|
FRIDAY FURLOUGHS |
|
The HBAGTA staff will begin a new 4-day work week beginning August 31st. In an effort to preserve financial resources, staff time has been reduced by 20%. The office hours are from 8:30a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For the most up-to-date information about Association events visit www.hbagta.com.
|
|
CALENDAR AND
EVENT LINKS |
|
|
|
Board of Directors Meeting
September 23, 2009
|
|
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!
|
|
|
Sponsor Link
CONTACT THE HBAGTA TO BECOME A TUESDAY TOOLBOX SPONSOR!
|
|
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
|
|
September 14, 2009
Waterfront Conference Center
BUILDER FORUM:
4:30 PM
"Clarity - How Social Networking is Used in Today's Business World and Why You Should Know"
NETWORKING:
5:30 PM
DINNER MEETING:
6:00 PM
"Successfully Using Social Media to Promote Your Business"
Please be courteous and let us know if you plan to attend the event and the names of the guests that will attend with you. This will ensure that enough meals and seats are available for all who attend. We cannot guarantee a meal if you do not RSVP. Guest meals will be charged $25/per meal.
If you need to cancel your RSVP, please inform our office by calling BEFORE the event: (231)946-2305.
PLEASE NOTE
You will be responsible for payment of the ordered meal if you do not attend and do not inform the HBAGTA before the meeting! |
|
TABLE TOPS |
|
Table Tops will be available for rental for the September General Membership Meeting. Contact the HBAGTA to reserve your table today! |
|
Cost is $50 per table |
|
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CONTINUES TO HOVER NEAR HIGHEST LEVEL IN 18 YEARS
|
August 19, 2009 - Bolstered by affordable interest rates and low prices, nationwide housing affordability during the second quarter of 2009 continued to hover near its highest level since the series began 18 years ago, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) released today.
The HOI showed that 72.3 percent of all new and existing homes sold in the second quarter of 2009 were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,000, down only slightly from the record-high 72.5 percent during the previous quarter and up from 55.0 percent during the second quarter of 2008.
"The increase in affordability - along with the $8,000 federal tax credit for home buyers - is stimulating demand, particularly among young, first-time buyers," said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. "But to keep the recent upturn in home sales going into next year, Congress will need to extend the tax credit for another year and make it available to all buyers in an effort to encourage activity in the trade-up market."
Robson noted that the tax credit, which expires on Nov. 30, is currently limited to just buyers purchasing their first home.
|
|
HP IS NEWEST PARTNER IN NAHB MEMBER ADVANTAGE PROGRAM!
|
|
|
|
For questions on leasing or to order by phone call 1-888-402-4465 and mention pass code "NAHB".
|
|
REGISTER NOW FOR INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS SHOW
|
|
Registration and housing are now open for the building industry's biggest event, the 2010 International Builders' Show! Join us January 19-22, 2010 in Las Vegas! Get all the latest information at www.buildersshow.com.
| |
|
| Greetings! ,
 Contractions I can live with and some I'd rather not!
In grammar school I first learned about putting two words together to more efficiently communicate a message. "Didn't" was the contraction of "did not", "can't" really meant "can not" and "won't" . . . I think you get the point. It was a pretty easy lesson and one most of us figured out about the time we learned to talk. It just took on a new dimension in first grade. Later, as a young expectant mother, I learned a second meaning of "contraction" and that got my attention much more than my old grammar lessons!
But the contractions we're all experiencing today due to the economic conditions are harder lessons and more painful realities than most of us expected. These contractions don't have simple rules for implementation nor were they fully anticipated.
As business professionals we are all trying to stay ahead of the curve so to speak and kind of making it up as we go. These times represent a new paradigm no doubt. But I firmly believe that we will all come out of this leaner and wiser-looking different perhaps but truly re-invented!
An example comes to mind. During a recent visit to see my grandchildren in Raleigh, North Carolina, my daughter-in-law was bemoaning the fact that she didn't have much time (or energy) for yard work this summer since was waddling in to her second trimester of pregnancy while continuing to keep up the demands of her 5 year old and 3 year old. One gangly, misshapen rose bush was the focus of much of her angst. I told her I'd take care of it but I'd be brutal! As kindred green-thumbers, she understood. However, when my son later observed my handiwork and the fact that I had eliminated about 85% of the bush, he was astounded. "What the heck did you do that for? It looks awful!" I replied, that sometimes when things are out of control, we have to prune down to the essence of the plant. And so it is with business.
We all are experiencing challenges, painful choices and heart wrenching decisions. My heart goes out to all of you. I won't give you platitudes. This is a tough time and a tough place to do business. So this letter today just wants to convey some positive thoughts and prayers and hopes. Please know that your association remains your advocate, a valuable source of information and support. And if necessary, we'll even lend you a sharp pair of pruning shears!
Together, we are building a stronger Association!
Kathy
Executive Officer
p: 231.946.2305
f: 231.946.1051
toll free: 800.422.5166
|
|
GOOD NEWS TRAVELS FAST! |
|
|
|
BEFORE AFTER
Good news travels fast in the HBAGTA! The Showcase of Remodeled Homes is off to a great start, with 12 entries. The response from members as been extremely supportive, from advertising in this year's publication to participating in next year's event.
We have partnered with Habitat for Humanity and will be donating part of our ticket sale proceeds to this wonderful organization. Informative articles have been sent in for placement in the Showcase Guide to highlight our Association's role as a resource for any home building project.
The 1st Annual Showcase of Remodeled Homes should prove to be a success and set a new trend for all of our members. We encourage your participation (Builder or Associate) with an article of interest, advertising or a remodel that you would like to show off.
It is truly an exciting time to be a member of the Home Builders Association!
We look forward to hearing from you.
Kerry A Gartland
Events and Marketing Coordinator
Home Builders Association of
Grand Traverse Area, Inc
|
|
SHOWCASE OF REMODELED HOMES |
|
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
OCTOBER 3 & 4
12pm to 6pm each day |
The Showcase of Remodeled Homes is scheduled for October 3 & 4, 2009 in the Greater Grand Traverse Region. Residential remodel projects completed after January 1, 2006 and before September 4, 2009 are eligible to participate. Builders and Remodelers are encouraged to include "Before" and "After" pictures of the remodel project for publication. For more information, contact the HBAGTA at 231-946-2305.
-
-
Call the HBAGTA Office to find out how you can be involved. -
Plan for an opportunity to have your business and work showcased in this exciting premier event!
|
|
EARN YOUR CERTIFIED GREEN PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION (CGP) |
Limited Space is Available - Call Today!
| |
|
Pre-Registration is highly recommended!
2-Day Course Instructor: Bruce Frost Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day Location: Roger Papineau Professional Development Center - Lower level of the HBAGTA Office Cost: $325 Members / $375 Non-Members Early Bird Discount: Register and pay on or before August 14, 2009 and save $30  Learn how green homes provide buyers with lower energy costs and higher value. This 2-day course for building professionals discusses strategies for incorporating green-building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction. You will learn how green homes provide buyers lower maintenance, better indoor air quality and better long-term value. Techniques are also discussed for competitively differentiating your home products with increased indoor environmental quality as well as energy and resource efficiency. CLICK HERE For More Information
|
|
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE |
|
|
|
UPDATE ON CONTINUING COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS
From Lee Schwartz, Executive Vice President Governmental Affairs, MAHB
There are currently no continuing competency requirements in effect.
There will be no continuing competency requirements in effect until rules have been promulgated.
We do not know when these rules will be promulgated as they are still in draft form and are not high on the department's priority list.
It generally takes 12-18 months to promulgate rules.
Until the rules are promulgated no Article 24 licensee will have to do any continuing competency.
Until the rules are promulgated no continuing competency activities will be approved.
Until the rules are promulgated no continuing competency providers will be approved.
When the rules are promulgated they will NOT contain any grandfathering of previous activities.
Activities that occur BEFORE the rules are promulgated will NOT be counted towards a licensee's continuing competency requirements.
The MAHB will NOT be seeking ANY type of grandfathering of continuing competency activities or providers.
Once the rules are promulgated and activities and providers are approved we expect the required number of hours to be pro-rated for that licensing cycle.
We will let locals HBAs and members know as the status of the continuing competency requirements changes.
|
|
IDENTIFYING YOUR TARGET MARKET |
|
|
|
Topic: Identifying Your Target Market
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 2:00p Eastern Time
Price: $37 per computer Connection
There's an old saying stating "Plan your work and work your plan." That is what "Identifying Your Target Market" is all about. Through the process, you, the builder, will understand what buyers want and how to meet those wants. The result is a targeted plan using the following steps:
� Gathering essential buyer data
� MLS
� Home buyer survey
� Data mining
� Reviewing the latest demographic data
� Characteristics
� Determine your methodology
� Segmentation strategy
� Develop the 5 P's plan
� Write the plan
� Implementing the plan
� Feedback process
� Evaluation plan
� Intervention plan
� Comparing actual to plan
� Identify gaps
� Prepare changes in the original plan
� Monitor plan and activities
Presenter: Jerry Costanzo has a full service marketing firm, dedicated to using market research as a basis to ensure success in the marketplace. Their goal is to provide not only feasibility and absorption but a detailed marketing strategy. Feasibility based upon building permits, sales and a positive economic climate may indicate a "go ahead" decision. Yet, the end result may be a huge disaster. It takes more than just the numbers. What is missing, is targeting and understanding your customer. Jerry adds this element and develops a marketing strategic plan to identify which location, product and price, best meets customer's needs. | |
|
HBA FRIEND AND EXPO "BARKER" PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK |
|
|
 The Home Builders Association has lost a dear friend. Many of you knew him well and others may only recall him as the kindly gentleman with the microphone greeting our EXPO guests at the Welcome Center these past three years.
Del Corner was passionate about his legacy of being a World War II veteran. He organized trips to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and coordinated a veterans' float for the National Cherry Festival.
Even when his health was failing and he couldn't go to Washington, as happened this spring, those efforts still managed to lift his spirits.
Corner, who lived in Traverse City, died Sunday, August 16th of cancer at Munson Hospice House. He was 82.
Source: Record-Eagle August 17, 2009: Staff writers Lindsay VanHulle and Sheri McWhirter
|
|
HBAGTA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR |
|
 SAVE THE DATES! The following courses have been scheduled for this fall in the Roger Papineau Professional Development Center:
*Required courses for CGP (Certified Green Professionals Designation).
^Required courses for CAPS (Certified Aging In Place Specialist Designation). |
|
|
Top
Thank you for your membership and support of the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc.
|
Copyright 2009 Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. All rights reserved.
| |
