The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has launched a newly-designed Web site, www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com, that provides detailed information about the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers that is a key measure in the sweeping economic stimulus legislation signed into law Feb. 17 by President Barack Obama.
The Web site at includes basic information about the tax credit and a detailed question and answer section. It also includes information about other housing-related and small business measures in the legislation and a number of home-buying resources for consumers.
Hurry - time is running out to sign up for the Spring 2009 North Carolina Builder Institute session. Classes are scheduled for March 3-5 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, and the deadline to register is Feb. 27. Some classes being offered include:
The Lake Norman Homebuilders Association (LNHBA) is sponsoring an interactive seminar “Survive and Thrive in Times of Uncertainty” on Friday, March 6, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Duke Energy Customer Resource Center in Charlotte. Homebuilders and building trade professionals will benefit most from this seminar, addressing how best to adjust our business practices and actions to the current economic climate.
“With housing starts down, those with a more proactive and creative business plan will be the ones to prosper,” asserts Chris Ebel, President of LNHBA.
The morning kicks off with a continental breakfast and registration from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., followed by an address from keynote speaker John Evans, motivational speaker and author of Embrace the Tiger. Attendees will learn insightful tips on a variety of relevant topics including:
Advertising – where to get the best bang for your buck
Diversifying your business to include remodeling, commercial & green building
Financing / Bankruptcy
Mortgage – 10 ways to save the sale / how to get financing
Financial Planning – How to save taxes
Resume writing, Interviewing Skills
Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with experts in advertising, insurance, financial planning, green/energy efficiency, resume writing and how to interview. The cost to attend the seminar is $15.00 per person for Home Builder Association members and $30.00 for non-HBA members. Price includes continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments. The Duke Energy Customer Resource Center is located at 3201 International Airport Drive, Suite 100.
Seating is limited to the first 120 registrants. To register, visit www.lakenormanhba.com, or contact Larry Airey at (704) 664-5622, e-mail .
The North Carolina Housing Hall of Fame Board of Governors is seeking nominations for the North Carolina Housing Hall of Fame. The primary purpose of the NCHHF is to honor men and women who have made significant and lasting contributions to housing in North Carolina, the building industry and to the North Carolina Home Builders Association. Nominees do not have to be active or a member of the North Carolina Home Builders Association.
If you know of an individual who has excelled in making a significant and lasting contribution to the building industry, please complete the nomination form and return it to the NCHBA office at the address below. All nominations must be postmarked by April 15, 2009.
The inductee(s) will be announced at the June 2009 NCHBA 2nd Quarter Board of Directors meeting. The induction ceremony will take place during the Installation Dinner at the 2009 NCHBA 4th Quarter Meetings on December 8, 2009.
Induction into the NCHFF is a prestigious honor. All nominations will be carefully screened and given thorough consideration by the NCHHF Board of Governors. If you have any questions, please contact Erin Jones at NCHBA at 1-800-662-7129 or by e-mail at .
North Carolina Home Builders Association
Attn: Erin Jones
P.O. Box 99090
Raleigh, NC 27624
The North Carolina Home Builders Educational & Charitable Foundation, Inc. is now accepting nominations and applications for its college scholarships. The foundation awards scholarships based on a combination of need and merit to four-year college students entering their junior or senior year and technical school students entering their second year who have declared their major in a construction related field.
To be eligible a student must meet the following criteria:
Applicants must be nominated by a NCHBA member firm.
Nominees shall be immediate family members - related by blood, (i.e. children, step-children or grandchildren). Students related by marriage, (i.e. son-in-law, daughter-in-law, etc.) shall not be eligible.
Immediate family members of any current trustee of the NCHB Educational & Charitable Foundation, Inc. shall not be eligible.
Awards are for one year, but scholarship winners may submit a renewal application and be considered for renewal if they make satisfactory progress in their studies.
Only full-time students will be considered. NCHBA defines a full-time student as one taking a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
The deadline for entries is April 30, 2009. For a nomination form or an application packet, contact NCHBA at (800) 662-7129; (919) 676-9090 or e-mail: . Mail completed applications to: North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA), P. O. Box 99090, Raleigh, NC 27624.
Congratulations to the Appalachian State University NAHB Student Chapter for taking home fourth place and Rookie of the Year honors at the Residential Construction Management Competition during last month's International Builders' Show.
The annual competition officially began in the fall, giving teams approximately three months to complete a construction project modeled after an actual Centex Homes development in San Antonio, Tex. The 2008-2009 competition featured 66 teams, in three divisions: four-year universities, two-year colleges and secondary schools.
All had to demonstrate their knowledge of the home building process, from start to finish. Students submitted their work to the judges prior to the show and spent the final weeks of the competition preparing for their presentations at IBS. For three grueling days, the judges — who were real project members from NAHB-member companies — listened to presentations and challenged the students to defend their work. The competition culminated on Jan. 21 with an awards ceremony at Caesars Palace attended by more than 1,100 people.
East Carolina University and Western Carolina University also participated in the competition.
March 9-10 - N.C. Building Code Council Meeting. The council will hold a work session at 9 a.m. on March 9, followed by a public hearing at 1 p.m. The council meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on March 10.
"Green Building for Building Professionals" and "Business Management for Building Professionals" classes
The Hickory & Catawba Valley Home Builders Association is offering the classes March 30-31 and April 1 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center. See flyer for cost, registration information and other information.
The High Country Home Builders Association is offering the classes April 1-2 and April 3 at the Builders Plaza in Boone. See flyer for cost, registration form and other information.
May 14 - Building Code Seminar/BUILD-PAC fundraiser at Moore Co. HBA - details forthcoming
Housing Affordability Surges At Year-End 2008
Nationwide housing affordability surged at year-end 2008 to its highest level in at least five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), released today.
The HOI indicated that 62.4 percent of all new and existing homes that were sold in the final quarter of 2008 were affordable to families earning the national median income of $61,500, up considerably from the 56.1 percent of homes that were affordable to such families in the previous quarter and the 46.6 percent of homes that were affordable to them at the end of 2007.
“Falling home prices and very favorable mortgage rates both contributed to the housing affordability gains we saw in the fourth quarter of 2008,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. “However, at the same time, worsening economic conditions, historically low consumer confidence and uncertainty about future home prices kept many qualified buyers on the sidelines. Click here for the entire article.
Tax Credits Boost Incentive For Greening American Homes
Expanded tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements in the new economic stimulus package puts more money in consumers’ pockets by providing financial incentive for home owners to go green on their renovation projects in 2009 and 2010.
While more efficient homes save on water and energy bills, these tax credits will make such home upgrades even more affordable.
The Internal Revenue Code section 25C tax credit for existing homes, which had expired at the end of 2007, was reinstated as part of the economic rescue package passed by the Bush Administration last fall. Homeowners could be rewarded for installing energy-efficient windows, doors, roofing and insulation as well as furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps.
But remodelers found that the terms of the 25C credit -- equal to only 10 percent of the cost of each product and with a lifetime cap of $500 -- weren’t strong enough to push enough home owners off the fence and into action.
Now, the credit rate and lifetime cap have been tripled – to 30 percent and $1,500, respectively – the list of eligible improvements expanded, and the deadline for applying has been extended through the end of 2010. Congressional estimates indicate that the new rules for the tax incentive will increase aggregate remodeling activity by more than $6 billion. Click here for the entire story.
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Congratulations to the Appalachian State University NAHB Student Chapter for taking home fourth place and Rookie of the Year honors at the Residential Construction Management Competition during last month's International Builders' Show. 
