The 2008 Custom Builder Symposium on Oct. 24-26 in Austin, Texas is offering a wide range of educational courses that can help custom home builders navigate through the industry downturn.

Courses at NAHB's premier educational and networking event for custom builders feature the latest in home technology, business management, design and green building.

“Every educational course will help provide an idea, a concept or new excitement for improving your own home building company,” said Brad Simons, NAHB Custom Home Builders Committee chairman. “In today’s home building environment, only the best will be successful. Investing in making your company the best is now more important than ever before.”

In addition, the symposium features a home tour, pre-show designation courses and several networking opportunities.

The symposium will be at the Hilton Austin.

General business management and technology courses include:

• “The Custom Builder and Home Technology”
• “Recession-Proofing Your Building Business”
• “Survive to Fulfill Your Destiny”
• “The Top 10 ‘Must-Have’ Technology Trends for Homes”

Design courses featured at the symposium include:  

• “Design Drivers: Value Engineering Without Compromising”
• “Demystifying Designing a Green Home”
• “Designs, Materials and Techniques that Guarantee Great Kitchens and Baths”
• “Design Charrette — From Plan Book Parts to Great Design”
• “A Residential Case Study”

Attendees seeking to earn their Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation can sign up for one or both required courses — “Green Building for Building Professionals” and “Business Management for Building Professionals.”

Home Tour Highlights Emerging Trends

Design trends that incorporate green initiatives and building techniques and technology that are unique to the Texas home building market will be part of the one-day symposium tour of premier custom homes in Austin and the surrounding area.

“Austin is a unique venue,” said symposium chairman Randy Rinehart. “We’re going to see infill within the city, refreshing contemporary architecture along with the green/energy movement and we will see good examples of Western architecture. Those who attend will be very impressed.”

NAHB Custom Home Builder of the Year Award

The NAHB Custom Home Builder of the Year Award recognizes a custom builder for his or her outstanding leadership and business practices, as well as craftsmanship in building one-of-a-kind custom homes.

The award will be presented at the symposium on Oct. 25.

Golf Tournament

The golf tournament will provide views of beautiful vistas and elevation changes and features numerous large fairway and greenside bunkers. The course, at Crenshaw Cliffside, was designed by Ben Crenshaw and design partner Bill Coore.

To Register for the Symposium

Early bird registration is open until Sept. 20. For more information and to register, go to www.nahb.org/custom.

For more information, e-mail Marcia Childs at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8388. 

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