| September 14, 2009 |
By Joe Robson
NAHB Chairman and
Jerry Howard
NAHB President and CEO |
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Economic impacts of NAHB's "Revive Housing" campaign goals
are highlighted in new research from our Economics and Housing Policy Group. This analysis, which includes estimates of the number of jobs to be gained from each of our proposals, should help convince lawmakers that bolstering housing is key to reviving the national economy.
 Following are the four primary advocacy goals of the Revive Housing, Restore America campaign that NAHB initiated in August and continues to push with all its might:
1) Extend the $8,000 tax credit for another year
and make it available to all income-eligible buyers.
Research by NAHB's tax analysts indicates that this action would spur 383,000 additional home sales – including 80,000 housing starts – and create nearly 350,000 jobs and an additional $16 billion in wages and salaries over the coming year. Approximately one-third of those jobs would be in the construction sector. Small business income would increase by $6.5 billion, while corporate profits would increase by $5.5 billion.
2) Reform the appraisals process.
Doing this would boost home sales by increasing the flow of credit to home buyers and stimulating housing demand. Our economists estimate that the result of such activity would be an increase in home sales by nearly 100,000 during the first 12 months, which in turn would create more than 63,000 jobs (as measured on a full-time equivalent basis). These jobs would be in the construction sector and other parts of the economy.
3) Resolve the credit crunch for housing production loans.
Encouraging lenders to provide leeway for residential acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) borrowers who have loans in good standing would strengthen balance sheets for the nation's home builders, thereby saving thousands of businesses and creating more than 82,000 jobs in the residential construction sector.
4) Expand the tax code's Net Operating Loss carryback period for businesses.
Eliminating the current $15 million cap on average annual gross receipts and allowing 2009 losses to be eligible for the expanded carryback would help many businesses and provide relief to taxpayers who have been hit by the Alternative Minimum Tax. NAHB analysis shows that such tax relief would result in more than 53,000 jobs in the construction sector and more than 200,000 jobs throughout the rest of the economy.
Read more about NAHB's Revive Housing, Restore America campaign in Nation's Building News Online, or send your questions to: MondayMorningQuestions@nahb.com.
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Three more NAHB media teleconferences this week
 gave our members the opportunity to make their case for government action to bolster the housing market loud and clear. This brings the total number of regional media events conducted by NAHB in support of our Revive Housing, Restore America campaign to seven, which so far have generated more than 15 articles in major news dailies nationwide.
A teleconference on Sept. 9 involved Montana builders Greg McCall in Billings and Mike Hughes in Helena, along with NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe explaining the need for (1) extension and expansion of the $8,000 home buyer tax credit; (2) correcting the faulty appraisal process; (3) improving housing credit conditions; and (4) advancing Net Operating Loss relief legislation in the House and Senate.
Two more such events were held on Sept. 10. The first involved home builders Bill Garrett from Richmond, Va., Tom Farasy from Burtonsville, Md., and J.D. Stricklen from Charleston, W. Va. sharing their perspectives on the housing market recovery, with Chief Economist David Crowe again providing the national perspective. The next event involved two builders from Oklahoma and two from Texas. Builder Todd Booze participated from Oklahoma City, along with Jeff Click from Edmund, Okla., while Tom Walker in Houston and Wes Peoples in Austin represented Texas.
Such events allow NAHB to broadcast builders' personal views and individual perspectives on the need for government action so that the media, public and lawmakers fully understand what local markets stand to gain in terms of jobs and economic well-being as a result of the measures we are advocating. Read more about our media teleconferences in the next Nation's Building News Online, or contact MondayMorningQuestions@NAHB.com for additional info.
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NAHB's building code experts are on the job
 and working hard on your behalf. As the development cycle for the 2012 edition of the International Code Council's family of model building codes unfolds, NAHB members and staff have begun reviewing the more than 2,400 proposed changes that have been submitted for consideration. And while provisions relating to residential fire sprinklers, energy efficiency requirements and wall bracing tend to generate the most interest among NAHB members, it's important to note that our hardworking Provisions Oversight Groups (POGs) are likely to take positions of support or opposition on as many as half of all the proposals submitted. POG members will be meeting Sept. 21-23 at the National Housing Center to review staff recommendations and develop NAHB-supported positions ahead of the ICC's public code development hearings this coming Oct. 24-Nov. 11.
The upcoming edition of NBN Online (to be published on the evening of Sept. 14) will have details on several of the issues on which our experts will be focusing, including, for example, the "home builders' 30% solution" on energy-efficiency requirements, residential fire sprinklers, and a new green construction code that the ICC is developing for all construction except non-institutional residential buildings. During the ICC's exhaustive code development hearings, NAHB will be represented by 20 of our members who sit on the 12 ICC Code Committees and 2 Code Councils. Those committees and councils are responsible for creating and approving the model building codes that set minimum standards for construction nationwide. Check out NAHB's Construction Codes & Standards section on our Web site for more information. Please refer any questions on this item to MondayMorningQuestions@nahb.com.
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A recent HUD decision could help some multifamily builders
 obtain FHA multifamily mortgage insurance for their projects. HUD's newly issued Mortgagee Letter 2009-26 grants temporary authority to provide FHA multifamily mortgage insurance under the Sections 221, 221(d)3 and (d)4 and Section 231 programs to projects that have been unable to complete construction due to a loss of funding. The parameters of the authority are fairly narrow in that only non-HUD-insured new construction apartment projects that have started or completed site improvements and building foundation work are eligible. Also, all construction work must have stopped before an application for FHA insurance is submitted, and construction cannot commence until the project receives initial endorsement. Davis-Bacon wage rates will apply to all construction work going forward, but will not be applied retroactively to the construction in place. Submission of a new (not updated) appraisal and market study also is required. The temporary authority is effective for the next six months, at which point HUD will evaluate the effectiveness of the waiver and may elect to extend the program if warranted. Please forward any questions on this item to: MondayMorningQuestions@nahb.com.
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NAHB's virtual seminars save you time and money
 while providing helpful information that you can immediately put to work for your business. Check out a few of the audio and Web-based offerings that are coming up soon...
Sept. 17: Beyond the Best-Case Scenario – This audio seminar will focus on ways to position your company to take advantage of opportunities created by the current downturn. Participants will learn: (1) step-by-step methods for mapping out a business strategy; (2) methods for evaluating a local market to make future plans; and (3) ways to best manage cash and credit. Note: there is a $39 per phone site fee for NAHB members. Get more information and register here.
Sept. 24: Understanding Infrastructure Finance Tools That Are Successful Alternatives to Impact Fees – NAHB’s Land Development Committee is hosting this free Webinar event to discuss the various tools and alternatives to impact fees available to jurisdictions. Get more information and register here.
Sept. 29: Strategies for Troubled Assets Before and After the LIHTC Compliance Period – Hosted by the NAHB Housing Credit Group (HCG) and Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) designation, this one-hour web seminar will help LIHTC professionals understand the issues surrounding troubled assets both before and after the compliance period ends and the strategies for staying in compliance. Get more information and register here.
Oct. 21: NAHB's Fall Construction Forecast Conference and Webcast – Find out from the country's best economists and forecasters what kind of business conditions you can expect in both the short- and long-term. Get more information and register here.
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Sign up quick for spokesperson training at IBS...
 Being your company's (or industry's) spokesman – whether the audience is the local media or a potential client – can be a nerve-wracking experience if you're not fully prepared. With this in mind, NAHB has for many years offered comprehensive spokesperson training courses that have consistently garnered stellar reviews from our leadership, HBAs and grassroots members. This professional training is designed to make you a more skillfull and comfortable speaker in any situation. Since the training will not be offered at the upcoming Fall Board meeting in Chicago, interest in the IBS Interview Skills and Presentation Skills courses is expected to be quite high. Dates for the Spokesperson Training courses at IBS have been set and members can now register securely online with a credit card for one or both of the Spokesperson Training sessions on the NAHB Web site. Registrations are limited to 12 participants for each course, and spots do fill up quickly. The fee is $495 per person for each one-day seminar. To register, click here. For more information, send an e-mail to MondayMorningQuestions@nahb.com.
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Check out these new offerings on NAHB.org:
 1. Continuing education provider directory – Holders of professional designations from The NAHB University of Housing now have an easy way to find continuing education providers. The NAHB University of Housing Continuing Education Provider Directory is an online resource where NAHB designees can search for continuing education opportunities. Continuing Education credit-seekers can search the Directory by keyword, city, state, zip code, designation and audience. The direct link is: www.nahb.org/CEDirectory; please feel free to spread the word on this great resource. Additionally, if you happen to know a continuing education provider, tell them the Directory is a great way to promote their offerings to our designees through either single or multiple listings.
2. 2010 Multifamily Market Forecast from NAHB Economics – Note, this resource is free to NAHB Multifamily Council members; for others there is a fee. Here's the link.
3. A Symbol of Marketing Excellence – This great new column by Bonnie Alfriend, Fellow, MIRM, CMP, CSP, answers the question, “What is the significance of a Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM) designation, and how do I earn one?” This link will take you directly to the right place.
For information on any of these items, contact MondayMorningQuestions@nahb.com.
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Are you watching NAHBTV?
 If you haven't visited NAHB's video page on the Internet (at www.nahb.org/nahbtv), you're missing out on some of our best online resources. This is where we routinely post videos of interest to our members and the broader community of building professionals. Right now, a variety of fantastic videos are available featuring NAHB members doing what they do best – helping their communities and pushing Congress to do the right thing for housing! NAHB has also set up its own channel on YouTube, which is the leader in on-line video and the premiere destination worldwide to watch and share original videos. Visitors can view current videos from NAHB and subscribe to the NAHBTV video-sharing page at www.youtube.com/nahbtv. Please send any questions on this item to MondayMorningQuestions@nahb.com.
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Great hotel rates are holding strong for the 2010 IBS,
 which is fantastic news for those who haven't yet signed up to attend the event this coming January 19-22 in Las Vegas. Our latest check shows that most of the initial discounted rates that were being offered as of August remain in place – at least for now. A few have gone up slightly, but you still have a chance to book rooms for the largest annual event in the home building industry at the most attractive rates in years. These rates are available online, but availability is limited, so you do need to book your stay soon. Keep in mind that your room deposit will not be charged until December, which means you have nothing to lose if you change your mind between now and then! With some of the most respected speakers and experts in the industry, valuable education sessions and an exhibit floor featuring the world’s leading suppliers and vendors, the 2010 International Builders’ Show® is in a class all by itself. Visit www.BuildersShow.com for more information and to register!
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