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CALENDAR AND
EVENT LINKS |
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Parade of Homes
Builder Buddies Distribute Supplies
June 20 - 28, 2009
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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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FIRE CHIEF NEEDS A HOME
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Sally Guzowski, Director of the Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, emailed Kathy at the HBA and noted that the new Fire Chief for Solon and Centerville Townships needs a place to live. He would be interested in a place where he can "sleep, cook meals and bathe" and reports that he's "not too fussy". If any builder, realtor or other HBA member has any possible housing solutions, please contact Sally directly at the Chamber office at 271-9895. |
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EARLY BIRD WINNER |
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Everyone who took advantage of the Early Bird Special for our HBAGTA golf outing was entered to win a free month of golf compliments of The Crown.
Congrats to Dave Triplett of Engineered Protection Systems (EPS) whose name was drawn! (We haven't called him yet so are going to see if he reads his Tuesday Toolbox or networks with HBA colleagues enough to get the good news through our grapevine!)
Dave (Trip) can redeem his prize by contacting Kerry at the HBA office: 946-2305. |
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GRANT TO HELP CONSTRUCTION STUDENTS EARN DESIGNATIONS |
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The National Housing Endowment has awarded NAHB and the Home Builders Institute (HBI) an $82,784 grant to create a program that will enable students graduating with residential construction management degrees to also earn NAHB professional designations through their coursework and enter the workforce with those designations.
"Through grants such as this, the National Housing Endowment works to help the residential construction industry develop more effective approaches to home building and to ensure that there is an ample and well-trained supply of future workers and leaders," said Gary Garczynski, endowment chairman and 2002 NAHB president.
The programs will be modeled after a pilot program at Purdue University created through an endowment Homebuilding Education Leadership Program (HELP) grant.
NAHB and HBI worked with the Indiana university's residential construction management program faculty to integrate NAHB/ HBI course content into existing university curriculum that would qualify participating students to earn a Certified Green Professional (CGP), Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) or a Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS) designation upon graduation.
READ MORE>> |
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MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
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The Membership Committee is looking for a few good members!
The Committee meets the third Tuesday of the month at 9:30 am at the Association office. This is a great opportunity to get to know the Association better. Call Jenny or Kathy at the Association office for more information. | |
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Greetings! ,
In the office these days, I am reminded of a childhood story my parents used to read to me. Although today it would probably be considered politically incorrect, it left an indelible memory about what can happen when folks run around like crazy! What made me think of it today is a bit of a puzzle. However, I think that it might have something to do with the sheer numbers of people: builders, non-profit hosts and parade ticket buyers coming in and out of the office so fast. The pace of the traffic must have triggered my memory of those silly tigers in my childhood lore that chased each other around in circles that they melted into a puddle of butter!
Well no one here is melting but it does seem that we are all running these days. We are anxious to kick off the first weekend of our 20th Anniversary Parade of Homes and celebrate the success of so many talented and professional builders and craftsmen who make this event the annual draw to Traverse City that it is. Unfortunately, home #18 has had to withdraw due to unforeseen circumstances. We're doing our best to pass along the word before any visitors trek to Elk Rapids. Stickers announcing the closure are being placed in the Parade Plan Books and signs informing the public about the change will be displayed at each of the other 17 houses as well as at the ticket outlets.
On Friday, July 10th, the Green Build Grand Traverse Committee will host a booth from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the DTE Energy Green Day at the National Cherry Festival Open Space. We are grateful to Dan Paulson for coordinating efforts between our dedicated committee members and the NCF staff. Please stop by and visit our booth where you can get some very timely information about green building products and services available through our HBA members. Look for our banner: "Green Build Grand Traverse - Setting the Standard!"
We're delighted to continue to have a positive presence in the community and hope you will join us as we celebrate the housing industry over the coming weeks
As always, together, we are building a stronger association. 
Kathy
Kathleen Maisonville
Executive Officer
p: 231.946.2305
f: 231.946.1051
toll free: 800.422.5166
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2009 PARADE OF HOMES |
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VISIT THE
FOR A LIST OF TICKET OUTLETS
COME JOIN THE PARADE!
Please Note - Due to unforseen circumstances, Parade Home #18 has been cancelled. |
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MEGA ERRATA! |
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 I really "sliced" my Tuesday Toolbox letter last week and really got into an unintended "ruff" spot by failing to mention some very important Golf Outing contributors. My apologies! We are deeply indebted to Randy Travis of Michigan Mobile Glass & Trim who not only co-chaired the event with staff member Kerry Gartland, but also was the MC at the awards picnic. A very special thank you also goes to Holton's LP gas of Fife Lake who not only donated the delicious hotdogs but also the two give-away grills. Mistakenly, we identified Holton's Tri-Gas of Benzie as the source. We are also grateful to Dean and Tammy from that store who hung out throughout the golf event to keep the food coming hot off the grill.
Kathy |
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MSHDA EXPANDS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM |
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 The Michigan State Housing Development Authority has significantly expanded its down-payment assistance program that, when combined with the new federal tax credit, would provide more than $15,000 in help for first-time home buyers. The loans - - which have zero interest and don't have to be paid back until the home is sold or the mortgage refinanced or paid in full - could be used for closing costs, expenses such as setting up escrow accounts, or down payments. The federal recovery package approved in February provides first time homebuyers with an $8,000 tax credit. " MSHDA has raised its limits on the household income for buyers eligible for the $7,500 loan from $55,000 to nearly $95,000," said Mary Townley, MSHDA's director of homeownership. "We felt we just needed to provide more tools for home buyers." For both the federal and state programs, buyers are eligible if they haven't owned a home in the past three years. The federal credit runs through Dec 1. The state loans can be used for homes worth up to $224,500. Income limits and other information can be found at MSHDA's Web Site. |
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EXPERTS IN THE HOME BUILDING INDUSTRY |
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If you aren't an expert, your perceived value diminishes, you won't get as many opportunities and it will be hard to position yourself for success.
THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION IS LOOKING FOR...
...The leaders and the experts in the Home Building Industry in the greater Grand Traverse Area!
Do you have an expertise that you have written about or would like to write about? Has your business started a blog to inform your customers about building a home, heating a home, decorating a home or other topics in this area?
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
The Association is looking for appropriate articles that we can share with the community on our Social Networking sites as well as the HBAGTA web site. We would like these articles and information to come from OUR LOCAL MEMBERS because we want to show them that WE ARE THE RESOURCE for information on the Home Building Industry and WE ARE THE PROFESSIONALS they should hire.
DO YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED AN EXPERT?
Let's work together! Articles will be taken on a first come / first served basis and will be posted at no charge on our Social Networking sites. Duplication of subject may be alternated to avoid redundancy. The HBAGTA reserves the right to restrict content. We request a clean, edited electronic copy of your article and publication will depend on approval.
If you would like more information or you think you can help, contact Jenny at the Association office. |
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FHA TAX CREDIT MONITIZATION HELPS HOME BUYERS WITH UPFRONT COSTS
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 June 9, 2009 - First-time home buyers who would otherwise qualify for the $8,000 tax credit, but don't have the money for a down payment or closing fees, may now be able to get a loan to help cover those upfront costs.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on May 29 that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will allow state housing finance agencies to provide second mortgages "monetizing" the tax credit so that borrowers can use the funds toward their down payments and closing costs for the purchase of homes with FHA-insured mortgage loans.
"This is great news for thousands of families who want to take advantage of today's low interest rates, competitive prices, great selection and the federal tax credit that is only available until Nov. 30, but could not save enough money for a down payment and closing costs," said National Association of Home Builders Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla.
HUD also announced that FHA-approved lenders may purchase the tax credit from the home buyer in advance, so that the home buyer can use the funds for closing costs or to make a down payment in addition to the 3.5 percent minimum. Home buyers who go directly to FHA-approved lenders will still need to come up with the 3.5 percent minimum down payment that is required for an FHA-insured loan.
Home buyers previously would be able to use the funds from the tax credit only after filing their federal tax returns and had to come up with the pre-purchase costs on their own.
NAHB estimates that 40,000 more homes will be purchased due to the new FHA monetization program, in addition to the 160,000 sales already expected as a result of the tax credit.
The National Council of State Housing Agencies has a list of states offering first time home buyer tax credit loan programs on their Web site, www.ncsha.org. For information on the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit, go to www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com. | |
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HEARING SET ON MANDATORY SPRINKLERS - HOW YOU CAN HELP
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 New fire sprinkler mandate threatens affordable housing. Here's how you can help. The hearing on mandatory fire sprinklers will be held Wednesday, July 22 at 9 AM in the Forum Room of the Library of Michigan, 702 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing. You can participate in three (3) ways:
1. By driving to Lansing and testifying at the hearing. Once you have arrived there will be sign-in sheet just inside the door. Just sign your name and the organization (if any) you represent. Then take a seat and wait for your name to be called. However, be aware testimony will be limited to three minutes per person.
2. By sending a letter in opposition to mandating sprinklers. These can be sent by you, your organization and your clients. These letters should be mailed to:
Mr. Irvin Poke
Director, Bureau of Construction Codes
Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth
Post Office Box 30254
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Click here for a sample letter to use. Please utilize your letterhead, sign, and send to the above address.
3. By talking to your building officials, inspectors, and affordable housing advocates on this issue.
Each local association has been asked to provide 5 members who will testify at the hearing on July 22nd. Please let me know if you would be willing to travel to Lansing and speak against mandatory sprinklers.
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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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Thank you for your membership and support of the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc.
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Copyright 2009 Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. All rights reserved.
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