|
CALENDAR AND
EVENT LINKS |
|
|
May 8 - 10, 2008
June 20 - 28, 2009
|
|
EXPANDED ENERGY TAX CREDIT |
|
|
|
Expanded Energy Tax Credit to Boost Demand for Renovation Jobs Beefed-up tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements in the new economic stimulus package are expected to help increase demand for green renovation projects this year and next.
The Internal Revenue Code Section 25C for existing homes, which had expired at the end of 2007, was reinstated as part of the economic rescue package passed by the Bush Administration last fall. Installing energy-efficient windows, doors, roofing and insulation as well as furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps all qualified for the credit.
But remodelers found that the terms of the 25C credit - equal to only 10% of the cost of each product and with a lifetime cap of $500 - weren't quite strong enough to get enough home owners off the fence and into a contract.
Under the stimulus legislation signed by President Obama, the percentage of the cost and lifetime cap have been tripled to 30% and $1,500, respectively; the list of eligible improvements has been expanded and the deadline for installing them has been extended through the end of 2010.
The newly expanded tax credit also is in alignment with industry research showing that remodeling and retrofitting the nation's older homes will have a far more significant impact on reducing residential energy consumption than meeting even the most aggressive efficiency goals for new homes, according to Greg Miedema, CGR, CGB, CAPS, chairman of NAHB Remodelers. |
|
FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL DESIGNATION MONTH |
|
|
|
CONGRATULATIONS TO BILL PACKER!
Congratulations to Bill Packer (Packer Builder, Inc) who earned his Graduate Master Builder (GMB) Designation this past month! Bill earned this prestigious designation by participating in the HBAGTA Professional Development Program. The GMB is the ultimate symbol in the home building industry and will distinguish Bill as a professional and experienced builder. |
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE SIGNED INTO LAW
The $787 billion economic stimulus package signed into law on Feb. 17 by President Barack Obama contains elements that will bolster housing and the economy, according to NAHB.
"While we believe that including a more enhanced home buyer tax credit in the final legislation would have been the best way to spur housing demand and move the economy forward, the new law does include several provisions that should help to put housing and the economy on the right track," said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson.
Chief among these is an $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit for qualified home purchases in 2009. To encourage prospective home buyers to get off the fence, the tax credit:
- Does not have to be repaid
- Is fully refundable
- Will remain in effect until Dec. 1, 2009 so that consumers can utilize it during the critical summer and fall home-buying months
- Allows tax credit home buyers to participate in the mortgage revenue bond program
- Permits state housing finance agencies to help buyers at closing by advancing the credit amount as a loan using tax-exempt bond proceeds
More information on the first-time home buyer tax credit can be found at:
www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com.
From Nation's Building News Feb. 16, 2009
| |
|
| Greetings! ,
 Last weekend's 25th anniversary Home Builder's EXPO was a big success! The comments received from vendors were more positive than any I recall in recent years. "Great Show! Thanks"; "Thrilled with Everything"; "I feel we received many quality leads. Great Job!" "It was a pleasure working with staff! Well above my expectations and a very professional operation"; "This was our first EXPO and we are glad we participated." "I expected a handful of leads and walked away with at least 20 serious prospects." The concerns were the same as they have been for many years: move the date to later in February or early March, increase the amount of advertising, and cut back the Saturday hours. Because a few constraints have been removed, we actually will be able to address these concerns better in 2010. We are no longer obligated to stick with President's weekend because of the school schedule. The EXPO Committee will continue to try to resolve these concerns as well as research alternative locations if feasible and cost-effective for next year. While several noted that it seemed the number of attendees was down a bit this year compared to previous years, the numbers weren't appreciably different. In 2007 we calculated Saturday's attendance at 1309, in 2008 we estimated 1457, and this year, our number was 1290 the first day of the show. On Sunday, we can only compare our statistics to what occurred in 2007, the first year we had credible attendance data. There were 645 attendees on Sunday in 2007, none for 2008 and 702 this year. By comparison, there were 117 vendors in 2007, 115 in 2008 and 97 distinct companies participating this year. The square footage leased by vendors was down as well. However, as a result, the EXPO committee did a commendable job reconfiguring the EXPO halls which provided a better flow of traffic and a sense of openness. With the challenges of today's economy, I believe we have much to be thankful for and proud of. A great deal of thanks goes to our outstanding EXPO committee spearheaded by Marc Burkholder of Burkholder Construction and co-chaired by Eric Palmer of Traverse Repro. In addition, we could not have gotten the vendors in Friday evening as efficiently without the able assistance of Marv Saxton and Mike McCumby and their crew. Kudos go to Chris Feys of Signs Now and his team at the admission table, Rick MacKinnon from Anderson Windows for spearheading the outside sign distribution, to Kim Engel of Branch Creative for creating the marketing venue and Jill Noe and Home Depot for manning the Micro-Reality Race track exhibit. Appreciation also goes to Matt Vajda from Voltage Electric, Holly Hack, John Klingelsmith, Jason Emerich, Dawn Renshaw and Julie Courtade for the wonderful picnic supper Friday evening. Also, we want to thank our committee members, Tracy Kiersey of A-1 Consulting, Scott Wills of Architectural Elements, Mike Bartkowiak of Wooden Hammer Annex, Kris Arnold of KA Construction, Jerry Stricker from Green Crest Homes, Sheila Lowe of Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors and Ted Price of UBuildIt for everything they did to make this EXPO a success! Together We are Building a Stronger Association!
Kathy
Kathy Maisonville
Executive Officer
p: 231.946.2305
f: 231.946.1051
toll free: 800.422.5166
|
|
CONGRATULATIONS TO FLOOR COVERING BROKERS - BEST BOOTH IN EXPO
|
|
|
|
This year the public had a say in which booth was the "Best of EXPO" for 2009. The votes entered by the vendors themselves (a total of 21) were added to those of the public for the first time. 667 votes were cast!
Garnering 65 votes, Floor Covering Brokers came out as #1. They will receive a free 10 x 10 booth next year. In second place, The Sound Room took 45 votes. For that that, they will receive 10% off their booth lease next year. Placing third with 44 votes was Team Bob's Heating, Cooling and Plumbing which will receive 5% off next year.
Honorable mention goes to the following vendors who each received 20 or more votes: Cherryland Electric, The Concrete Service, DTE, Precision Plumbing, VanDrie Home Furnishing, Tilestone Imports and Pella Window and Doors. In all 76 of the 97 vendors received recognition. |
|
NATIONAL GREEN BUILDING STANDARD |
|
|
|
A collaborative effort between the ICC and NAHB, the Standard recently approved by ANSI provides the "green" practices that can be incorporated into new homes. The approval signals a new era for builders, remodelers and developers and also provides an extra measure of reassurance for home buyers. The National Green Building Standard is now the first and only ANSI-approved green building rating system, making it the benchmark for green homes. The HBAGTA has placed an order for a limited supply of these books. If you would like purchase a copy, please contact Judy at the Association office. The cost of the books will be $35 which includes shipping and taxes. Payment must be received at the time of your order to guarantee a copy for you. The office should receive the book order by March 9, 2009. |
|
SOCIAL MEDIA ARE THE FUTURE OF MARKETING NEW HOMES
|
|
|
Nearing the end of the first decade of the new millennium, social media sites are playing a defining role in the next generation of Web applications.
Facebook.com has more than 120 million active users. The new kid on the block, Twitter, already boasts more than five million unique visitors each month, according to Internet researcher ComScore Inc. For live interactive video, Justin.tv reports more than one million users, many of them utilizing the site to broadcast events and their daily lives in real time.
Clearly, the sales and marketing segment of the real estate industry needs to be capitalizing on these tools, and others. In today's depressed market, however, their greatest value may not be just their impact, but their cost, which is incredibly small or none at all.
"Builders can do these things on their own, and that's the great thing about the Internet and Web 2.0 - there are a number of tools that people already in the company can manage," said Mike Lyon, of Do You Convert?, a leading expert, consultant and blogger on integrating online marketing tools into a builder's overall sales strategy. >> Read More |
|
DO YOU CONVERT?
|
|
|
|
Are you Third Screen Marketing enabled?
For years, I have been asking "Do You Convert"? Now I have to ask does your website convert for the mobile internet. Internet enabled phones hit today's market at an astonishing rate, resulting in a mobile internet boom. Hence, third screen marketing. With this trend we must now ask, does my website allow for a positive consumer experience on the mobile web? If not, do not feel alone because less than one percent of today's websites are optimized for the mobile internet. This is no accident, the mobile internet operates by a different set of standards than the PC internet we all know and love.
While in Las Vegas for the International Builders Show, I had the opportunity to meet with mobiManage and learn more about how they help businesses leverage the mobile internet to reach potential customers. They build certified .mobi websites and are leading the mobile website industry from Tulsa, Oklahoma! Founder & CEO, Jeff Beasley, is committed to helping real estate professionals understand the mobile internet and apply a strategic solution in today's market. Jeff is one of thirteen individuals who sit on the international .mobi Advisory Group Steering Committee and has been recognized for his achievements in technology. Talk about insight into the world of the mobile internet and how to develop a relevant mobile strategy for your business. >> Read More
| |
