The NCHBA 2nd Quarter Meetings and Legislative Conference begins tomorrow, June 9, in Raleigh, and there is still time to join us. Stop by the registration table at the Renaissance Raleigh Hotel at North Hills to register on-site.
It is very important this year that we have a good representation when we meet with our legislators. Your first opportunity will be at the Legislative Reception, which will be held at the North Carolina Museum of History in downtown Raleigh Tuesday evening (June 9) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This is a great chance to meet your House and Senate members and begin a dialog on our most pressing issues. On Wednesday, June 10, we will meet with our legislators from 9 a.m. to noon at the General Assembly and ask members to vote favorably on our issues.
The Legislative Conference is open to all NCHBA members. Click here for a complete schedule of events.
Social Networking Seminar 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. The seminar will be from 12:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Registration is required. Tickets purchased on-site will be $28 and include lunch.
North Carolina bank Citizens South has been a leader among lenders when it comes to working with builders and AD&C loans. The bank used its TARP funds to make low interest loans to customers of its current home builder customers. Instead of forcing repayment, the banks went further into business with the builders and now both sides are winning.
NAHB is hosing an audio seminar “Making Lemonade with Lenders: Positive Responses to the AD&C Loan Crisis,” June 25, 2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT, that will discuss the bank’s efforts, provide further examples and recommend strategies and messaging that participants can use to discuss AD&C lending with lenders, government officials at the local, state and national level, and local media.
This audio seminar has valuable content for:
• Bankers at the local, regional and national level—Speakers will illustrate ways to deal with increased regulations and strategies for maintaining relationships with long-time customers.
• Builders and remodelers from small to large volume—The seminar will show effective ways to communicate with banks and possibly get more funding.
• Suppliers and NAHB associate members—The program will provide vital information on how the AD&C lending crisis is changing the relationship between banks and builders.
Speakers
• Chellie Hamecs, Assistant Vice President, NAHB Housing Finance Department - Hamecs will provide background information on the issue.
• Scott Meyer, Federal Lobbyist, NAHB – Meyer, a specialist on financial services legislation, will provide an update on the latest actions by Congress, regulators and banking institutions as well as effective lobbying tips.
• Kirk Hartley, Sales Manager, Builder/Renovation division, Bank of America Home Loans California - Hartley will provide the perspective of an NAHB member and representative of a lending institution.
Moderator
• Karl Eckhart, Political Director, NAHB - Eckhart will provide strategy and messaging for builders to effectively relate their experiences to local government officials so they can, in turn, apply pressure to local banks.
After the presentation, participants will be able to ask questions of the expert speakers. E-mail advance questions by Friday, June 19 to .
The registration fee for “Making Lemonade with Lenders” is $79. One registration fee per phone site enables as many people as can fit in a room to participate.To register, visit www.nahb.org/ADCLoanAudio. Registrants also will receive free online access to the archived seminar after June 25.
For more information, please contact Karl Eckhart at or 800-368-5242 x8126.
Thanks to all of your hard work, the May is BUILD-PAC Month contest raised over $35,000! As you all know, our goal this year is to raise participation and broaden our base. We had a total of 347 people contribute in the month of May and of those 136, or 40%, were new contributors. Thank you to all of the participating associations for getting your members excited and involved in BUILD-PAC. The following associations led their groups in the three categories:
Group One ($0-$800 Goal/> 80 Members) - Prize: $100 each Highest Percentage of Goal - Scotland County HBA (333% of goal)
Highest Percentage of Participation - Cleveland County HBA (20% of members)
Highest Percentage of New Contributors - Cleveland County HBA (4% new members)
Group Two ($801 - $2,000 Goal/81-200 Members) - Prize: $200 each
Highest Percentage of Goal - Wilkes County HBA (518% of goal)
Highest Percentage of Participation - Franklin County HBA (15% of members)
Highest Percentage of New Contributors - Franklin County HBA (8% new members)
Group Three ($2,001 - $4,999 Goal/201-499 Members) - Prize: $300 each Highest Percentage of Goal - Moore County HBA (320% of goal)
Highest Percentage of Participation - Northeastern HBA (13.79% of members)
Highest Percentage of New Contributors - Moore County HBA (10% new members)
Group Four ($5,000 + Goal/500+ Members) - Prize: $400 each Highest Percentage of Goal - Fayetteville HBA (60% of goal)
Highest Percentage of Participation - Fayetteville HBA (6% of members)
Highest Percentage of New Contributors - Fayetteville HBA (3% new members)
Not only did the winners excel in this contest, but these associations have met or exceeded their 2009 annual BUILD-PAC goal as of the end of May:
Wilkes County HBA - 518%
McDowell County HBA - 448%
Scotland County HBA - 333%
Moore County HBA - 322%
Cleveland County HBA - 177%
Craven-Pamlico Cos. HBA - 138%
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s contest and supported NCHBA BUILD-PAC. Congratulations to all of the winners and we hope you continue to make BUILD-PAC a priority in 2009!
The State & Local Government Affairs Committee introduced at the 2009 Spring Board of Directors meeting a new process for considering the State & Local Issues Fund Applications. This new system was developed to make the application process more accessible to a greater number of applicants, and in turn save HBAs the cost associated with traveling to Board Meetings for the sole sake of making a pitch/presentation to the SLGA Committee.
The application and responsibilities associated with the application will for the most part remain the same. The main difference is applicants interaction with the committee will now be accomplished over teleconference rather than an in person presentation.
The next deadline for the State and Issues Fund applications is August 1, 2009.
Contact NAHB staff members Alex Strong at 800.368.5242 x8279 or Beth Ambrose at 800.368.5242 x8253 for more information.
The STARS awards program honors builders, associates, realtors, advertising professionals and many others who make major contributions to the residential home building industry. Enter your favorite projects, and then join us for an evening of excitement on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at the Hilton Charlotte Center City Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Please note that category numbering has changed slightly this year, with the addition of a brand new category - Best Internet Marketing/Advertising Project - to the marketing and advertising section of the program. Also, pricing has been reworked for the Single Family Detached Home and Attached Home Plan categories.
Entries will be accepted now through July 31, 2009. Don’t be left out of this exciting event! Enter today!
Registration for the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference (21CBEC) in Charlotte Sept. 16-18 is officially open. 21CBEC is one of the fastest growing regional builder shows in the nation, with attendance projected to surpass 5,000.
If you are a builder, remodeler, realtor, subcontractor or anyone else involved in the home building industry, you don’t want to miss this chance to see a large array of products and services by the industry’s leading manufacturers and suppliers. In addition, a three-day educational conference includes a line-up of more than 50 general session seminars, North Carolina Builder Institute courses and NAHB University of Housing classes ranging from “Green Building” to “Thriving in Times of Uncertainty.”
Why should you sign up now?
Get free admittance to the Expo floor. Simply register before Sept. 15, and you can visit the exhibit hall filled with more than 350 exhibits showcasing products and services for FREE!
Have your pick of the more than 50 general session seminars, NCBI courses and NAHB courses. Act now ... courses such as those needed to fulfill the Certified Green Professional designation fill up quickly!
Get a discount on a full delegate badge, which includes conference lunches, Expo floor access and unlimited general session courses.
Be registered to win a 4-day, 3-night stay at the Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, Florida.
The Charleston Trident Home Builders Association and the Sustainability Institute are joining together to bring the first Green Educational Conference and Tradeshow to the Charleston region. Atlantic Green will be held June 19-20 at 10 StoreHouse Row in the Navy Yard at Noisette.
The Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association is offering both NAHB courses required to achieve the NAHB Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation. Green Building for Building Professionals will be offered June 22-23. Cost for members is $395 and $445 for nonmembers. Business Management for Building Professionals will be offered June 24. Cost is $195 for members and $245 for nonmembers. Both classes will be taught by Tom Gotschall and will be held at the UNCW Madeline Suite. For more information contact Tyler Newman at (910) 779-2611 or
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The Green Home Builders of the Triangle is offering the Green Building for Building Professionals class Aug. 31 & Sept. 1 in Chapel Hill. The class is one of two courses that is required for the Certified Green Professional designation and will be taught by Michael Chandler of Chandler Design-Build. Fees are $325 for members of the Green Home Builders of the Triangle; $350 for HBA members; and $425 for nonmembers. Click here for the registration form. About the instructor:Michael Chandler has been building solar and green homes for over 30 years. His company’s projects have been seen in Fine Homebuilding Magazine and Natural Home Magazine. Michael also has a blog on GreenBuildingAdvisor.com.
Bolstering GSEs Key To Future Of Nation's Housing Finance System
In contemplating the future status of housing government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) yesterday told Congress it is critical for the federal government to provide a backstop to the housing finance system to ensure a reliable and adequate flow of affordable housing credit.
Testifying before the House Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla., said that NAHB supports changes to the structure and operations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to enable them to support mortgage market liquidity and address affordable housing finance needs without creating excessive taxpayer risk. Click here for the entire article.
Builders Serving Mature Home Buyer Market See More Consumer Interest
Builders of single-family housing for the mature home buyer market reported an increase in traffic of prospective buyers during the first quarter of this year, according to the 55+ Housing Market Index (55+ HMI) released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The component measuring traffic rose to 14, up from nine in the last quarter. The reported sales component, however, dropped five index points to 12 from the previous quarter’s 17. The drop in the reported sales component pushed the overall 55+ HMI down from 16 to 14.
“A strong and growing number of retirees and empty-nest households are interested in either downsizing or moving to a more user-friendly home – especially if it’s near their existing community,” said David Crowe, NAHB’s chief economist. “But the current market still presents significant obstacles to homeowners who need to sell an existing home before buying a more appropriate one. That situation is holding many mature consumers back from moving.” Click here for the entire article.
The STARS awards program honors builders, associates, realtors, advertising professionals and many others who make major contributions to the residential home building industry. Enter your favorite projects, and then join us for an evening of excitement on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at the Hilton Charlotte Center City Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina.
