The January 9th HBA General Membership meeting will be held at Waara Technologies located at 144 Hall Street in the Warehouse District. Todd Waara and his team will showcase their new Theatre Room that is controlled by an ipad. It's a must see!" Waara Technologies will also introduce HBA members and guests to the new 3D TV's into the showroom - complete with surround sound and popcorn!
Do you have clients that want to view a webcam of their house on their iphone while they are in vacationing in Florida? Waara Technologies can do that and Todd will show you how.
The Builder Forum at 4:30 p.m. that night will highlight our newest member perk, “You Rang”. This application will help clients and fellow members find all of your business info with their iPhone or Android. You don’t want to miss this fun, interactive and informative evening.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Statement From NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen on Proposal to Raise Mortgage Fees to Pay for the Payroll Tax Extension
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 - Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev., today issued the following statement on a congressional plan to raise fees charged by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and use them to help pay for an extension of this year's payroll tax cut through 2012:
"Congress is essentially proposing to raise taxes on millions of potential home buyers in order to pay for a payroll tax cut and other non-housing legislative initiatives. With the housing market struggling to regain its footing, such a short-sighted move would be extremely counterproductive and threaten the fragile economic recovery.
"The guarantee fees (g-fees) that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac charge lenders to protect against credit-related losses should not be used for purposes unrelated to the safety and soundness of the housing finance system.
"Just as we are beginning to see modest signs of improvement in scattered housing markets across the nation where employment is gaining and consumer confidence is rising, Congress is tampering with g-fees and needlessly raising the cost of buying a home. This will jeopardize the tenuous rebound and is the last thing this economy needs."
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Media Advisory: IBS Attendees Invited to Special Session With Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke
December 7, 2011 -
WHAT:
Attendees of the 2012 International Builders Show (IBS) will have the exclusive opportunity to hear Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke deliver remarks during a special session at the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) board of directors meeting on Friday, February 10 at 12:30 pm.
The event, held in the Valencia Ballroom of the Orange County Convention Center, will have limited general seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
WHEN:
Friday, Feb. 10, 2012
12:30 p.m. ET
WHERE:
Orange County Convention Center
Valencia Ballroom
Orlando, Fla.
TO ATTEND:
The special session with Chairman Bernanke is open to all registered attendees of the 2012 International Builders Show; however seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register for IBS, please visit www.BuildersShow.com/Register.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: For information on complimentary press registration, please visit www.BuildersShow.com/Press. Please contact Liz Thompson at (202) 266-8495, ethompson@nahb.org or Paul Lopez at (202) 266-8409, plopez@nahb.org with any questions.]
WHAT:
Attendees of the 2012 International Builders Show (IBS) will have the exclusive opportunity to hear Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke deliver remarks during a special session at the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) board of directors meeting on Friday, February 10 at 12:30 pm.
The event, held in the Valencia Ballroom of the Orange County Convention Center, will have limited general seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
WHEN:
Friday, Feb. 10, 2012
12:30 p.m. ET
WHERE:
Orange County Convention Center
Valencia Ballroom
Orlando, Fla.
TO ATTEND:
The special session with Chairman Bernanke is open to all registered attendees of the 2012 International Builders Show; however seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register for IBS, please visit www.BuildersShow.com/Register.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: For information on complimentary press registration, please visit www.BuildersShow.com/Press. Please contact Liz Thompson at (202) 266-8495, ethompson@nahb.org or Paul Lopez at (202) 266-8409, plopez@nahb.org with any questions.]
Persistent Tight Lending Conditions for Home Builders Threaten Economic Recovery
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- The commercial banks on which home builders and developers largely rely to finance their projects continued in this year's third quarter to hold tight reins on acquisition, development and construction loans (AD&C), according to the most recent quarterly survey by NAHB's Economics and Housing Policy Group on the availability of credit to the housing industry.
"Restoring the flow of credit to housing is critical for the industry to rebound, provide jobs and boost the economy," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev.
More than half of the single-family builders and developers surveyed by NAHB indicated they had decided to put any new construction or land activity on hold until the financing climate improves.
This has broad repercussions for housing and the economy. With inventories of new homes nearly depleted in many markets, builders should be gearing up to meet demand, create new jobs and keep the expansion moving forward. Unfortunately, production remains stymied because builders in these locations cannot get credit from lending institutions to begin work on new homes.
In normal times, housing accounts for more than 17 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. Constructing 100 new-homes generates more than 300 full-time jobs and $8.9 million in local, state and federal tax revenue that supports local schools and communities across the land.
"There can be no economic recovery without a housing recovery," said Nielsen. "While NAHB's Improving Market Index shows several housing markets around the nation are slowly starting to mend, a full-fledged revival will not take hold until we resolve the ongoing credit problems for home builders."
NAHB has been working to obtain a legislative solution on Capitol Hill.
On May 5, Reps. Gary Miller (R-Calif.) and Brad Miller (D-N.C.) introduced H.R. 1755, the Home Construction Lending Regulatory Improvement Act of 2011, to address specific regulatory impediments to the flow of credit needed by home builders. That measure currently has 80 cosponsors, and NAHB is seeking a companion bill in the Senate.
Of the minority of builders who sought AD&C loans in the third quarter, few saw improvement in the lending climate over the previous quarter and a significant share saw conditions continue to deteriorate.
Forty-eight percent of those polled said they had looked for financing for single-family construction in the third quarter.
Only 8 percent said the availability of financing for single-family projects was getting better (compared to the previous quarter), 61 percent said it was unchanged and 31 percent reported it had worsened.
Survey respondents who indicated that lenders were clamping down further on credit availability in the third quarter noted several ways in which the tightening was occurring:
· 77 percent said lenders were reducing the amount they were willing to lend.
· 75 percent reported seeing the allowable loan-to-value ratio being lowered.
· 66 percent found lenders who were not making any new real estate loans.
· 63 percent said they encountered lenders who were requiring personal guarantees or collateral not related to the project.
Lenders most often told builders they were tightening on loans because the regulators were forcing them to do so.
Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed said they were given this reason for restrictions on new AD&C loans and 52 percent heard it was the reason for tightening on outstanding loans.
"Restoring the flow of credit to housing is critical for the industry to rebound, provide jobs and boost the economy," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev.
More than half of the single-family builders and developers surveyed by NAHB indicated they had decided to put any new construction or land activity on hold until the financing climate improves.
This has broad repercussions for housing and the economy. With inventories of new homes nearly depleted in many markets, builders should be gearing up to meet demand, create new jobs and keep the expansion moving forward. Unfortunately, production remains stymied because builders in these locations cannot get credit from lending institutions to begin work on new homes.
In normal times, housing accounts for more than 17 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. Constructing 100 new-homes generates more than 300 full-time jobs and $8.9 million in local, state and federal tax revenue that supports local schools and communities across the land.
"There can be no economic recovery without a housing recovery," said Nielsen. "While NAHB's Improving Market Index shows several housing markets around the nation are slowly starting to mend, a full-fledged revival will not take hold until we resolve the ongoing credit problems for home builders."
NAHB has been working to obtain a legislative solution on Capitol Hill.
On May 5, Reps. Gary Miller (R-Calif.) and Brad Miller (D-N.C.) introduced H.R. 1755, the Home Construction Lending Regulatory Improvement Act of 2011, to address specific regulatory impediments to the flow of credit needed by home builders. That measure currently has 80 cosponsors, and NAHB is seeking a companion bill in the Senate.
Of the minority of builders who sought AD&C loans in the third quarter, few saw improvement in the lending climate over the previous quarter and a significant share saw conditions continue to deteriorate.
Forty-eight percent of those polled said they had looked for financing for single-family construction in the third quarter.
Only 8 percent said the availability of financing for single-family projects was getting better (compared to the previous quarter), 61 percent said it was unchanged and 31 percent reported it had worsened.
Survey respondents who indicated that lenders were clamping down further on credit availability in the third quarter noted several ways in which the tightening was occurring:
· 77 percent said lenders were reducing the amount they were willing to lend.
· 75 percent reported seeing the allowable loan-to-value ratio being lowered.
· 66 percent found lenders who were not making any new real estate loans.
· 63 percent said they encountered lenders who were requiring personal guarantees or collateral not related to the project.
Lenders most often told builders they were tightening on loans because the regulators were forcing them to do so.
Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed said they were given this reason for restrictions on new AD&C loans and 52 percent heard it was the reason for tightening on outstanding loans.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
2012 HBAGTA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
The 2012 HBAGTA Membership Directory is currently under construction. In the process of publishing this annual directory, the HBAGTA looks to it's members to support the association with their advertising dollars. The HBAGTA will be partnering with a new Smart Phone App, "You Rang", that will allow consumers and professionals to find your business right on their smart phone based on location and type! Any HBAGTA member that advertises in the 2012 Directory will be included in the "You Rang" listing for one (1) full year FREE! This service is valued at $75!
In addition to this great benefit, we are also offering any of our member businesses who place a full page advertisement an additional opportunity to advertise on the HBAGTA web site. The HBAGTA will offer an advertsing/logo placement on the HBAGTA web site (153 x 153) for one (1) full year for FREE for any member who purchases a full page ad! This service is valued at $250!
You can download the advertising contract HERE or you can visit the HBAGTA web site at www.hbagta.com and visit the Advertising Opportunity page. Marketing & Event Coordinator, Kerry Gartland, will be calling all HBAGTA members to include them in this great marketing opportunity!
The HBAGTA Membership Directory is an annual publication that is distributed within the 5 county areas of Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Grand Traverse. Directories will be place in HBAGTA member businesses as well as at the HBAGTA office. The Directory is also distributed at the annual Home Builders EXPO!
For information and questions, contact Kerry Gartland at 946.2305 ext 15 or email at kerry@hbagta.com.
In addition to this great benefit, we are also offering any of our member businesses who place a full page advertisement an additional opportunity to advertise on the HBAGTA web site. The HBAGTA will offer an advertsing/logo placement on the HBAGTA web site (153 x 153) for one (1) full year for FREE for any member who purchases a full page ad! This service is valued at $250!
You can download the advertising contract HERE or you can visit the HBAGTA web site at www.hbagta.com and visit the Advertising Opportunity page. Marketing & Event Coordinator, Kerry Gartland, will be calling all HBAGTA members to include them in this great marketing opportunity!
The HBAGTA Membership Directory is an annual publication that is distributed within the 5 county areas of Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Grand Traverse. Directories will be place in HBAGTA member businesses as well as at the HBAGTA office. The Directory is also distributed at the annual Home Builders EXPO!
For information and questions, contact Kerry Gartland at 946.2305 ext 15 or email at kerry@hbagta.com.
House Passes Flexible Code Cycle Bill
The Michigan House of Representative has taken the first step to restoring sanity to Michigan’s
construction code process. House Bill 4561, the Flexible Code Cycle bill introduced by State
Representative Joe Havemam, R-Holland, was approved on Thursday by a bipartisan vote of 68 to 39.
Haveman’s measure was supported by the Michigan Municipal League, the Michigan Association of
Realtors, the Small Business Association of Michigan, the American Wood Council, the National
Federation of Independent Business, the Coalition for a Fair Energy Code as well as the Michigan
Association of Home Builders. The bill now goes to the Michigan State Senate where it is expected to be referred to the Senate Regulatory Reform Committee.
The measure was actually approved twice. The first was House Roll Call 518 when the bill tallied a 68
to 38 vote count. Almost immediately after the first vote was taken the House Majority Floor Leader
asked for a second vote on the bill in order to allow a representative who was off the floor talking
with the Lieutenant Governor a chance to vote on the bill. Roll Call 519 ended with a vote of 68 to
39.
Individual representatives were heavily lobbied by a formidable national coalition who opposed this
common sense reform. That coalition included makers of insulation products who gain every time a
more stringent and expensive energy code is adopted, fire sprinkler manufacturers and fire officials
who demand residential sprinklers in all homes, the electrical manufacturers backing arc
‐fault interrupters, and the private companies that create the code and then profit every time a new edition is published.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)