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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:
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Locally connected. Personally invested. |
Sponsor Link
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JUNE 5, 2009
CROWN GOLF COURSE
FOR A REGISTRATION FORM |
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COME FIND US ON THE WEB! |
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The Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. is proud to announce an increased presence on the internet and world wide web!
Come follow us on Twitter - account name: "HBAGTA"
Come join our group on Linked In - group name: "Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc."
Become a "fan" of the Home Builders Association page on Facebook. Look for "Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc."
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!
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Sponsor Link
CONTACT THE HBAGTA TO BECOME A TUESDAY TOOLBOX SPONSOR!
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Old Mission Window Offers Replacement Window Seminar:
"The single largest source of energy loss in a home is its windows. Moreover, older homes with standard windows typically have higher-than-normal energy bills - in part because of doors and windows that seal poorly or offer no insulation." - Do It Yourself Network HomeEnergy Savings, episode HES-102
If you're a do-it-yourselfer (or you know someone who is) this is the workshop for you! Old Mission Windows is hosting a free workshop to help homeowners discover whether replacing windows is worth the hassle.
WHO: Anyone who owns a home that is more than ten years old
WHAT: Energy-Saving Window Replacement Workshop
WHERE: Old Mission Windows, 395 Hughes Drive, Traverse City
WHEN: Saturday, June 20, from 9-11 a.m.
WHY: To help homeowners understand available tax credits, the energy impact replacement windows can have and
provide a live demonstration of how to replace aging windows.
Refreshments will be provided, and there is limited seating - so call 231-947-2120 or e-mail lzeits@oldmissionwindows.com
to reserve your seat today.
Plus, just for attending, one lucky person will win a $100 gift certificate to:
Dobias Landscaping and Garden Center
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COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
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The Children's Garden, located behind the Traverse City District Library, will be having a "Work Bee" on Saturday, May 30 beginning at 9:00 am.
Materials have been generously donated by The Home Depot, however, help is needed in the form of physical labor. There are 15 planting beds that are being put together that require re-rod, shovel work and other help.
For more information, contact Susan Kuchell at (231) 633-0500 | |
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Greetings! ,
I had the distinct pleasure of spending the long Memorial Weekend with family in my home town of Indianapolis. Of course, nothing says "Back Home Again in Indiana" like the 500 Mile Race which I had the privilege of witnessing once again after a hiatus of at least a decade.
Seeing those 30 men and 3 women going "all out" on that 2 ½ mile oval track caused me to reflect on life in general and how so many of us go "all out" but have no goal in mind. For the race car drivers at Indy it was hitting the groove, avoiding the confluence of traffic, and finding that sweet aerodynamic spots in the vacuum left by others, and then seeing the symbolic checkered flag. "So what's that got to do with me?" you might ask?
I often find myself guilty of racing around, too, but have no checkered flag in mind. In other words, I do things really, really fast sometimes, and feel spent at the end of my day, but wonder what I've accomplished. Perhaps you feel the same way - putting your pedal to the metal - believing you're going "all out" but not sure what is at the end of that road!
As we begin our new construction season, I hope that you will take some time to plot your course and establish a purposeful journey that will get you safely to your intended destination. We believe that your association can serve as your competent and effective pit crew, ready to fill you up with knowledge; we can tow you back to our own Gasoline Alley for tune-ups that will keep your business engine humming and provide lots of opportunities to collaborate with colleagues as you plot your course toward Victory Lane.
Although my analogies may be a bit hokey, I do hope that you understand my message: the staff and leadership of our association are here to serve you. It is our responsibility and our duty to assist you in any way that we can to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. We have a great deal of resources to help you make the most of your journey of becoming a more effective, efficient and competent professional. Take a look at the list of upcoming professional development offerings that will begin in late August.
Before the season is in full swing, I hope you will take time to enjoy yourselves at our upcoming Golf Outing slated for Friday, June 5th at the Crown. There's no better way to get to know the crew than a day on the links! Hope to see you then.
Together we are building a stronger association and a brighter future,
Kathy
Kathleen Maisonville
Executive Officer
p: 231.946.2305
f: 231.946.1051
toll free: 800.422.5166
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SEPTAGE PLANT - CONTINUES TO STINK |
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According to a May 27th article in the Record Eagle, the diminishing number of options intended to provide reprieve to builders of new homes and distribute an assessment along more equitable lines appears to have sunk in the quagmire. The Board of Public Works approved East Bay Township Supervisor, Glen Lile's proposal to launch an independent investigation into the many alleged design and construction flaws of this septage plant.
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2009 PARADE OF HOMES AND DEVELOPMENTS |
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JUNE 20-28, 2009
Eighteen quality homes will be featured in this year's Parade! Many of these homes have been certified by Green Build Grand Traverse.
COME JOIN THE PARADE!
Look for the Parade of Homes Flyer in the Traverse City Record Eagle on June 13!
The Parade will feature homes built by the following Builders:
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Bay Area Contracting, Inc
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Blue Sky Building & Design
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Brian Mohr Contracting, LLC
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Durango Homes
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East Bay Builders
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Eastwood Custom Homes, Inc
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Hardwick Construction
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Harper Custom Homes
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Lakeshore Custom Homes
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Martin-Williams Design & Contracting
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Pathway Homes
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Prestige Construction Group, LLC
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Schultz Construction & Remodeling, LLC
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West Bay State Street Commons, LLC |
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SALES AGENTS, APPRAISERS UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF GREEN |
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Professionals with expertise in green building sales and marketing attending the National Green Building Conference in Dallas on May 8-10 reported that they are seeing steady progress in educating real estate appraisers and sales agents to recognize the added value of homes that can save energy, promote comfort and indoor air quality and go easy on the environment.
However, at a time when builders in general are encountering difficult appraisal problems because of slow sales and surging forecloses, finding appraisers who know how to make suitable property comparisons to provide accurate valuations of green homes is particularly challenging, they said.
The large majority of those who play a role in the residential appraisal and sales process don't have enough expertise in green homes to value them correctly or to promote their unique features to prospective buyers. Because of that, consumers aren't always aware of the improvements that their builders or remodelers make, whether their information comes from these professionals or from the tools that they use - like the local MLS system.
Read More>>
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FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS CAN TURN TAX CREDIT INTO CASH |
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 First-time buyers eligible for the $8,000 federal tax credit who apply for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration may soon also be eligible for bridge loans or cash advances that they can use for the downpayment, closing costs or other loan expenses pending receipt of their tax credit check from the IRS. The FHA change was announced this month by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan.
As many as half of all would-be first-time buyers do not have enough cash on hand for a downpayment and closing costs, according to building and real estate industry estimates. By advancing these buyers as much as $8,000 at closing, many more would be able to afford the purchase. Officials at NAHB say the bridge loan feature could double the total number of home purchases stimulated by the 2009 tax credit program to more than 300,000, depending on how many private lenders and state housing agencies participate.
The new bridge loans and cash-advance features of the federal credit may not be available immediately through private lenders, mortgage industry leaders say. Among the key questions to be answered: Where will non-depository mortgage companies get the $8,000 in advance money to provide upfront to buyers?
Although most major banks offer second-mortgage programs, the FHA guidelines stipulate that the tax credit advances cannot be secured by a lien on the property, but only by the tax credit to be received by the purchaser. In the meantime, would-be buyers who believe they're eligible for the credit should shift into high gear shopping for a house - the Cinderella closing date of Nov. 30 is looming - even if they will need a bridge loan or a cash advance to complete the deal. The odds are good that by the time they're ready to get a mortgage and go to closing, at least some local FHA-approved lenders will be actively in the market with bridge loans.
(www.washingtonpost.com)
Washington Post (5/23/09); Kenneth R. Harney
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HBAGTA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR |
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 SAVE THE DATES! The following courses have been scheduled for this fall in the Roger Papineau Professional Development Center:
- Green Building for Building Professionals* - August 28 & 29
- Business Management for Building Professionals*^ - August 30
- Negotiating Skills - September 11
- Construction Contracts and Law - September 23
- Scheduling - October 16
- Estimating for Builders and Remodelers - October 17
- Project Management - October 30
- Land Acquisition and Development - October 31
- Marketing and Communications Strategies for Aging & Accessibility (CAPS I)^ - November 3
- Design/Build Solutions for Aging and Accessibility (CAPS II)^ - November 4
- Business Management for Building Professionals*^ - November 5
- Green Building for Building Professionals* - November 6
*Required courses for CGP (Certified Green Professionals Designation.
^Required courses for CAPS (Certified Aging In Place Specialist Designation. |
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