| October 16, 2006 |
By David Pressly
NAHB President and
Jerry Howard
NAHB Executive VP and CEO |
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NAHB is pressing the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers
to provide immediate interim guidance as well as a formal rulemaking to settle once and for all the question of which waters are under federal jurisdiction and put an end to costly project delays that many developers currently face in the absence of such government action.
 In letters sent Oct. 11 to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson and Assistant Secretary of the Army John Paul Woodley, Jr., NAHB Executive Vice President & CEO Jerry Howard made a strong case for swift government action, noting that home builders and developers are receiving conflicting advice from regulators at this time, with some offices even refusing to grant permits until new guidance has been announced. That guidance, which the Army Corps was instructed to provide by no less an authority than the U.S. Supreme Court, is long overdue. While the Corps had promised the guidance to its district offices by late July, so far, nothing has been issued. In addition to calling for immediate action on this, Jerry urged Corps officials to continue to issue permits in cases of clear jurisdictional determinations while awaiting the expected guidance – just as a July 5 memo from Army Corps headquarters to its district offices instructed. Read more about NAHB's latest actions on this in the Oct. 16 edition of NBN Online, or contact Gary Suskauer, x8327.
NAHB Member Benefit: NAHB is your voice in the nation's federal regulatory arena, and we are making sure that voice is heard loud and clear. In this case, a lack of consistency pertaining to determinations of the Corps' jurisidiction over certain waters is causing permitting nightmares and costly project delays for many of our members. Our latest communications to the EPA Administrator and head of the Army Corps of Engineers call their attention to the nature and scope of the problem as well as the need for immediate action on their part. Coming from an organization that represents over 235,000 members, our words have the weight and force of the entire industry behind them, and as such, are unlikely to be easily dismissed. So in this case, your membership in NAHB means that your voice has the strength of 235,000!
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Encouraging Russia to boost softwood exports
to the U.S., NAHB Immediate Past President Dave Wilson and Executive Vice President & CEO Jerry Howard spoke at an International Forestry Forum in St. Petersburg last week. Last year, 38% of the lumber used in the U.S. was imported, with Canada supplying the bulk of that amount. However, a new softwood lumber accord between the U.S. and Canada, which is scheduled to take effect on Nov. 1, will create a complex system of border taxes and quotas that will artificially raise lumber prices during periods of normal or slow demand, thereby harming housing affordability and causing new uncertainies for U.S. builders regarding the availability and cost of Canadian lumber. "Access to a reliable, steady supply of lumber is the lifeline for any American home builder," Dave told the Russians. Jerry characterized the new trade pact as a misfortune for Canada but an opportunity for Russia and the rest of Europe to increase lumber exports to the U.S. over the long-term. "Today, the U.S. is overly reliant on Canadian imports to meet its lumber needs," he said. "We are reaching out to you to correct this problem and we are looking to Russia to add equilibrium to our market for this essential commodity." Read more in our press release, or contact Michael Strauss, x8252.
NAHB Member Benefit: NAHB is seeking additional sources of softwood lumber to ensure an adequate and dependable supply of affordable product for our builder members. Expanding our sources of imports should ensure a more stable and less costly supply that will have long-term benefits for housing affordability and our members' bottom lines.
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Americans aged 55 and up are shaping the housing market
 to meet their every need and expectation as they age, according to experts participating in an NAHB teleconference for the news media held during National Aging in Place Week (Oct. 8-14). New research from NAHB's 50+ Housing Council, presented during the event, reveals that over 40 million households were headed by someone aged 55 or older as of last year. Most of those 55-and-over households do not currently live in age-qualified communitities, and most homeowners in this age range report being very happy in their current homes. Builders who want to cater to older buyers can add "stepless" entries and reinforcements in bathrooms where grab bars may be installed, and substitute easily accessible showers for tubs. Those are just a few of the things mentioned by Norman Cohen, 2006 chair of the NAHB 50+ Housing Council, during the teleconference. Meanwhile, according to remodeler Bill Owens, who chairs the CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist designation) Board of Governors and was also on hand for the event, the 50+ market represents a great opportunity for residential remodelers. Citing the latest NAHB Remodeling Market Index (RMI), he said that 75% of professional remodelers report seeing an increase in requests for aging-in-place modifications. Read more about this interesting media event in the next NBN Online, or contact Elizabeth Landry (x8680) for details.
NAHB Member Benefit: NAHB's research on the 50+ housing market keeps you abreast of the latest trends and expectations of this growing segment of the home buyer population, helping you design, build and market your homes for such consumers. Our Certified Aging in Place Specialist professional designation program provides you with the basic skills and knowledge that you need to succeed, as well as a way to market your product with the recognition you deserve as a specialist in the field.
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Transportation costs trump what people save by moving further out,
 according to an important new study by the Center for Housing Policy. Called "A Heavy Load: The Combined Housing and Transportation Burdens on Working Families," the publication, released Oct. 11, finds that low- to moderate-income families who move further from their jobs in search of affordable homes end up spending more on transportation costs than they save on housing. In 17 of the 28 metropolitan areas studied, the average transportation expenses for working famlies with annual incomes ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 are actually higher than their housing costs. Across all 28 metros, working families spend an average of 28% - or $9,700 - of their incomes on housing and nearly 30% - $10,400 - on transportation. The study also found that, while the share of income that working families devote to housing and transportation differed from metro to metro, the combined burden of the two expenses was remarkably similar across all areas. These combined costs range from a low of 54% in Pittsburgh to a high of 63% in San Francisco. The average combined burden for all 28 metros surveyed was 57%. Read more about this intriguing study and its ramifications for housing and transportation policy by visiting the Center for Housing Policy Web site.
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Helping our members access NAHB's vast education resources
was the object of the first-ever NAHB Education Insider Conference for HBA leadership and staff, held Oct. 12-13 at the National Housing Center. A total of 36 attendees from HBAs across the land showed up for this outstanding opportunity to learn about NAHB's educational resources and the particulars of setting up an education or professional designation program at the local level. Just as important, the gathering provided a perfect forum for HBAs to share ideas and best practices in the pursuit of educational excellence. Contact Stephanie Spear, x8596.
NAHB Member Benefit: NAHB and its affiliated HBAs are dedicated to providing the best resources to help our members do their jobs better and more profitably on a daily basis. Our strong partnership efforts through programs like the one described above ultimately ensure that you have access to the kind of educational opportunities you want and need.
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Upcoming events:
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Oct. 18-21 |
Remodeling Show 2006 |
Chicago, Ill. |
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Oct. 18 |
CGR Reception |
Chicago, Ill. |
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Oct. 20 |
Remodelor™ of the Year Award |
Chicago, Ill. |
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Oct. 20 |
Remodelors™ Council CADRE Award |
Chicago, Ill. |
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Oct. 20 |
Remodelors™ Council Gala |
Chicago, Ill. |
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Oct. 20-22 |
National Conference on Membership |
San Antonio, Texas |
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Oct. 25 |
Construction Forecast Conference — Fall 2006 |
Washington, D.C. |
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Oct. 27-29 |
2006 Custom Builder Symposium |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
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Nov. 5-8 |
2006 Building Systems Councils SHOWCASE |
Miami, Fla. |
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Nov. 6 |
Building Systems Councils Excellence in Marketing & Home
Design Awards |
Miami, Fla. |
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Nov. 9-11 |
State & Local Government Affairs Conference |
New Orleans, La. |
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2007 |
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Jan. 11 |
Innovation in Workforce Housing Awards |
TBA |
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Feb. 6 |
Best in American Living Award |
Orlando, Fla. |
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Feb. 7-10 |
2007 International Builders' Show |
Orlando, Fla. |
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Feb. 7 |
Call for Entries: NCBC 2007 Awards of Excellence |
Orlando, Fla. |
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Feb. 7 |
EnergyValue Housing Awards |
N/A |
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Feb. 8 |
National Housing Endowment Builder Achievement Award
for Outstanding Community Service |
Orlando, Fla. |
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Feb. 9 |
Remodelors™ Council Chairman's Dinner |
Orlando, Fla. |
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Feb. 9 |
Safety Award for Excellence Program |
Orlando, Fla. |
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March 25 |
National Green Building Conference |
St. Louis, Mo. |
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April 11-13 |
2007 NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference & Awards Gala |
Hollywood, Fla. |
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May 30 |
Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium |
Denver, Colo. |
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June 6-10 |
Spring Board of Directors Meeting |
Washington, D.C. |
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June 6 |
Legislative Conference |
Washington, D.C. |
To view more meetings and events information on the NAHB Web site, click here.
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