28 CE Hours EVERY MONTH *** Here for you 7/365 *** When you need backup, Think PLI |
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14% + 
Led by the South and West, all four major regions of the U.S. saw large increases in December existing-home sales.
Total home sales reached 5.46 million for 2015 -- the most in nine years.
It was the highest annual sales total since 2006, the National Association of Realtors reported.
Sales were most brisk in our part of the country.
So what is the forecast for 2016?
Inventories of existing homes for sale fell to 3.9 months of supply in 2015, where 6 months is the healthy average. PLI readers will remember we predicted a housing shortage in 2010, after building permits fell to all-time lows and spec builder foreclosures flooded markets with nearly "new" low price homes. While the 2015 shortage will taper off over the next few years, housing shortages never go away over night.
Rising prices attract sellers, which pumps up inventories for sale. U.S.home prices have increased a breath-taking 25% since the beginning of the recovery in 2011.
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This Is Manufactured
Housing? !!!
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The annual preview of the latest in manufactured housing opened in Louisville January 20, 2016.
The Midwest Manufactured Housing Show in Louisville just finished its 52nd year, making it the longest running trade show at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
 It also is the largest show of its kind. Which makes it the perfect place to take a peek at the manufactured housing we will be inspecting in the years ahead. WOW!  These are not your grandma's manufactured homes! Some of these bathrooms could be in ritzy golf course subdivisions. And the living rooms...open floor plans... Well, see for yourself.
Take a look. And pick up the 2015 data.
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Four -- count 'em -- new regulations are in the works from the Kentucky Board of Home Inspectors (KBHI).
Where, before, there were 4, now there are 8 regulations. Talk about a "slippery slope" in government! That takes us from four slim regulations in 2006, back when licensing started, up to twice that many for 2016.
It's not over 'til the fat board sings - and, until she groans, you can chime in.
Highlights
The biggest changes are in license renewals, handling complaints, and CE.
They include a new "grace period" (with a price tag) for renewals filed late, a rule letting complainers take back their complaints (for an inexplicably short period of time), shortening the manufactured housing CE to 2 hours, and a "face-to-face" rule for CE (and prelicense) courses that basically knocks out 100% online CE.
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It's not over 'til the fat board sings - and, until she groans, you can chime in.
 The new regulations cannot be put into effect until you have a chance to comment on them. The time for those comments runs out soon. VOICE YOUR THOUGHTS - This Week. Written comments are due by February 1st.
Written comments on the proposed regulations can filed by any home inspector.
Isn't it time you told the KBHI what you think? Complaining about what the board coulda shoulda done is a waste, if you are giving them the silent treatment. If you wondering what comments Steve filed, they are posted at: Steve's Comments
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The Seller Disclosure form you used all these years is being thoroughly revised by the Kentucky Real Estate Commission.
Disclosure of meth contamination is added to the required disclosures, consistent with KRS 224.1-410(1) and 902 KAR 47.200. The form also is intended to be "more readable." The form itself is taken out of the regulation and just incorporated by reference in the new regulation.
Comments on the new regulation and Disclosure Form are due no later than Feb.1, 2016. See the new Disclosure Form regulation.
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Hands-on with the electric panel
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Home Inspector Photo Gems
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"Report This"
More Classic Construction Techniques in Photos from Our Inspectors.
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Please report what you see in the photo below -- as you would in a home inspection report. Send it to PLI.
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Greetings!
You heard it first here, didn't you?
Where else do you get news of all the new regulations -- for home inspectors and for radon certification?
Here, you get the whole story, background and all. The links get you to the full text of the new regulations on the PLI site.
And there's morel! This is more than your first news source. It is, literally, the only source.
If there is anything you do not find here, PLI alums know our faculty is just a click or a call away -- every day. Nonstop.
Priceless.
In world of spam, and pop-up ads, your PLI Newsletter stands out.
There's even more beef in PLI's courses! Because
"It Pays to Know."™
Year 'round. Nonstop.
See you soon.
Lorri Keeney, President
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It's Time to Renew!
2016 CE Classes
Including Face-to-Face
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Real inspections. Real houses. Real hands-on learning -- custom built for real home inspectors. Class every month.
A view of PLI's Classes on site
14 hours CE Advanced Courses
February 25th & 26th
March 19th & 20th
April 14th & 15th
14 hours CE Basic
February 27th & 28th
March 17th & 18th
April 16th & 17th
As you know, all PLI class sizes are limited -- so you get the most.
Because "It Pays to Know."
28 CE HOURS EVERY MONTH
** HERE FOR YOU 7/365 ** WHEN YOU NEED BACKUP:
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BIG NEWS --
BOARD MEMBERS PERSONALLY LIABLE
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Far and away, the most important legal update of 2015 came from the United State Supreme Court. It was Seriously Big News.
The very idea is enough to give anyone pause. It means state licensing has gotten so out-of-hand that it now takes a Federal Case to check its sprawl.
That is just what happened...
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UNSUNG HEROS:
HOME INSPECTORS SAVE MORE LIVES
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One of the hardest jobs for home inspectors is reminding people that home inspectors save lives.
Partly, modesty gets in the way of making the point. Yet it is a point we should be making. The media firehose spews stories agog about gadgets like Apple watches and 3-D movies, or life imitating Twitter with Trump. Just try to find a story about home inspectors saving lives.
....read on
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New Bills
License Fees & Radon
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There have been a total of 250 bills introduced in this session of the General Assembly already -- and last week was pretty short, with everyone off on Monday for Martin Luther King Day, and the government shuit down Friday for the snowstorm. These might interest you.
HB 272 would amend KRS 211.9107 to exempt a a residential building contractor installing vcent pipes from radon mitigation certification requirements. On Jan. 20, the third week of the session, it was referred to the House Committee on Licensing and Occupations. Radon Mitigation KAR supports the bill.
HB 30 does what the home inspection board should do. It amends the statute, KRS 198B.6674, KRS 227.050, and 318.316 to find out what excess funds are sitting around for HVAC, plumbers and electricains licensing board and direct that excess funds be used to credit licensing fee. On Jan. 5, 2016, it was referred to the House Appropriations Committee. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/16RS/HB30.htm
HB67 would create a new section of KRS Chapter 525 to institute a new offense called "drone harassment" and amend KRS 446.010 to define "drone." Drone Harassment
HB120 presents the same idea, only by amending KRS Chapter 500, but also allows the use of drones for lawful commercial and personal use. Drones |
PLIs "Ask Steve"   |
Steve,
I turn on showers and Jacuzzi tubs while I check the rest of the bathroom. Sometimes, when I turn around, it's like a steam bath. Steam is coming out of the shower. Steam is rising up from the tub faucet. I keep wondering if there is some standard or rule about this. Right now, I'm only taking pictures. I put them in the report, but I don't say anything about steam. Is that right?
Steve: The procedure is fine. I often test "functional flow" by going to the bathroom furthest away from the main water shutoff, turning everything on, and then flushing the toilet. I work under Inter-NACHI's Standards of Practice (SOP). That test will tell you if the lady has to dance in the shower to get wet!
But the word "steam" never even shows up in any bathroom plumbing SOP.
"Functional flow" has to be checked
Steve .
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It's Your Professional Community
So Pitch In!
We're All InThis Together!
Please, visit our website and read our
Blogs.
"Comment" on them.
Click on "Blog" at the bottom left of the home page
Here are just a few of the latest blog conversations you can join:
Or fire us an email to start a new topic thread -- anytime!
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Endorsement
Dear Steve and Lorri:
Just wanted to send a quick note to say thank you so very very much for all that you guys have taught me. Enrolling at PLI is undoubtedly one of the smartest things I've ever done. Ia m steadily getting home inspections and absolutely love it and love learning new things along the way. I am so glad that I have the knowledge base I've learned from you all. I also honestly can't imagine not having PLI around because I've heard some pretty messed up stories of guys who went with some other school claiming offer the same greatness PLI does. I hope to see you guys for classes again soon, but in the meantime, keep on rockin on! Your'e doing great! Thanks again.
CC
Louisville
Reply:
Thank you to CC for taking the time to write.
Thanks for the feedback. Keep it coming!
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Radon Certification Class - March 2016
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Radon Class: March 2016
Be sure to check your email later this week. PLI will be sending word of its next radon class, set for March. The Newsletter will give the dates -- and the latest updates on KY radon certification, including the court restraining order.
This will be your last chance to catch the 16 hour radon class before the proposed KY Radon Regulations are scheduled to be resurrected, tentatively near the end of April, as things stand. We'll know more soon.
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Professional Learning.
nonstop.
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delivers ALL inspectors needs
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PLI speaks up for ALL inspectors with Lawmakers and Rule setters at
Federal, National Association, and State bodies, including the KBHI. No one else does.
"Only PLI has helped defend a home inspector at state licensing boards, in court, at the Attorney General's Consumer Protection office, and in arbitration. No other school or association has."
You get more than just a course, or 14 hours. It pays to know that too.
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Expert witnesses for inspector and real estate cases.
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License # KBPE R-0403, KBHI P-1001, KBHI CE-1002
Louisville, KY | Phone 502-896-2020 | Fax 502-895-4766 | Email pli4u@aol.com
Content copyright 2015. Professional Learning Institute 4U, LLC. All rights reserved.
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We hope you find this helpful. Please remember this is a news and reporting service only. It is not legal, accounting, or any other professional advice. It is not a substitute for the advice of a knowledgeable professional who is acquainted with your individual situation. Users should rely on their own professional's advice rather than any news or publication for their individual decisions. Any and all use of PLI Content, this and any PLI site, any newsletter, and the Services is subject to the Terms of Use (TOU), which are posted on the PLI site. PLI does not guarantee the accuracy, integrity or quality of such Content or Services. By your Use of this Content or the Services, you agree that under no circumstances will PLI or its members, officers, directors or agents be liable in any way for any Content or Services, including but not limited to any errors or omissions in any Content, any offensive, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable Content, or any loss or damage of any kind incurred. Articles and comments reflect only the views of the author and not of PLI. You are entirely responsible for all content that you upload, post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available.
We all are in this together. We believe everyone should be able to understand the laws, regulations, decisions, and decision-makers that govern them. PLI stays closely tuned to our industry and professional developments, though PLI does not support or oppose any organization, office holder, or candidate, or contribute to any political campaigns. Articles from the Newsletter Archive may be reprinted provided PLI's copyright is credited, notice is given of the PLI TOU and to PLI, and a copy of any such reprint is delivered at the time of reprinting to PLI. Article updates may be available; contact us. For other information, explore Resources on the PLI site. www.pli4u.com
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