On Monday, Georgia’s House of Representatives voted, by 111 to 51, in favor of a law, House Bill 1196, which prohibits government agencies from requiring sprinklers in one- or two-family dwellings. The Home Builders Association of Georgia was instrumental in getting that bill introduced and in crafting its language, according to Kelly Lass, the trade group’s executive vice president. The bill moves to the Senate for consideration on Thursday.

Georgia is among several states that have been pushing lawmakers to prevent the enforcement of a national building code, which goes into effect next January, that includes provisions for fire sprinklers to be installed in all new residential dwellings. That code, which members of the International Code Council (ICC) approved in a controversial vote in the fall of 2008, has ignited new skirmishes across the country between builders who resist construction mandates in general and insist sprinklers would make the cost of their homes prohibitive; and fire marshals who insist that sprinklers can prevent fatalities that in their absence might otherwise occur in houses that have become more vulnerable to the rapid spread of fire.

Despite aggressive lobbying by fire service groups, and endorsements by the Federal Emergency Management Administration and the Institute for Business & Home Safety, which represents insurers and reinsurers, only a few states—Pennsylvania, Iowa, California, New Hampshire, and South Carolina—so far have incorporated a residential fire sprinkler provision into their new codes. Maryland is moving in that direction, and communities within such states as Maine and Colorado will also require sprinklers in new homes.

More commonly, bills pending in several other states—which have often been introduced at the urging of their builder associations—would either postpone or nullify any code with a residential sprinkler component. Anti-sprinkler legislation in Iowa appears to be dead for the moment, but adoption of the new code would still be delayed for one- and two-family houses until 2013. New Jersey’s new governor, Chris Christie, has placed a 90-day moratorium on all new regulations and reportedly wants to excise the sprinkler requirement from the state’s updated building codes. In Texas, Gov. Rick Perry has signed legislation that prohibits municipalities in the state from adopting sprinkler ordinances.

“Right now, we’re just fighting battles one by one,” says John Viniello, president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), whose Web site includes a state-by-state legislative update.

On March 3, Viniello and other NFSA representatives met with Jerry Howard, the NAHB’s chief executive, and his staff to discuss ways the two groups might work together in states where a sprinkler code has been adopted, such as advocating adjustments in zoning and densities for sprinklered communities that might benefit builders and developers. Viniello says Howard promised to present this proposal to NAHB’s Executive Board by April 15. (A spokesperson for NAHB, Callie Schmidt, confirmed the meeting took place, but could not confirm that a date had been set for presenting items discussed to the executive board.)

Agreement between builders and the fire-fighting community is rare when fire sprinklers are at issue. Since the sprinkler mandate got written into the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC), builders have stepped up their lobbying efforts to thwart its acceptance and enforcement in their states and municipalities. Their efforts have been mostly successful, with a few setbacks.

Last week, an appellate court in Pennsylvania upheld that state’s new building code, which includes regulations requiring sprinklers in all new townhouses and one- and two-family homes. The Pennsylvania HBA had requested a preliminary injunction prohibiting the enforcement of any new building codes. The trade group in January filed a lawsuit calling for the state to roll back its building codes to 2006 regulations.

Scott Elliott, a spokesperson for this HBA, says the trade group contends that Pennsylvania does not have the constitutional right to turn over its building codes to an entity outside the state, which it would be doing, the HBA contends, by allowing the 2009 IRC to become the abiding code. Elliott notes that the Pennsylvania HBA is opposed not only to the new code’s sprinkler mandate, but also to a host of other changes—from limitations on duct lengths to increases on wall bracings and foundation anchors—that, the HBA estimates, would add $13,000 to the price of a house.

“This is about a building code that is out of control,” says Elliott. “Plus in Pennsylvania we have a fatal flaw in that the ICC code is adopted automatically in its entirety every three years. That is too often, and the changes and costs are too great.” The HBA is hoping that its lawsuit will be heard in May or June.

Much of those costs–just less than $8,000 of those added expenses, or $3.49 per square foot, on average—would derive from the installation of a sprinkler system. The cost of putting fire sprinklers in new homes remains the most contentious issue in this debate across the country, especially for builders that are still have trouble drumming up customers in a weak economy.

Fire service officials, to support their argument, point to a 2008 study, conducted for the NFSA’s Fire Prevention Research Foundation, which analyzed 30 house plans in 10 communities and found that the cost of sprinkler installation into a new home averaged $1.61 per square foot.

Building codes in Pennsylvania’s Upper Merion Township have required sprinkler systems in all new residential construction since 1988. The township’s chief fire marshal, John Waters, provided BUILDER with permit data from 2007 through 2009 for homes in which sprinklers had been installed into homes whose sizes range from 2,100 to 7,942 square feet. Those installations added, on average, between $1.49 and $1.82 per square foot to construction costs of the homes, and between 0.3% to 2.6% to their selling prices.

Waters concedes that sprinkler systems cost more to install in homes that draw water from wells (as many towns in Pennsylvania do) that might require larger pumps or supplemental water tanks to provide the 26 gallons per minute these systems are required to produce in the event of a fire. But he remains unconvinced that builders are open to finding solutions through compromise. And Waters bristles when builders challenge the expertise of fire service people in matters of safety.

“Builders don’t want to hear facts and regurgitate the same arguments they made 20 years ago,” says Waters. “When I ask ‘where are your experts,’ they ignore me. All of their arguments are based on emotion.”

NFSA, though, remains optimistic that sprinkler installation will eventually become more widespread. It has been working with the Center for Public Safety Excellence to develop an accredited sprinkler installer program, which would include classroom and field training, and insurance verification. Vineillo says the goal is to get this program launched in states where new sprinkler codes have been adopted by July 1.

By John Caulfield, senior editor for BUILDER magazine.

http://www.builderonline.com/safety/debate-over-sprinklers-in-new-homes-becomes-a-hot-issue-across-the-nation.aspx?cid=BLDR100325002

www.dvwise.com

Factors that have helped boost confidence include:

- Continued low interest rates
- Attractive home prices that appear to have stabilized in many markets
- The availability of the home buyer tax credit
- the improving employment market

Several limiting factors are still weighing down builder expectations, including the large number of foreclosed homes on the market, the lack of available credit for new and existing projects, and inappropriately low appraisals tied to the use of distressed properties as comps.

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for more than 20 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months, as well as asking builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers. Regionally, February’s HMI results were mixed. While the Midwest and South each registered two-point gains, to 13 and 19, respectively, the Northeast and West each registered one-point declines, to 19 and 14, respectively.

Matt Phair, HousingZone Contributing Editor
February 17, 2010
HousingZone

1. Traditional is the New Contemporary
Traditional will continue as the most popular kitchen design style in 2010, with contemporary following closely behind, while the Shaker style is seeing a surprisingly strong resurgence. Shades of whites and off-whites will be the most common kitchen colors in 2010, while brown, beige, and bone hues will also be popular.

2. Cherry on Top
Cherry will remain the most popular wood for kitchen cabinetry, followed closely by maple, while alder increases in use. As for the finishes placed on those cabinets, medium natural, dark natural, glazed, and white painted will all be common. Other colors of painted cabinetry and light natural finishes are in decline, however, as are distressed finishes.

3. Floored by Tile
Ceramic and porcelain tile, as well as natural stone tile, remain popular kitchen flooring options, but hardwood will dominate the kitchen landscape more than ever in 2010. For countertops, granite continues to be the most popular option, but quartz will nearly catch up in popularity. For backsplashes, ceramic or porcelain tile and glass will serve as the primary materials.

4. Flexible Faucets
Standard kitchen faucets will become less standard in 2010 in favor of more convenient models. Pull-out faucets continue to increase their market dominance, while pot filler faucets will also become more prevalent. Kitchen faucets will most often be finished in brushed nickel, followed by stainless steel, satin nickel, and — surprisingly — polished chrome.

5. Undercounter Refrigeration
French door and freezer-bottom are the two most popular styles of refrigerators, and side-by-side refrigerators remain a popular option. A surprising trend is the extent to which undercounter refrigerator drawers are being used in the latest kitchen designs. Perhaps even more surprising is that undercounter wine refrigerators have been recently specified by half of kitchen designers.

6. A Range of Cooking Options
The tried-and-true range continues to serve as the workhorse for cooking, although the combination of a cooktop and wall oven is beginning to overtake it. Gas will maintain its position as the most popular type of cooktop over electric, although induction cooking continues to gain in popularity due to its energy efficiency. 

Energy- and water-efficient appliances are here to stay.

7. Dishwasher-in-a-Drawer
Standard dishwashers, with the traditional door that pulls from the top down, will once again be easily the most common type in 2010. However, an increasing number of dishwasher drawers will be installed in kitchens this year for their convenience and their ability to wash small loads of dishes in each drawer, thereby saving water and electricity.

BATHROOMS
1. In With the Old, Out with the New
Traditional will be the most popular design style in bathrooms in 2010, as contemporary designs will be a distant second, followed by the Shaker style as an even more distant third. Beiges and bones will be the most common colors used in bathrooms, followed by whites and off-whites, and then by browns, indicating a somewhat subdued color palette this year.

2. Ceramic and Granite
Ceramic and porcelain tile will be the dominant flooring materials in bathrooms this year, while natural stone will continue to prove popular as well. Though increasingly popular in kitchens,hardwood flooring won’t become common in bathrooms in 2010. For vanity tops, granite will remain king, with quartz and marble also proving popular options.

Ceramic, granite, and porcelain tile presents a wide range of texture, color, and contrast. 
 

3. Simple Fixtures
Perhaps more than ever, the most common color for fixtures will be white. Bisque and off-white will be the only other fixture colors at all common in new or remodeled bathroom. For sinks, simple undermount models will be most popular, followed by integrated sink tops, drop-in sinks, vessel sinks, and pedestal sinks.

4. A Nickel for Every Finish
Faucet finishes in the bathroom are similar to those used in current kitchen designs, with brushed nickel continuing to lead the way in 2010. Polished chrome and satin nickel will also be incorporated into many bathrooms, just as they had been throughout 2009. These faucet finishes will be followed by bronze and stainless steel.

 The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a non-profit trade association with nearly 40,000 members that has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry for more than 45 years. NKBA.org provides consumers with an inspiration gallery of award-winning kitchen and bath designs, as well as articles, tips, an extensive glossary of remodeling terms, and illustrations and explanations of planning guidelines. At NKBA.org, consumers can also find certified kitchen and bath professionals in their areas, submit questions to NKBA experts, and order the free NKBA Kitchen & Bath Workbook.

NKBA News Release

www.dvwise.com

Average single family home sizes declined from 2,520 square feet in 2008 to 2,480 square feet in 2009, breaking nearly 30 years of uninterrupted growth. And the correction is likely to continue well into 2010, NAHB Assistant Vice President of Survey Research Rose Quint announced in a Wednesday press conference at the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas.

Will home sizes will beef back up as soon as the economy rebounds? Quint doesn’t think so. “First of all, you have the impact of first-time buyers, who will remain a very big share of housing market for the foreseeable future,” she predicted. “Second, the era of easy money where you go out and buy $800,000 worth of home is over. Today you have to put 20% down. And now that piggyback loans are not available, you are only going to buy what you need.” Those factors, combined with rising interest in energy efficiency, suggest that home sizes, which peaked two years ago, will now continue to level off, she said.

As houses shrink overall, so are their room counts. Last year the number of homes with three or more bathrooms declined for first time since 1992 from about 28% to 24%, according to NAHB figures. Bedroom counts are also dropping. The number of homes with 4 or more bedrooms fell from nearly 40% to about 32%.

The share of homes with two or more stories peaked in 2006 and is now also trending backwards.

When asked about their plans for 2010, an overwhelming majority of builders told NAHB that they will build lower priced models (95%) and smaller homes (96%) with a particular focus on energy savings and performance. Features such as insulated front doors, low-E windows, programmable thermostats, high-performance appliances and energy-efficient lighting were among the features builders said they are most likely to put in new homes.

Meanwhile, luxuries such as two-story foyers and master baths with multiple shower heads were among the goodies builders said they were least likely to include in new houses moving forward.

Cavernous foyers (now perceived as energy hogs) have fallen out of favor, but there is still a place for high ceilings. “Many builders will still try to save on costs and square footage by combining the great room and kitchen,” Quint said. “As they cut down on square footage, they make up for that loss by raising the ceiling height on the first floor to create a feeling of space.” Eight-foot ceilings on the first floor were on survey respondents “least likely to include” list, while great rooms and 9-foot ceilings on the main level topped the “most likely” list.

The results of a consumer survey of Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) readers, also announced during the press conference, suggests that home buyers are aligned with builders in their thinking. Features consumers said they most wanted in a new home included efficient HVAC systems (76%), Energy Star appliances (79%), efficient design (66%) and natural light (65%).

Some 67% of consumers said they wanted a kitchen with an everyday eating area, and 62% said they wanted a comfortable family gathering space. “There’s been a circling of the wagons for a lot of people, and they are focusing more on family together time,” said Eliot Nusbaum, the magazine’s executive editor of home design.

In that same survey, 65% of home buyers said they wanted an extra bedroom and bath, a desire which Nusbaum attributed to growing numbers of  adult children moving back home or elderly parents living under the same roof.

One thing today’s consumers are less interested in, according to BHG data, is master bedroom suites resembling hotel rooms. “There is much more of a saving and splurging mentality now,” Nusbaum said. “People want plush but not opulent. They would rather spend money in other places like the kitchen or bath, and they are willing to trade off on some things to get other things they want. Maybe having the high-end tile or stone means they spend less on wall treatments or counters. If they still want granite and stainless steel in the kitchen, something else has to give, whether it’s flooring or cabinets.”    by Jenny Sullivan

Jenny Sullivan is a senior editor covering architecture, design and community planning for BUILDER.

Winners received recognition in categories such as marketing and advertising, Web design, landscape design, interior merchandising, architecture/floor plans and special projects. Awards were also given to local home builders associations. 

The coveted Master Planned Community of the Year Award went to Impact Properties Group for its South Lakes community in Fuquay-Varina. Impact Properties Group is a member of the HBA of Raleigh-Wake County.

Tammie Smoot, of Move Inc., was named the Distinguished Associate of the Year.  Smoot is a member of the Charlotte and Raleigh-Wake HBAs

STARS Awards went to the following 54 recipients:

[Editor's Note: Winners are grouped according to geographic location.  Some winners are listed in multiple geographic locations (i.e. Durham/Chapel Hill and Raleigh; Charlotte and Lake Norman) and PSNC Energy is listed in the statewide category due to numerous HBA memberships. The last line of each award listing notes the HBA the winner is a member of.

An additional Outstanding Achievement (OA) Award was given in categories in which judges felt there was a second entry worthy of recognition, similar to an honorable mention.  OA awards are listed in a separate category at the end of this release. Please be sure to check both STARS and OA award winners before publication.]

STARS Awards Winnners

Ashe County

Best Internet Marketing/Advertising Project for a builder, developer, associate, realty company or community (Associate Award)

St. Germain Media Services LLC for the “Home Builders Support Career and Vocational Education” YouTube video

Ashe County Home Builders Association

Asheville Area 

Best Parade of Homes Publication (Large HBA)

Asheville HBA

Best Educational Effort (Large HBA)

Asheville HBA for the Asheville Home Builders Institute

Brunswick County Area

Best Logo Design for a builder, developer, associate or realty company

Blue Sky Building Company LLC

Brunswick County HBA

Best Single Family Detached Home with a sales price of $500,000 – $750,000

Blue Sky Building Company LLC for the Shoreline Drive residence

Brunswick County HBA

Best Single Family Detached Home with a sales price of $750,000 – $1 million

Blue Sky Building Company LLC for the Preserve Point Residence

Brunswick County HBA

Best Special Project-Millwork

Blue Sky Building Company LLC

Brunswick County HBA

Burlington Area

Best Single Family Detached “Green” Homes with a sales price $250,000-$500,000

DCI Homes, Inc. for the Georgian Grande

Alamance-Caswell HBA

Carteret County Area

Best Local HBA Website

Carteret County Home Builders Association

Charlotte Area (also see Lake Norman)

Best Brochure/Direct Mail for a community with an average sales price under $250,000

Wingfoot Building Group & Homes by David Simonini for Brighton Park

Charlotte HBA

*Note the Distinguished Associate of the Year mentioned above is a member of the Charlotte HBA.

Durham-Chapel Hill Area

Best New Homes Publication

New Homes & Ideas Magazine

Members of the Franklin County HBA, Johnston County HBA, HBA of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties and the Raleigh-Wake County HBA (also listed under Raleigh Area)

Best Billboard for a builder, developer, associate, realty company or community

Custom Home Exteriors for their creative mobile billboard

Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties

Best Single Family Detached Home with a sales price under $250,000

W.L. Bishop Construction Company for the Nubbin Cabin in Henderson, NC

Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties

Best Single Family Detached Home with a sales price $250,000 – $500,000                                                                 

Collins Design-Build, Inc. for the Courtland at Pleasant Green Woods in Durham

Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties

Best Single Family Detached Home over $1 million and 5,000 – 10,000 square feet

Choate Custom Homes, LLC for the Persimmion at the Estates at Chapel Ridge

Members of the Raleigh-Wake County Home Builders Association and the HBA of Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties (also listed under Raleigh Area)

Fayetteville Area

Best Parade of Homes Publication (Small to Midsize HBA)

Home Builders Association of Fayetteville

Harnett County Area

Best Internet Marketing/Advertising Project for a builder, developer, associate, realty company or community (STARS Award-Builder)

Brad D. Cummings Construction Co. for the company’s interactive Facebook page

Harnett County HBA

Hickory Area

Best HBA Parade of Homes Internet Website

Home Builders Association of Hickory-Catawba Valley

Lake Norman Area

Best Single Family Detached Home with a sales price over $1 million and under 5,000 square feet

DV Wise, Inc. for the Davidson Run Lane residence

Lake Norman Home Builders Association

Best HBA Member Communication-Single Piece or Campaign (Small to Midsize HBA)

Lake Norman HBA for their Super Heroes membership campaign

Best HBA Government Affairs Initiative (Small to Midsize HBA)

Lake Norman HBA for their “Fix Housing First” State of the Industry Luncheon

Best Single Family Detached “Green” Home with a sales price $500,000 – $1 million

Schreiner Custom Homes for the Mountain Cove Drive residence

Members of the Lake Norman HBA

Best Single Family Detached “Green” Home with a sales price over $1 million

LKN Properties, LLC for Villa Cerretta

Lake Norman HBA

Best Whole House Renovation under $500,000

Roger Layman Architecture for the renovation of a 1920s mill cottage in Davidson, NC

Lake Norman HBA

Best Whole House Renovation, $500,000 and over

Advanced Renovations Inc. for their Lake House transformation in Mooresville, NC

Lake Norman HBA

Best Kitchen Renovation

International Kitchen and Bath, Inc.

Lake Norman HBA

Best Home Addition

Perry Interior Design for “The Ultimate Man Cave”

Lake Norman HBA

Best Educational Effort (Small to Midsize HBA)

Lake Norman Home Builders Association for Lake Norman University

Macon County Area

Best Single Family Detached “Green” Home with a sales price under $250,000

Winter Sun Construction LLC for the Bee Tree Lane residence

Macon County HBA

Moore County Area

Best Website for a Community

Pinehurst Homes and Doninger Investment LLC for the Tradition of Old Town

Moore County Home Builders Association

Best Whole House Renovation under $500,000 (tie)

Jarrett Deerwester Construction for completely renovating a 111-year-old home in the heart of the historic district in downtown Southern Pines

Moore County Home Builders Association

Raleigh Area

Best Brochure/Direct Mail for a community with an average sales price $250,000 – $500,000

Heritage-Ammons Development Group

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

Best Logo Design for a community

Terramor Homes Inc. for the Village at Cleveland Springs

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

Best New Homes Publication

New Homes & Ideas Magazine

Members of the Franklin County HBA, Johnston County HBA, HBA of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties and the Raleigh-Wake County HBA (also listed under Durham/Chapel Hill Area)

Best Black and White Ad, greater than one-half page, for a builder, developer, associate, realty company or community

Impact Properties Group

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

Best Color Ad over a full page for a builder, developer, associate, realty company, or community

Impact Properties Group for South Lakes

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

Best Landscape Design

Heritage-Ammons Development Group

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

Best Interior Merchandising for a model with a sales price under $250,000

1^st American Builders for the Monticello in Renaissance Park

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

Best Interior Merchandising for a model with a sales price $250,000-$500,000

Impact Properties Group for “The Renwood” at South Lakes

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

Best Interior Merchandising for a model with a sales price $500,000- $1 Million:

Impact Properties Group for the “River Forest” at Highcroft Village

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

Best Single Family Detached Home over $1 million and 5,000 – 10,000 square feet

Choate Custom Homes, LLC for the Persimmion at the Estates at Chapel Ridge

Members of the HBA of Raleigh-Wake County and the HBA of Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties (also listed under Durham/Chapel Hill)

Best Single Family Detached Home over $1 million and over 10,000 square feet

Mike Young Homes and Leo Dowell Interiors for the Lakeview Drive residence

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

Best HBA Member Communication-Single Piece or Campaign (Large HBA)

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County for their “Do Business with a Member” campaign

Best HBA Community Project

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County for Operation Coming Home

Best HBA Government Affairs Initiative (Large HBA)

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County for “Taking Washington by Storm”

Best Special Marketing Project

Liberty Creative for “Green Speak,” an effort that educates realtors and ultimately consumers on the benefits of a green built home.

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

*Note the Community of the Year and Distinguished Associate of the Year winners mentioned above are from Raleigh.

Wilmington Area

Best Member Public Relations Effort

“Get your $8,000 Stimulus Campaign,” created and launched by 15 active members of the Wilmington Cape Fear HBA

http://www.getyour8000.com/index/c/supporters/

Winston-Salem Area

Best Brochure/Direct Mail piece for a project by a builder with less than 50 residences per year

Zack Rothrock Builders, Inc.

Winston-Salem HBA

Best Brochure/ Direct Mail piece for a project by a builder with more than 50 residences per year

Topsider Homes

Winston-Salem HBA

Best Newsletter for a builder, developer, associate or realty company

Topsider Homes

Winston-Salem-HBA

Best Color Ad, full page or under, for a builder, developer, associate, realty company, or community (Builder)

Zack Rothrock Builders, Inc. for the “What can your home be?” ad series

Winston-Salem HBA

Best Radio Commercial

Pine Hall Brick

Members of the Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Hickory-Catawba Valley, Davidson County and Greensboro HBAs

Best Internet Website for a Builder or Developer

Topsider Homes

Winston-Salem HBA 

Best Website for an associate, supplier or realty company

Builders Art & Graphics, Inc. for www.builderdisplayexpress.com

Winston-Salem HBA

Best Special Marketing Project

MKT Real Estate Group for Real Estate Radio for creatively promoting their company and educating consumers through radio

Winston-Salem HBA

Statewide

Best Color Ad, full page or under, for a builder, developer, associate, realty company, or community (Associate Award)

PSNC Energy for their builder ad series

Asheville, Hendersonville, Gaston, Hickory-Catawba Valley, Iredell, Cabarrus, Vance Granville, and Franklin County HBAs just to name a few.

Outstanding Achievement Awards

Asheville Area

Best Single Family Detached Home with a sales price over $1 million and under 5,000 square feet

Living Stone Construction for the Craftsman Cottage in Black Mountain

Asheville HBA

Carteret Area

Best Single Family Detached Home over $1 million and 5,000 – 10,000 square feet

Creative Carpentry and Woodworking, Inc. for the Sandfiddler Court residence

Members of the Carteret County HBA

Durham/Chapel Hill Area

Best Single Family Detached Home with a sales price of $500,000 – $750,000

JD Mahoney, Inc. for the Villa Sienna at Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill

Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties

Greenville Area

Best Single Family Detached Home over $1 million and over 10,000 square feet

Frank McLawhorn Construction for the Beach Road residence

Members of the Greenville-Pitt County HBA

Hickory Area

Best Internet Marketing/Advertising Project for a builder, developer, associate, realty company, or community (“Outstanding Achievement” Award)

RT Marketing inc. for their targeted Tibma Design/Build e-blasts

HBA of Hickory-Catawba Valley

Pinehurst/Moore County Area

Best Brochure/Direct Mail for a project by a builder with less than 50 residences per year

Bill Reaves Construction Co., Inc.

Moore County Home Builders Association

Best Whole House Renovation under $500,000

Pinehurst Homes, Inc. for the transformation of a 1950’s cottage in the historic district of Pinehurst

Moore County Home Builders Association

Raleigh Area

Best Internet Website for a Builder or Developer

Olde Heritage Builders

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

Best Website for an associate, supplier or realty company

National Art Interiors & Design

HBA of Raleigh-Wake County

Wilmington Area

Best HBA Parade of Homes Publication

Wilmington-Cape Fear HBA

Best Single Family Detached Home with a sales price under $250,000                                                   

Southern Homebuilders, Inc. for the Cambridge at Lanvale Forest

Wilmington-Cape Fear HBA  

The STARS Awards Gala is held in conjunction with the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference sponsored by the North Carolina Home Builders Association. NCHBA is a statewide trade association representing 65 local associations and more than 16,000 member firms involved in the residential construction industry.  A not-for-profit organization, the NCHBA provides its members with networking and educational opportunities and represents them in matters of government relations and advocacy.

www.DVWise.com

Caroline Sutton, executive director of the Asheville Home Builders Association, received the 2008 David G. Lloyd Memorial “New Executive Officer of the Year” Award, which honors the most outstanding executive officer in the country with three years or less experience.  During her tenure, Sutton and her staff have doubled the AHBA membership, added unique networking events and added an extensive education program for those in the home building industry.  This year marks the second consecutive year a North Carolina executive officer took home the prestigious award, with Raleigh-Wake HBA’s Tim Minton receiving the award last year.

The Lake Norman HBA received an impressive five awards: 

Best of the Lake Design Competition, an annual competition that allows designers, builders and trade craftsmen to showcase their talents and projects received the Best Member Recognition Program/Event award;

LNHBA Parade of Homes Plan Book was recognized as Best Communication to Members-Special Events Publication;

The Big Hunter 2008 LNHBA Membership Drive won for Best Membership Recruitment Plan Implemented;

Lake Norman HBA University received the Best Education Plan Implemented Award; and

LNHBA’s Web site, www.lnhba.com, was honored for Best HBA Web Site

The Asheville HBA took home honors for the Best Communication to Members – Newsletters/Newspapers for it monthly AHBA Blueprints newsletter.

Congratulations to Sutton and the Lake Norman and Asheville HBAs for their dedication and hard work.

Source: www.nchba.org

DV Wise

In addition to being limited to first-time home buyers, the tax credit:
- Is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
- Does not have to be repaid.
- Has income limits of $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples.
- Allows tax credit home buyers to participate in the mortgage revenue bond program; and
- Permits state housing finance agencies to help buyers at closing by advancing the credit amount as a loan using tax-exempt bond proceeds.
The Web site at www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com includes basic information about the tax credit and a detailed question and answer section. It also includes information about other housing-related and small business measures in the legislation and a number of home-buying resources for consumers.

The final stimulus bill also includes several other provisions that will help small businesses and otherwise bolster the housing market. For example, it will:
- Reinstate FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits of $729,750 in high-cost areas through the end of this year; – Temporarily allow exchange of LIHTC allocating authority for tax-exempt grants and appropriate $2 billion in HOME funding for affordable housing projects;
- Provide up to a 10-year deferral of tax due to business debt restructuring;
- Expand the net operating loss carryback period for small businesses from 2 years to 5 years for losses arising in the 2008 tax year; Extend the 25C existing home remodeler credit through the end of 2010,
- Increase the credit rate from 10% to 30%, increase its lifetime cap from $500 to $1,500, and expand the set of qualifying property; Provide an Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) patch for 2009;
- Increase bonus depreciation and Sec. 179 small business expensing for business investment in 2009;
- Increase the New Markets Tax Credit allocating authority for 2008 and 2009; and
- Delay for one year the start of the 3% government contractor withholding requirement (from 2011 to 2012).

Source: www.nchba.com

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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.”
“The home building industry is facing a tough time right now,” said 21CBEC Director Deborah Alford. “You may be searching for new approaches to building and selling homes and keeping your business successful.  We are striving to provide you with the tools, knowledge and experience you need to do just that.”

It is free to attend the Expo floor only. Simply register before Sept. 15, and you can visit the exhibit hall filled with more than 350 exhibits showcasing products and services.

In order to take advantage of general session seminars, you must purchase a full delegate badge at $75 ($100 after Sept. 15), which includes conference lunches, Expo floor access and unlimited general session courses. 
Continuing education fees vary. These fees include the course, full delegate registration, conference lunches and the Expo floor. Visit the Web site for details.

Online registration is easy.  Go to www.21buildingexpo.com and click on Attendees. 

Interested in exhibiting at 21CBEC? Contact Tracie Garrett at tgarrett@nchba.org or 800.676.7129 to sign up now!

Source: www.nchba.com

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“John beat over half the students in the country,” said his instructor, Frank Cuda. “I am really proud of how he competed and his plan is to return next year on the post secondary level. He is like a sponge in that he absorbs any information you give him – a real special student. He follows steps and procedures really well.”

Williams, who plans to enter building construction technology at Pitt Community College in the fall, claims he first took a liking to building in middle school during a woodworking class. Thereafter, he met Mr. Cuda and took carpentry all three years at Wakefield High in Raleigh, N.C.

“I hope to attend ECU after a couple of years,” Williams said. “I’d love to take construction management.”

When the student was asked what he liked best about Kansas City, he had no trouble answering. “Besides the actual competition itself, I enjoyed seeing the big city and meeting people from all over the country. Every state has a Skills pin and all the kids had a lot of fun swapping those.”

Instructor Cuda added one more thing about his young protégé. “John Williams is so grateful for everything he gets and this trip was no different. He has a sincere appreciation and is a nice young man with good manners. His parents did a really good job in raising him.”
 
Source: www.nchba.com

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Highlights include:

The two courses needed to receive the Certified Green Professional Designation
New course, NCBI – BM205, The Faces of Survival will give practical information and tidbits on facing the current economic downturn in the building industry today.
In addition to the NCBI and NAHB courses offered, you can choose from a wide selection of general session seminars from “Certifying Your Green Home: Details, Details, Details” to “Romancing Finance: What You Need to Know to Close More Sales.”
By signing up to attend a course, you will be able to visit the Expo floor at no charge.
Visit www.21buildingexpo.com and click on Education & Seminars to browse the course schedule.  Don’t miss out … courses fill up quickly!
 
Source: www.nchba.com

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