ReNews -- Remodelors Council News - 12/08/2004 (Plain Text Version)Doug Sutton, Sr. CGR, CAPS View Graphical Version | Subscribe to NAHB Publications | Email our Editor... In this issue: NAHB News: NAHB Watching Tax Incentives for Housing; Five New Education Courses in 2005In This Issue:
NAHB Stands Ready to Protect Any Challenges to Tax Incentives for HousingAs conjecture about possible tax changes proliferates in Washington before the start of the second Bush Administration, NAHB is working closely with the White House and Capitol Hill leaders to ensure that the interests of the housing community will be well-served as tax reforms move forward. In a press conference shortly after his re-election in November, President Bush said that tax simplification and Social Security reform would be top priorities during his second term. The President also indicated that no specific decisions had been made on proposed changes to the tax code and that he considered tax incentives for homeownership and charitable contributions to be important. The President’s remarks sparked a flurry of speculation in the media on doing away with everything from the mortgage interest deduction and state and local tax deductions to scrapping the current system in favor of a new structure based on either a flat tax or national sales tax. The fact is, no plan has yet to emerge and lawmakers and policy experts are still working to determine what is feasible. The process is expected to be slow and deliberate, and it is anticipated that early next year the White House will appoint a blue-ribbon commission to tackle this issue. In all likelihood, the panel would take six months to report its findings, and this would be followed by several months of congressional hearings, with a viable legislative proposal to follow some time in 2006. Meanwhile, on the issue of the mortgage interest deduction, President Bush provided a significant measure of assurance in his Oct. 2 address to the NAHB Board of Directors in Columbus, OH, during the final weeks of the presidential campaign. The President said: “I believe that the mortgage interest deduction enables more Americans to achieve the goal of homeownership. It is an important part of our tax code.” To further put this matter in perspective, in previous Administrations and congressional sessions, the topic of tax reform has been a prevalent issue. But due to the complexities of the tax code and the myriad competing business and consumer interests, little changes other than minor modifications around the edges have occurred. The few major changes that have been enacted took several years to put in place. For example, proposals for the Tax Reform Act of 1986 first began circulating in 1981. Just as in 2003, when NAHB worked with the Administration to implement a major tax cut package that allayed concerns over the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, NAHB stands ready once again to bring its expertise and political clout to the table to represent the interests of the housing community. As this process moves forward in the new Congress, NAHB will work to protect current tax incentives that will spur homeownership and rental housing initiatives.
NAHB Adds Five Courses to Continuing Education Curriculum in 2005NAHB has added five new continuing education courses in 2005 to the 44 courses currently available in the federation. Following is a brief description of each course. Designing for the Active Adult (8 hours) — Available January 2005 Legal Issues for Property Managers (8 hours) — Available in January 2005 Building with Insulating Concrete Forms (8 hours) — Available 1st Quarter 2005 Selling to Active Adults (8 hours) — Available Fall 2005
Designing for the Active Adult Debuts at 2005 IBSDo you want to increase your business by designing homes and communities to better meet the needs of the growing active adult population? By 2010, there will be 100 million people ages 50 and older in the United States, comprising a variety of market segments defined by lifestyle, community, amenities and product design preferences. NAHB is offering Designing for the Active Adult, an overview of various design considerations for single-family and multifamily housing for active adults, the day before IBS opens. The one-day course runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, at the Orange County Convention Center. NAHB members can earn a continuing education credit toward their CAPS, CGA, CGB, CGR, GMB, MIRM, and CMP designations by taking the course. The course cost is $150 for Seniors Housing Council members, $175 for NAHB members and $225 for non-members. Topics covered in the course include:
In addition to IBS, Designing for the Active Adult has been scheduled for the Building for Boomers & Beyond: Seniors Housing Symposium 2005, May 16-18 at the Marriott Westfields Resort in Chantilly, VA. The pre-conference course will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 15. For more information or to contact us directly, please visit www.NAHB.org | ©2004, National Association of Home Builders |