Key solutions for surviving the downturn — how to negotiate with your lender, how to find new equity partners, how to ramp up your business in a changing environment and how to market and use the home buyer tax credit — will be discussed during four sessions at the 2010 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas next month.

Sponsored by NAHB’s Business Management and Housing Finance departments, each 90-minute session focuses on a critical component of business recovery and development and features a panel of experts sharing their professional experience and insights. 

• “Home Buyer Tax Credit: Your Questions Answered”
  Wednesday, Jan. 20
  3:30-5:00 p.m.
  South 231
  
  Robert Dietz, NAHB’s assistant vice president for tax and policy Issues, will discuss how to leverage the tax credit with panelists Michael Sivage, of Michael Sivage Homes, and Scott Jagoe, of Jagoe Homes, Inc.  Both home builders have been able to take full advantage of the tax credit when marketing and selling to prospects. Attendees can expect answers to frequently asked questions regarding the application of the tax credit, as well as hear about lessons learned from a builder’s perspective.
  
  
• “Negotiating With Your Lender”
  Thursday, Jan. 21
  1:30-3:00 p.m.
  South 222-223
  
  Finding new financing for land acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) and extending existing credit is the number one issue facing today’s home builder. This session features a frank discussion among builders, lenders and legal experts offering insights into the most pressing issues involving AD&C credit and what builders can do to work with their lenders on mutually beneficial solutions. Attendees will gain an understanding of lenders' concerns as well as legal issues arising from stricter lending requirements and hear effective strategies for positioning their businesses to demonstrate their creditworthiness to current and new lenders.
  
  Moderated by Marty Mitchell, CGP, of Mitchell & Best, panelists include Steve Camp, of Gardere Wynn Sewell LLP; Melissa Hicks, of RBC Bank; Bob Kline, of RW Kline LLC; and D. Rand Roan of Apogee Partners LLC.
  
  
• “Ramping Up in a Changing Economic Environment”
  Thursday, Jan. 21
  3:30-5:00 p.m.
  South 222-223
  
  Moderated by Tammie Smoot, MIRM, CMP, MCSP, CSP, CAPS, CGP, of BDX, and featuring industry veterans who have been through previous housing slowdowns, attendees will get practical advice and ready-to-use strategies for ramping up and strengthening their business in an economic slowdown.
  
  Panelists include Nicole Goolsby, CGP of Rion Homes; Jean Ewell, MIRM, CMP, CAASH, MCSP, CSP, CRS, of Keller Williams Realty; Erik Anderson, CGA, CGP of Lutron; and Jenna Hamilton of NAHB’s Government Affairs Department.
  
  An encore program will be conducted from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22, in South 232.
  
  
• “Equity Partnerships 101: Options for Small and Medium-sized Builders”
  Thursday, Jan. 21
  3:30-5:00 p.m.
  South 219
  
  Because many traditional sources of capital for projects — such as banks and insurance companies — can no longer be relied upon, this session will provide key tips for establishing beneficial relationships, as well as insights regarding required returns, project profiles and the risks and rewards of alternative approaches. Attendees will gain valuable insights into locating other funding sources and learn how to identify and attract local equity investors. Speakers will also explore options in structuring financing packages for land development, single-family and multifamily housing production.

For more information on these sessions, visit www.buildersshow.com.