The NAHB Bulletin
Nominations for 2009 Designee of the Year Awards Due Nov. 13
NAHB is now accepting nominations for the 2009 Designee of the Year Awards in the following categories:
 To be eligible to receive a Designee of the Year Award, candidates must be active designation holders and in good standing. Members of the designations’ governing bodies and home builders association staff members are not eligible.
“Our Designees of the Year exemplify the most esteemed qualities of our industry,” said Benjamin Graham, GMB, of The Graham Companies in Middleburg, Va., and chairman of the NAHB Education Committee. “They give to their communities through mentorship, influence and innovation. In everything they do, they elevate the image of NAHB’s designations and housing professionals. They are setting a tremendous example for the rest of us to follow.”
The Designee of the Year Award winners will be selected by the respective governing bodies based on criteria set for receiving each award, including a review of the answers to the questions and the support documentation submitted.
Nominations for the awards may be made by any person or organization actively participating in the respective designation program. Self-nominations are also accepted.
To apply, visit www.nahb.org/DesigneesofTheYear. The entry deadline is Friday, Nov. 13.
NAHB to Shut Down Operations Thanksgiving Week (November 23 - 27)
As a cost savings effort, the National Association of Home Builders will be closed for business for eight days in 2009. Under the plan, NAHB shut down its operations for the final week of August and will shut down the three days prior to the Thanksgiving holiday (November 23, 24 and 25). In addition, all staff compensation has been cut by a commensurate amount. NAHB President Jerry Howard reported to the NAHB Board of Directors, in May, that“this shut down plan, along with other cost-cutting measures already adopted, is being implemented to help the Association save millions of dollars.”
During this shut down, your NAHB staff contacts will not be in the office or generally available via phone or e-mail. Staff will answer any messages received, during the closure, when they return to the Office and normal business operations are resumed.
Should you have a question or concern, during this time period, please contact (insert primary staff contact name and e-mail address) or leave a message with the NAHB Service Center via phone or e-mail at: 800-368-5242 ext 0 or info@nahb.org. Again, responses to any waiting e-mails will not take place until NAHB returns to normal business operations.
Your flexibility and patience is appreciated during this challenging time.
Higher Conforming Loan Limits Extended Through 2010
In a victory for NAHB, a provision that will extend the loan limits for mortgages issued by the Federal Housing Administration and purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through the end of next year was included in a continuing resolution approved by the House and Senate on Oct. 29.
The loan limits will continue to be capped at $729,750 in high-cost markets. Those caps were due to expire on Dec. 31 if Congress had not taken action.
Signed by President Obama, the continuing resolution in which the loan limit extension was included will provide Congress the time it needs to complete all of the outstanding fiscal 2010 appropriations bills.
A joint statement issued last week by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan on the extension of the home buyer tax credit also called on Congress to extend the expiration period for the higher conforming loan limits and to identify a financing source for the National Housing Trust Fund.
On Oct. 26, NAHB, along with the National Association of Realtors® and Mortgage Bankers Association, sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging Congress to act soon to extend the current higher loan limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA that were due to expire at year-end.
The letter noted that borrowers had unnecessarily been denied financing because of uncertainty over expiring loan limits and consumers were unable to lock in current interest rates beyond 60 days for loans over $625,500.
“The higher limits are a key component of the economic recovery efforts because they help make affordable loans available for a broader spectrum of consumers who want to purchase a home or refinance an existing mortgage,” the letter said.
“We believe these temporary limits have benefited the mortgage industry and consumers during what has been a turbulent period for our nation’s economy,” it said. “In light of the continuing weakness in the secondary market, we urge Congress to take action so that the GSEs and FHA can be permitted to continue providing capital to support loans to families across America.”
For more information, e-mail Scott Meyer at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8144.
 New NAHB Logo Rolled Out
The 200,000-member National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is taking on a fresh look as it rolls out a sophisticated new branding strategy that was adopted by its 2,000-member Board of Directors last January. The most readily visible element of this branding strategy is the association’s sharp new logo, which will gradually replace NAHB’s previous eagle logo.“The implementation of our new branding strategy and logo marks the culmination of more than two years of work with our consultant FutureBrand,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. “While our faithful eagle logo that we have used for the past four decades will remain an important part of NAHB’s culture and history, we are excited to usher in this new and brighter look that will represent our association and all of our members going forward.”
NAHB appointed a special task force to work with FutureBrand on retooling the association’s visual identity system that applies to all of its numerous constituency groups – from single-family home builders to property managers, remodelers, multifamily builders and land developers, as well as product manufacturers and service providers.
"The partnership between NAHB and FutureBrand has led to a branding program that accentuates the role that NAHB plays in building and enriching our communities,” said FutureBrand co-Chief Executive Officer Steve Beck. "The strategic foundation of this program will enhance NAHB's ability to effectively communicate its diverse lines of business, and the brand identity system provides NAHB with a unique and compelling brand expression."
Over the coming months, NAHB will be gradually implementing its new logo through cooperative efforts with its 800-plus affiliated Home Builder Associations across the country.
Connect With NAHB on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter
There are lots of ways to stay connected with NAHB. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest industry information. NAHB is actively posting tweats and information to these popular social networking sites and we're looking looking for our members to join us.
Not sure how to get started? Let us show you how with an easy to understand overview of what social networks are, how they can benefit you, and how to sign up. Already an expert? Check out a list of options for staying in touch with new information added regularly. Need more insight? View our list of frequently asked questions to go in-depth.
Learn more about social networking, join us, and then tell a fellow member to sign up too!
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