NCHBA members are invited to attend the SkillsUSA competitions at the Greensboro Coliseum on Wednesday, April 22. All skills contests begin at 8:30 a.m. Contests will be held in such areas as cabinet making, carpentry, masonry, TeamWorks and residential wiring. Registration is not required to view the competitions.
NCHBA is a strong supporter of SkillsUSA. Past President Buddy Hughes recruited NCHBA members for judging the contests and our current president, Frank Wiesner, will participate in the awards ceremony on Thursday. Pella Window and Door is providing bags and carpenter pencils, and Builders Mutual Insurance Co. is providing hardhats for students.
SkillsUSA is the premier student leadership organization in the country with more than 30,000 members nationwide, including a strong chapter in North Carolina.
An upcoming audio seminar on stimulus opportunities for builders is being sponsored by the National Commercial Builders Council and The University of Housing. The May 14 seminar will focus on ways to find available projects; how the bidding process works for federal, state and local jobs and military construction; and opportunities in building military housing. Scheduled speakers include builders who have more than 20 years of experience with government contracts and an attorney who specializes in contract law. Seminar participants will learn about a variety of government construction projects listed in the stimulus package and what they need to know to bid on – and win – government contracts. After a panel discussion, questions from the audience will be answered. These questions should be submitted in advance, no later than COB Friday, May 8, to .
"Stimulus Opportunities for Builders: Exploring Commercial Opportunities in the Stimulus Package" will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET on Thurs., May 14. There is a registration fee of $79. To sign up, visit www.nahb.org/stimulusopportunities. Contact: Kisha DeSandies, x8455.
Are you a builder or realtor who has sold homes recently to first-time buyers?
NAHB is looking for consumers who were motivated by the $8,000 tax credit to buy a home this year. We need testimonials both to create momentum by keeping stories about the housing market upswing in the media, and to take up to Capitol Hill. NAHB has set up an easy online form for consumers to share their stories at: www.nahb.org/taxcreditstory.
Builder Input Needed for New AD&C Lending Action Plan
NAHB is expanding its efforts on the AD&C lending crisis with a new member-focused game plan. The centerpiece calls for developing solid and specific examples of the ongoing AD&C problems that builders and developers are experiencing. NAHB will use these to create case studies that will bolster our arguments with federal regulators, legislators and others, and illustrate the degree of the crisis at hand. NAHB is soliciting input from individual members who have compelling AD&C experiences to share—especially those members who are operating in relatively stable markets, since these can best put a spotlight on inappropriate regulatory actions. Please share your AD&C experiences using the online template at: www.nahb.org/adccasestudy. (NOTE: You will be required to login using your NAHB username and password to use this site.)
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.
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.
Join the Associates Committee June 9 at Bonefish Grill at the Lassister for the Lunch & Learn Seminar, "Where is the ROI for Social Media?".Carol M. Flammer, MIRM, CAPS, CSP, will be the featured speaker. Carol is Managing Partner of mRELEVANCE, LLC, a firm that combines the power of Internet marketing, social media and public relations.
The seminar is scheduled in conjunction with the NCHBA 2nd Quarter Board Meeting being held across the street at the Renaissance Hotel. Tickets are $23 if you pre-register and will include lunch. The seminar will be from 12:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Registration is required. Tickets purchased on-site will be $28.
The Asheville Home Builders Association will be offering the Green Building for Building Professionals Course on May 13-14 and the Business Management for Building Professionals Course on May 15. Please click here for course details and sign up info. Deadline to register is April 29. Please contact the AHBA at (828) 299-7001 or e-mail at
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The Lake Norman HBA is offering the Green Building for Building Professionals class May 19-20 and Business Management for Building Professionals class May 21. Go to http://www.lakenormanhba.com/certifiedgreenprofessional.html for more information and registration. The deadline to register is May 13.
Code Update Seminar Scheduled
The Moore County HBA BUILD-PAC Committee is hosting a N.C. Building Code Update Seminar on May 14. Robert Privott, Director of Codes and Construction, will be the guest speaker and will highlight the changes between the 2006 and 2009 North Carolina residential code. Some of the code changes he will be addressing become effective July 1, 2009.
If you have a question about building codes, this is your chance to ask! The seminar will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MCHBA Office located at 10022 Highway 211 East in Aberdeen. The fee is $20 and lunch will be provided. Proceeds go to BUILD-PAC. Contact the MCHBA at 910-944-2992 or .
The Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009 Builder Magazine Three North Carolina cities - Wilmington, Charlotte and Raleigh - were named among the top 15 healthiest housing markets for 2009.
Single-Family Housing Starts Unchanged In March
Characteristic volatility in the multifamily sector pushed nationwide housing starts down 10.8 percent in March as production of single-family homes remained unchanged, according to numbers released today by the U.S. Commerce Department. Overall starts fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 510,000 units, due entirely to a 29 percent reduction on the multifamily side that largely offset a big gain in apartment and condo building in the previous month.
“While improving interest among potential home buyers has builders more optimistic these days, we don’t want to ramp up production until sales of new homes pick up,” noted NAHB Chairman Joe Robson. “A cautious attitude about new building is definitely what’s called for here, and that’s what most builders have wisely adopted for the time being.” Click here for the entire article.
Home Builder Confidence Posts Biggest Gain In Five Years
Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose five points in April to the highest level since October 2008, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. This gain was the largest one-month increase recorded since May of 2003, and brings the HMI out of single-digit territory for the first time in six months – to 14. Every component of the HMI reflected the boost, with the biggest gain recorded for sales expectations in the next six months.
“If you’re a potential buyer who’s been sitting on the fence waiting for a sign that now is the time to act, this is it,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. “Some of the most favorable buying conditions in a lifetime are now in place, and they are drawing more consumers back to the market.” Click here for the entire article.
The NAHB Nominations Committee has certified Rick Judson of Charlotte, North Carolina, as a candidate for NAHB Third Vice Chairman for the year 2010. 
National Membership Day is Tuesday, May 19. The theme for this year's membership drive is "Membership Defenders, Unite!" 
