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Your Input Needed on New NAHB Green Building Standard
Next Thursday, September 20, at 2:00 p.m. EDT, NAHB will host a conference call to gather public comment on the draft National Green Building Standard. The draft National Green Building Standard and public comment form are available at this link.
Specific details about how to join the call are available from Carmel McGuire at cmcguire@nahb.com.
The new standard, which has been developed by consensus committee and will be promulgated through the building code system, will be the first ANSI-certified standard related to green building practices. It is significant to apartment and condo developers because it is also the only standard to incorporate multifamily development practices and is less expensive to implement than the LEED rating system.
NAHB Multifamily is urging member companies to designate the appropriate person within their firm to review the draft standard and participate on the upcoming conference call.
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Member Action Alert: House Will Consider FHA Reform Next Week
NAHB has been a long-time proponent of FHA revitalization, and testified before Congress this spring in support of FHA reform bill H.R. 1852, which will come up for discussion in the House next week. This legislation will give FHA greater flexibility to help borrowers, while providing financing alternatives that will calm the volatile mortgage market. NAHB is asking members to contact their congressional representatives to urge support for this important bill. Members can access NAHB’s grassroots network, Builderlink, to contact their representatives, at this link.
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HUD Budget Moving Forward, but Time Frame Remains Uncertain
While the Senate acted to pass the Transportation/Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill and name members to a conference committee with the House, no meetings of that committee have been scheduled, nor are any expected by the Sept. 30 appropriations deadline. The conferences are likely to take a number of weeks, and the possibility exists that the President might make good his threats to veto this and other appropriations bills.
In light of the time crunch, House and Senate leaders have begun talks on the timing of a Continuing Resolution so that the business of government will continue uninterrupted until such time as a budget is approved.
For a full discussion of this situation, including a list of the Senate’s funding levels for key housing programs, view this link. E-mail any additional questions to Jenna Hamilton.
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The Tax Man Cometh, and He’s Looking for Evasion and Fraud
A recent IRS publication, while fairly basic, does give anyone in the construction industry a heads-up to the fact that contractors will continue to be targeted by IRS agents looking for unpaid taxes. Read the bulletin at this link. For more information, e-mail Rob Dietz or call him at 800-368-5242 x8285.
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Important Court Decision Closes Loophole, Preserves Builders’ Insurance Coverage
Many insurers have been interpreting builders’ liability policies in a way that excludes coverage for a problem cause by faulty workmanship on the part of a subcontractor. If the courts had agreed, it would have created a gap in coverage that would have been difficult for general contractors to manage. But the Texas Supreme Court recently ruled that a problem caused by a sub was sufficient to activate a builder’s general liability coverage. Read the summary of the decision at this link. For more information, e-mail David Jaffe or call him at 800-368-5242 x8317.
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Gross Domestic Product Growth Slows
This week’s issue of Eye on the Economy explains what’s behind the latest bad news: the new weakness in the GDP, the surprising drop in new jobs, and the continuing deterioration of the housing sector. To subscribe at no charge, view this link.
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NAHB Board Approves New Resolutions during Fall Meeting in Seattle
The following resolutions were approved by the NAHB Board of Directors on Sept. 8 in Seattle.
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Calendar: Shows and Awards
- NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Awards Calls for Entries — Now!
Past winners and other savvy marketers are already pulling their teams together to produce an award-winning entry to the 2008 Pillars of the Industry Awards, the multifamily housing industry's most prestigious honors. The annual awards spotlight excellence in more than 30 categories representing all facets of the multifamily housing industry: apartment and condo design, development, marketing, management and individual achievement. A distinguished panel of judges representing a broad range of expertise in these areas will judge the entries in January, 2008.
The Pillars awards are considered a showcase of future trends and innovation, and “they showcase the best and most creative work in our industry," said Leonard Wood, chairman of NAHB's Multifamily Leadership Board and director of Wood Partners, in Atlanta.
Getting started early means you won’t miss the good-weather window for great photos of your projects! Go to this link and Apply Now!
- Sunbelt Builder’s Show, Featuring Multifamily Speakers — Sept. 27-29
The 2007 Sunbelt Builders Show™ will be held September 27–29 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas/DFW. This year’s Show features two events designed specifically for the multifamily development community. Start with an entertaining and valuable session on winning designs by Pillars Award-winners Stephanie Moore of Moore Design Group and Ron Harwick of James, Harwick + Partners Inc. These Dallas-based leaders in the multifamily industry will be sharing their wealth of design knowledge and experience. Don’t miss it on Thursday, September 27.
Then join colleagues for Sunbelt’s “Higher Densities, Higher Profits” Luncheon. Learn about innovative development solutions and marketing techniques from an expert, Spencer Stuart Jr. of Pillars Award-winning Legacy Partners Residential Development Inc. And don’t forget to visit NAHB’s Multifamily Council booth on the trade show floor! Take a friend to the show and hand them a free pass to the exhibit floor, available at this link. To register for the Show and for more information, please go to www.sunbeltbuildersshow.com.
NAHB’s SAFE Awards honor builders and contractors who have developed and implemented high-quality construction safety programs, as well as government officials and NAHB affiliates who have worked to advance safety in the residential construction industry. One of the ten entry categories is Multifamily Safety Program of the Year.
For the full story, including entry requirements and profiles of past winners, view this Web page. To see the list of categories and a link to the application process, view this page.
Attend the conference for a crash course in media relations, or an intensive intro to Green building, or an update from your colleagues on all the issues that HBAs are dealing with nationwide. And CNN commentator Paul Begala will be filling you in on the political scene with his keynote address. For more information, or to register online, view this link.
The National Housing Endowment funds an annual awards program for NAHB members who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to bettering their communities and promoting the spirit of giving so prevalent in the residential building industry.
Eight winners will be chosen to designate cash awards ranging from $10,000 to $1,000 to the charity each winner chooses. There is no fee to enter. For more details and application information, view this page.
Early Builders’ Show information and online registration are now available. The closest hotels fill up first, so register, and reserve your spot soon!
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Resources: RAM Designation Self-Study; Legal Guide to Warranties
- Self-Study Guide for Registered in Apartment Management (RAM) Designation
A self-study guide designed to prepare property management professionals for the Registered in Apartment Management (RAM) designation has been released by NAHB’s University of Housing. The study guide is a companion to the RAM textbook, Residential Property Management. RAM candidates who use the self-study guide are eligible to sit for the RAM exam without completing the 40 hours of course work usually required to earn the designation. Exams are offered at the National Housing Center in Washington, DC, as well as at local Home Builders Associations across the country. RAM is the longest-running, most respected property management education and designation program in the industry.
To obtain the self-study materials or to register for the exam, e-mail RAMinfo@nahb.org or call the Professional Designation Helpline at 800-368-5242 x8154.
- NAHB Book About Warranties Helps Avoid Costly Mistakes
Written by NAHB’s legal experts and available from BuilderBooks.com®, “Warranties for Builders and Remodelers, Second Edition” explains the rights, responsibilities and recommended practices and procedures for developing a warranty program.
The newly revised edition of this popular publication addresses recent changes to state statutes of limitations that apply to construction claims, and provides updated information on mandatory notice and opportunity to repair provisions in states that have these laws.
The publication features:
- Clear explanations of implied warranties, statutory warranties, court-imposed warranties and more
- Sample language and formats for warranty documents
- Your rights and responsibilities and the recommended practices and procedures
- Tips for drafting warranties that work
- State-by-state lists of cases and statutes applicable to construction claims
With the guidance of your attorney and the easy-to-follow guidelines presented in this book, “Warranties for Builders and Remodelers, Second Edition” helps inform and protect industry professionals. This book should not replace the expertise of legal counsel.
To order the publication online, click here, or call BuilderBooks at 800-223-2665.
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