Voices of the "Next Generation"

Associations throughout the country, including the HBAGTA are surveying the "Next Generation" to find out how we can best serve them in the years to come.  If you were born after 1965 and work for any company in the Home Building or Remodeling Industry, please take the time to complete this survey: "Your Future In The Home Building & Remodeling Industry". 

At least 20 (twenty) respondents who complete BOTH sections of the survey will be eligible to win a $100 gift card! 

If you have any questions regarding your qualifications to take the survey or if you would like more information, contact Kathy Maisonville, Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area at 231.946.2305 or kathy@hbagta.com.

CLICK BELOW TO ACCESS THE SURVEY:

Your Future In The Home Building & Remodeling Industry

New Website Helps Protect Homeownership

America’s home owners and home builders celebrate National Homeownership Month in June, bringing attention to the more than 75 million Americans who own their homes, and the millions more who aspire to achieve the American dream of homeownership. But it is also important for American families to know that homeownership is under attack. Legislative and regulatory proposals now under consideration by government policymakers would greatly harm home owners, home buyers, the housing market and the nation's economy.

To educate Americans about the threats to homeownership and to provide opportunities for current and future home owners to take action to protect it, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has launched a website, www.ProtectHomeownership.com. The site features expert economic analysis and reports, data from homeownership surveys and polls, and the answers to many frequently asked questions about housing and homeownership.

ProtectHomesownership.com highlights the threats to homeownership by describing how tax, legislative and regulatory policies currently under consideration would scale back or eliminate the mortgage interest deduction and make mortgages and small business loans unaffordable and difficult to obtain. It tells how finance and credit-related issues are making it difficult for creditworthy, financially responsible families to buy a home and threaten to ultimately prevent millions of families from ever becoming home owners.

The site documents homeownership's importance to individual households and to local, state and national economies. It shows how new home construction and remodeling presently account for about 15 percent of the nation's total economy, and how the financial issues are impeding production of new homes. The economic impact of home building includes construction of single-family and multifamily homes, remodeling and the countless products and services that are related to those activities. 

Protecthomeownership.com also empowers the American public to take positive action to support and protect this very important aspect of American life. Visitors are encouraged to sign an online petition urging Congress to keep housing a national priority, and to join social media communities on Facebook.com/ProtectHomeownership and Twitter.com/4Homeownership.

Information is provided about how to participate in Homeownership Rallies that are being held in a number of communities in 2012. The first rally, in Columbia, S.C., drew almost 1,000 people to the statehouse grounds to voice their support and focus the government’s attention on critical housing issues.

For more information on the impact of housing and homeownership, go to www.hbagta.com or www.ProtectHomeownership.com.  

Remodeling Market Index Rises to Five-Year High

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 - Remodeling sentiment rose to the highest level in five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter of 2011. Released today, the RMI increased to 46.6 in the fourth quarter from 41.7 in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the RMI component measuring current market conditions rose to 48.4 from 43.0 in the previous quarter. The RMI component measuring future indicators of remodeling business was also positive, increasing to 44.8 from 40.4 in the previous quarter.

An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is lower (compared to the prior quarter) than report it is higher. The overall RMI averages ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future activity.

"As more consumers remain in their homes rather than move in this economy, remodelers benefited from a gradual increase in home improvement activity, taking us to a five-year high," said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Bob Peterson, CGR, CAPS, CGP, a remodeler from Ft. Collins, Colo. "2011 ended on a strong note for the remodeling industry."

Current market conditions improved significantly in all four regions over the third quarter of 2011. The RMI reported higher market activity in two important categories: major additions 52.3 (from 45.2) and minor additions 50.1 (from 45.7).

Future market indicators in each region also experienced gains from the previous quarter. Two of the indices reported a level over 50: calls for bids at 50.7 (from 45.4) and appointments for proposals at 50.1 (from 43.3), while work committed for the next three months only rose to 31.5 (from 29.9).

"With several key components above 50, the latest RMI provides reason for guarded optimism going forward," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "The residential remodeling market has been improving gradually, mirroring the trend in other segments of the housing market. Stringent lending requirements and economic uncertainty continue to be a drag on demand, but we expect a modest growth in remodeling activity to continue throughout 2012."

For more information about remodeling, visit www.nahb.org/remodel.

New Exhibits, Latest Education Tracks To Be Unveiled At International Builders' Show

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 - Excitement is building for the National Association of Home Builders' 2012 International Builders' Show (IBS) Feb. 8-11 as planners report pre-registration figures up nearly a quarter over this time last year and dozens of exhibitors have snapped up remaining booths in the last two weeks.

The Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., will be packed with IBS events featuring expert speakers, opportunities for networking and entertainment, nearly 175 outstanding education sessions, home tours and more than 700 exhibitors with the products and services that make it the largest light commercial construction show in the world.

Home builders, remodelers, designers, architects and developers will fill the classrooms and trade show floor to learn about and examine the latest energy-efficient appliances and insulation products, technical improvement and innovation in roofing, decking and other building supplies, new design trends for the kitchen, bath and outdoor living areas--and everything in between.

"I do about 10 shows a year, but if you said to me I could only do one, it would be this one," said Brian Stowell, president of Crown Point Cabinetry in Claremont, N.H. The company is exhibiting at the International Builders' Show for the third year in a row. In a still struggling housing market, "unless you are there, you are not going to be in front of the people who are doing the jobs," he said.

They will also gain a better understanding of the country's economic outlook at a special presentation by Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke open to all credentialed attendees on Feb. 10.

Thirteen tracks of education--from "Remodeling" and "Green Building and Sustainability" to "Business Opportunities and New Markets"--offer a wealth of information to professionals in all segments of the industry. Sessions detail tools for innovative project financing in a tough lending market, social media tactics specific to new home buyers and other effective marketing tactics, advanced framing techniques, consumer preference surveys for the 50+ buyer--and more.

"Outstanding networking opportunities, special displays and product information for niche markets such as universal design and custom building, and the signature educational events that only NAHB can provide--each of those is reason enough to make plans to attend the International Builders' Show," said NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev.

Highlights of the opening ceremonies include appearances by hiker Aron Ralston, who survived a harrowing trip through a remote Utah canyon that is retold in the movie 127 Hours, and magicians Penn & Teller.

"I encourage all my home building industry colleagues to visit the Show website at www.buildersshow.com for registration information and a preview of the many activities and events we have planned--and I hope to see you at the International Builders' Show," he said.