Elevating home builders' concerns on the national agenda,
a hard-hitting NAHB ad campaign aims to make sure that federal lawmakers understand and respect the fundamental importance of housing to the U.S. economy and Americans' way of life.

As Congress looks forward to deliberating on such matters as tax reform, budget appropriations and aspects of national housing policy, we want legislators to know our priorities in the legislative and regulatory arenas. That's why, during the course of this year, NAHB will be running 12 full-page color ads in the National Journal — an inside-the-beltway weekly news magazine that's widely read by members of Congress and Washington policymakers. One of our three most recent ads is pictured at right, but you can see the others in the next Nation's Building News Online.

In our March 11 ad titled "16 cents goes a long way," a stack of 16 pennies illustrates housing's share of every dollar's worth of economic activity generated across this country. "It's a powerful investment that has enabled the housing sector to lead the national economy forward for four consecutive years," says the ad copy. Contact Jay Shackford (x8406) for more information on the ads, or find out how you can help spread the word about home builders' priorities by attending our annual Legislative Conference in Washington on May 10 — more on this upcoming event below.

Communicating home builders' concerns and priorities to members of Congress and top Administration officials is one of the most important functions of your national association. NAHB is YOUR voice on Capitol Hill.

An important change to the Spring Board schedule
was reported to the NAHB Board of Directors as well as state and local Executive Officers this week. Responding to anticipated concerns about plans for our upcoming Spring Board of Directors Meeting to overlap with Mother's Day weekend, and in recognition of everyone's understandable family obligations, NAHB President David Pressly has worked with the leadership and staff team to consolidate the week's proceedings in order to free up the Sunday holiday. The new plan calls for NAHB's Board to wrap up its business at 6:00 pm on Saturday, May 13. Evening social events for Saturday will continue as scheduled unless you are otherwise notified. Hopefully this will allow board and committee members to return home and spend Mother's Day with your families, and this early notice gives you enough time to adjust your travel plans accordingly. Obviously, the modification will require a number of schedule adjustments to Saturday's standard meeting lineup, and details regarding those changes will be forthcoming. Please direct any questions or concerns about the Spring Board schedule to NAHB leadership support staff at x8299 or nahbboard@nahb.com. [return to top]

Older Americans may hold the keys to the future of home design,
particularly now that a huge segment of America's population — baby boomers born in the years between 1946 and 1964 — is poised to begin hitting early retirement age. NAHB Chief Economist Dave Seiders held a joint press conference by phone on this subject with Norman Cohen, 2006 chairman of NAHB's 50+ Housing Council, on March 7. According to Dave, there is a "virtual flood of people" approaching the 55-64 age group, and demand among older adults for new housing with aging-in-place features such as zero-threshold doorways and space for grab bars in bathrooms is on the rise.

Cohen, who is a builder for Camelot/Signature Development LLC in Marietta, GA, said that oftentimes, older buyers aren't just looking for a new place to live, but a new way of life. That's why companies like his create maintenance-free communities, where not only the lawnwork is done for you but also things like house painting, gutter-cleaning and other chores. "We call it 'lock it and leave it,'" he explained. Read more about what was said at this important teleconference in the March 13 edition of NBN Online, or contact Elizabeth Landry at x8680.

NAHB's economists and researchers are at work every day analyzing and forecasting market data and trends to give our members what they need to succeed. You can access this data in a variety of ways: through our chief economist's free e-newsletter, Eye on the Economy, through our subscribers-only services at HousingEconomics Online, at NAHB's upcoming Construction Forecast Conference in Washington (a live telecast is also available), and through regular updates at NAHB Board meetings. Our regular outreach to the media also helps keep important housing issues in the spotlight while highlighting the essential function that home builders serve in the nation's economy. [return to top]

The rewards of teaching kids about home building
extend beyond what may be the most obvious benefits of NAHB's Building Homes of Our Own interactive CD-ROM game. Sure, the game gets middle-schoolers interested in home building in time to help shape long-term career goals, gives much-needed perspective on what it takes to build a home from the ground up — including everything from financing issues, to permitting challenges and budgeting concerns — and shines a positive spotlight on our industry that helps erase unfair negative stereotypes. But it also helps bring families together, stimulating discussion among children and their parents while improving such important life skills as math and social communication. The latest recognition of such benefits is an announcement that Building Homes of Our Own has been selected by executives from eight top school districts as a finalist for the first Computers for Youth Family Learning Software of the Year Award. The winner of this award will be announced April 20, but we already know that our program is a categorical success. Since being launched in 2002, it has been delivered by request to nearly 39,000 teachers nationwide, reaching an estimated audience of three million students, educators and parents.

The CD-ROM Building Homes of Our Own is available free of charge to classroom educators and members of NAHB-affiliated HBAs. Visit www.HomesOfOurOwn.org for more, or contact Kym Kilbourne at x8447.
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Why YOU should attend NAHB's Legislative Conference:
NAHB's most important grassroots lobbying event of the year happens on Wednesday, May 10, and we need your help. We want to make this our most effective, successful Legislative Conference ever, so NAHB President David Pressly has set a goal of expanding attendance by at least 10% from last year. This is your chance to speak directly to your federal representatives on Capitol Hill, and communicate the challenges that you and your business face every day. Don't miss this once-a-year opportunity to really make a difference!

But don't take it from us. Take it from Bridgette Evans, EO of the Missoula BIA in Montana. Here's what she said after Spring Board week last year: "Of the meetings I attended (while in Washington), the visit to Capitol Hill was of the most benefit... It is good to see that we really do make a difference when we meet with [members of Congress and their staff]. With this knowledge I can go back to my board and the membership and feel confident when recruiting people to donate time to work on an issue." 

Sharon Larson, EO of Brookings Regional BA in South Dakota, voiced a similar sentiment: "A person can receive all of the e-mails and legislative alerts that come from [NAHB], but not really 'get it' until they have heard firsthand how builders and homeowners are affected on a daily basis...Hopefully we were able to make a difference that day, but in addition to that, I think having the ability to reference that meeting in future correspondence will be very useful," she said.

If you haven't already done so, please sign up to participate in this year's event, and encourage your fellow NAHB members to do the same. Contact Jessica Boyce (x8334) for more info. [return to top]

...and other events leading up to Spring Board:

March 19-22
Log Homes Council President's Tour, Harrisburg, PA

April 2-5 
NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference & Awards Gala, Scottsdale, AZ

April 24-26
Building for Boomers and Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium 2006, Phoenix, AZ

April 27
Construction Forecast Conference and live Web telecast, Washington, DC

May 10
NAHB's 2006 Spring Legislative Conference, Washington, DC 

May 10-13
NAHB's 2006 Spring Board of Directors Meeting, Washington, DC [return to top]

Enter to win a Best in American Living Award by July 1.
The foremost residential design competition in the country is now accepting applications from builders, interior designers, architects, developers and marketing and real estate professionals who want to compete for a chance to show off their best work. The contest spans 41 categories — so there are plenty of opportunities to compete. Last year, a total of 92 award winners were named out of more than 390 entries. Those winners were featured in the January 2006 edition of Professional Builder magazine and garnered significant media and consumer attention. Don't let your innovative project be passed by — enter today!  Entry forms and fees are due by July 1; entry notebooks are due July 15. Michelle Persinger Matuga (x8343) has more info, or see the latest story on this competition in NBN Online. [return to top]