More than 50 NCHBA members visited Washington, D.C. Tuesday, March 24, as part of NAHB's Legislative Conference to drive home the message that housing is key to the economy's recovery. North Carolina once again had one of the largest groups and met with all 13 of our members in the U.S. House of Representatives and both of our Senators. Among the items discussed: housing's critical role in the economy, AD&C lending crisis, card check, housing finance system reform, mortgage interest deduction and green building.
Look for an in-depth summary of Legislative Day in the May issue of North Carolina Builder magazine.
In the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Obama, previous energy-efficiency credits were not only renewed, but were significantly improved. Before, home owners were able to recoup 10 percent of the cost of each approved energy upgrade with the lifetime cap of $500. The new credit has tripled those amounts to 30 percent and $1,500, respectively.
According to Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, a typical household spends about $2,000 a year on energy bills. By incorporating Energy Star appliances and other energy-efficient components to a home, they estimate a home owner can save about a third on his or her energy bill. The expanded tax credit money available to home owners on top of these savings is icing on the cake!
What is included?
Tax credits are available at 30 percent of the cost, up to $1,500, in 2009 and 2010 (for existing homes only) for: windows and doors, insulation roofs (metal and asphalt), HVAC, water heaters (non-solar) and biomass stoves.
Tax credits are available at 30 percent of the cost, with no upper limit through 2016 (for existing homes & new construction) for: geothermal heat pumps, solar panels, solar water heaters, small wind energy systems and fuel cells.
NAHB Chairman Joe Robson provided a counterpoint to an editorial opinion piece in the March 23 edition of USA Today. The opposing op-eds were presented alongside one another in response to the Obama Administration's recently-suggested reductions in the tax credit and real estate deductions as a means of paying for ambitious health care reforms within the newly proposed budget.
National Membership Day is Tuesday, May 19. The theme for this year's membership drive is "Membership Defenders, Unite!"
For local associations that sign up to participate in March, membership recruiters will earn DOUBLE SPIKE CREDITS in March, April and May for members recruited and for members retained. This is an added incentive for spikes who have previously recruited members coming up for renewal. In years past, NAHB has only doubled Spike credits during the month of May. Due to the distressed membership climate this year, the NAHB Membership Committee has broadened the playing period so local associations and local councils can achieve greater numbers and more sustainable recruitment practices. Quality counts in membership, and this campaign is designed to help participating members discover their superpowers and truly become Membership Defenders.
A game, Apathy Attacks, will also add to the fun of this year's campaign. The new game helps locals form teams that compete against one another during the playing period, complete with Power Jolts and Team Challenges to help keep the teams focused and having fun.
A three-tiered prize structure is in place to continue to incentivize and reward membership heroes who contribute to the strength of their local association and local councils. As always, the prizes are available, free of charge, to all participating local associations at the conclusion of the campaign.
If local associations don't sign up until April, double credits are only available for April and May, so sign up now! Local associations can sign the Participation Pledge online at www.nahb.org/membershipdefenders. For more information on the Apathy Attacks, visit www.nahb.org/ApathyTracker. To talk to one of NAHB’s Membership Defenders, contact or dial 800-368-5242, ext. 8440.
Reach the most influential home builders and new home sales professionals in North Carolina by sponsoring the 2009 STARS Awards Gala. As a STARS Award sponsor your company name will be promoted to more than 18,000 leading building professionals throughout the year and during the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference. The STARS sponsorship program ultimately offers you the advantage of complete, comprehensive and direct market exposure for your company.
For more information, view the STARS Sponsorship Brochure. Sponsorships are available at a variety of levels. For more details about sponsorships, contact Kathryn Atkinson at (800) 662-7129 or by e-mail at .
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 (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.
The North Carolina Home Builders Association invites you to join us at the annual Builders Classic Golf Tournament April 17 at Whispering Pines Country Club. All proceeds go to the North Carolina Home Builders Educational & Charitable Foundation Inc., a program that awards scholarships to college students majoring in a construction-related field at a two-year or four-year college.
The tournament, sponsored by Builders Mutual Insurance Co., promises to be an exciting event, with players having the opportunity to network with other industry professionals as they contribute to a worthy cause. The 18-hole course offers large greens and rolling fairways lined with pines and strategically-placed bunkers. Check-in is at 8 a.m., with a 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament is Captain's Choice format. The cost is $85 per person or $340 per team, and includes green fees, cart fee, beverages, Thursday evening barbeque dinner and lunch Friday. To register or for more information view, the Builders Classic Golf Tournament Flyer.
In 2007, a challenge was issued to all current or former presidents of a local, state or national association to put together a foursome and compete in the "President's Challenge." We plan to continue the competition this year, and once this year’s winner is announced after the tournament, the actual President’s Cup will be monogrammed and delivered to the winning president at his/her local association where it will reside (with full bragging rights) until next year when it will come back out and be competed for once again. Congratulations again to the 2008 winner, Buddy Hughes of the HBA of Davidson County.
To add to the competitive spirit of this year’s NCHBECF Golf Tournament, Bonded Builders Home Warranty is offering an incentive to those who recruit new members through the Spirit of Membership program. If any member at the tournament brings a new member paid application to the tournament, the recruiting member will receive a $35 gas card. If the applicant plays in the tournament, both get a $35 gas card. The new member may be a builder, associate or affiliate member. Click here for more information on the Spirit of Membership program offered by Bonded Builders.
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
Progress Energy created the Home Advantage program as an incentive for builders to provide high-efficiency, environmentally friendly homes. To qualify for the program, you must build to ENERGY STAR standards, which make your homes at least 15 percent more energy efficient than code-built homes. Buyers will also enjoy a 5 percent discount on Progress Energy bills. Home Advantage incentives start at $400 per home and are available to builders or developers of new single-family, multifamily and high-rise multifamily dwellings.
Progress Energy is hosting an Introduction to ENERGY STAR workshop April 2 in Asheville from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register at www.advancedenergy.org/registration.
Three "Green Building for Building Professionals" and "Business Management for Building Professionals" classes are currently scheduled.
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 more 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.
Green Home Builders of WNC and Haywood County HBA are offering the courses April 22-24 at Haywood Community College. Deadline to register is April 7.
New-Home Sales Turn Upward In February
Providing a welcome glimmer of hope that potential home buyers are starting to return to the market, sales of newly built, single-family homes rose for the first time in seven months this February, according to Commerce Department figures released today. The report showed a 4.7 percent gain in new-home sales to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 337,000 units in February, along with upwardly revised figures for each of the previous three months.
“This is an encouraging sign that the market may finally be reaching a bottom,” said Joe Robson, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. “Consumers are beginning to take advantage of the first-time home buyer tax credit, historically low mortgage rates, very affordable home prices and the great selection of homes they have to choose from in the midst of a real buyer’s market. For those with good credit and job security, the stars are all aligned to buy a home at this time.” Click here for the entire article.
National Membership Day is Tuesday, May 19. The theme for this year's membership drive is "Membership Defenders, Unite!" 
Reach the most influential home builders and new home sales professionals in North Carolina by sponsoring the 2009 STARS Awards Gala. As a STARS Award sponsor your company name will be promoted to more than 18,000 leading building professionals throughout the year and during the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference. The STARS sponsorship program ultimately offers you the advantage of complete, comprehensive and direct market exposure for your company.
