookouts and tailgate parties, NAHB members can save 10% on all Omaha Steaks food and specialty items when they shop online at the Omaha Steaks special NAHB Member Advantage Web page. Omaha Steaks, a leader in the incentive industry for more than 40 years, has a first-class reputation and a variety of gourmet entrees and items available to members, including beef, pork, poultry, pasta, salmon, tuna, seafood, appetizers, side dishes and desserts. Members ordering Omaha Steaks discounts ― which also include specialty selections, blockbuster combos, family value combos, soups, snacks, breads, coffee and monthly specials — can use them as gifts for their customers, clients, friends, family and staff members. The 10% discount can be combined with any special found on the Omaha Steaks special NAHB Member Advantage Web page. To order online and receive the Omaha Steaks 10% discount, click here. Other Member Advantage Discounts For the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, go to www.nahb.org/MA.
Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips 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. Dell Offering Double Discounts Through SeptemberDell is offering double discounts to NAHB members through Sept. 30 on an array of products designed to meet the technology needs of your company. That means Dell’s normal discounts of 3% to 5% to NAHB members will double to 6% to 10% on essential small business technology, including business-class desktops and cutting-edge notebooks. Dell not only has the technology to make your home building business run more efficiently — it also offers NAHB members a more efficient way of doing business. To Get Your Discount Visit www.dell.com/nahb for complete details and to make your selection. To Maximize Your Dell Member Advantage Discount After you have made your selections and are ready to purchase, call your dedicated Dell sales representative at 888-577-3355, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (CST) and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (CST). Mention link ID# 115762620. Your sales representative will apply your NAHB member discount to your order. NAHB members who have previously ordered from Dell also receive a monthly catalog, which includes this double discount offer. The Dell Double Member Discount* offer is valid Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, 2008. * Double discounts do not apply to the preconfigured systems that are already priced at up to 20% off. Other Member Advantage Discounts For the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, go to the Member Advantage main page on the NAHB Web site.
Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips 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 $25 on Hertz ‘Green,’ ‘Fun’ or ‘Prestige’ WeeklyNAHB 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. This $25 offer is valid through Dec. 31, 2008. 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. NAHB Fall Board Meeting Set for San Diego Sept. 23-26OFFICIAL MEETING NOTICE OF
The following schedule of events is a partial listing provided as a notice for the upcoming NAHB Fall Board of Directors Meeting to be held in San Diego on Sept. 26, 2008 and other associated NAHB meetings to be held on Sept. 23-26. Meetings will be held at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina. The fall board program will identify the exact time and place of each cheduled meeting. Tuesday, Sept. 23
National Vice Presidents
Thursday, Sept. 25
Committee Meetings
Friday, Sept. 26
GM $500 Private Combined With GM Employee Discount Till Sept. 30Now through Sept. 30, NAHB members can combine the GM $500 Offer with the GM Employee Discount for Everyone. 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. Office Depot: $10 Off First $100 for New Member CustomersOffice Depot is offering $10 off any delivery order of $100 or more (excluding technology) for NAHB members who register for the first time as new customers through Sept. 30. This offer includes home builders associations that also sign up as new customers. The one-time $10 off is in addition to the everyday 10% Office Depot discount available to NAHB members who have signed up for the program. The one-time offer will be applied to purchases made during the entire month of September. To register, new customers should call 800-274-753 and mention coupon code 35235365 to receive the additional $10 off a $100 order. Other Member Advantage Discounts For the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, go to www.nahb.org/MA.
Free NAHB Kit Gives Builders Back-to-Basics Tips 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. 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.- |