February 2016
Supported By
Recruit 3 & You're FREE
CONGRATULATIONS TO 
CHRISTINA STOUT oDAVE MILLET INSURANCE 
FOR RECRUITING 4 NEW MEMBERS IN JANUARY!
Christina's next membership renewal will be free.


Recruit at least 3 new Builder or Associate members in 2016 and your next membership renewal will be free. Affiliate members or members being reinstated within 1 year not included in promotion.

If you are referring the new member to  SIF Workers' Comp Program (which could pay for their first year's dues,) please make sure to TELL LAUREN (504.837.2700 or [email protected]) that you recruited them prior to the Board of Directors meeting that month.

If your 2016 membership renewal comes up prior to recruiting the 3 members, your 2017 renewal will be comped. Only the first 3 members will be counted (recruiting 6 new members does not grant 2 years of membership renewal.)


Resources:
  • Use the SPIKE ROLODEX to help identify potential new members that you work with daily. Give the completed Rolodex to Lauren to find out who's already a member. 
Association Member Achievements
HBAGNO members have been the recipients of many state and national awards lately, and we couldn't be prouder!

Mrs. Jodi Penn Rives and Michael LeCorgne
Michael LeCorgne, 2-10 Home Buyers Warrantywas the recipient of the Mike Penn Award for 2015. This award is given to one LHBA member each year who is looked up to by his/her peers, who puts the goals of the association above their own personal goals, who is committed to the professional development of others, and who is a champion of change for the betterment of the industry.


Randy Noel and Steve Wobbema
Steve Wobbema, Quality Home Repair of LA, LLC 
was named 2015 LHBA Remodeler of the Year. He also came in 2nd Place in the kitchen category in the Louisiana Remodeling Excellence Awards, and was in Honorable Mention in the bath category.





Kirk Williamson
Kirk Williamson, Chester Development, LLC,
took 1st Place in both the kitchen and bath categories in the Louisiana Remodeling Excellence Awards!






Jo Ann Kostik and Dodie Adams
On the national front, Dodie Adams, CAPS, CGB, CGP,CSP, Integrity Builders, Inc., was awarded CGB of the Year and the BEAM Award, which recognizes builders who value doing business with NAHB Associates.

Jo Ann Kostik, Jo Ann Kostik Interior Designer, was recognized by the NAHB Professional Women in Building Council for being the top Spike for 2015.

Operation Finally Home : U.S. Army Sgt. Nathan D. Young

Over 100 people gathered to welcome US Army Sgt. Nathan D . Young to his new, mortgage-free home on a sunny Friday afternoon January 15. Operation Finally Home recruited HBAGNO Board Member Zach Tyson, with his parents Larry and Patricia, of Tyson Construction, to build this beautiful home in St. Charles Parish. 



Economic Forecast for 2016: Slightly Better Than 2015
Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D. is President of GraphsandLaughs, LLC and can be reached at [email protected]. His daily 70 word economics and policy blog can be seen at www.econ70.com.

Looking at 2016, the domestic economic landscape looks solid, albeit unspectacular. The unemployment rate should continue falling, house prices are likely to rise by 5%, and the economy will be led almost entirely by the continuing improvement in household balance sheets, and in conjunction with increased employment and slightly faster wage growth. Government spending will be slightly higher in 2016 (but not enough to matter), capital expenditures by firms will remain weak, and exports will continue to suffer due to the strong US dollar. The most serious domestic problem is weak inflation, and it should begin to increase. Despite continuing poor global economic growth, the American economy will not weaken, but is also unlikely to strengthen much. 
 
With this in mind, I expect full-year 2016 GDP to come in at 2.4%, slightly higher than the expected 2.2% GDP growth experienced in 2015. New housing starts should increase by about 12%, with total starts coming in at 1.25 million. Single-family starts will likely total 830,000, up from 710,000, while multifamily starts should hit 410,000, up from 400,000. New and existing home sales should rise by about 4% and end the year at 6.0 million, with mortgage purchase volume advancing by $60 billion and refinance activity falling by about $250 billion. Housing inventories should jump by about 150,000 units, to 5.5 months of inventory, up from 5.0 months now. 
 
Given the continued improving labor market, expect net new monthly job growth to average 185,000/month, which while down from 205,000/month in 2015, is excellent given the shrinking size of the working age population. As a result, the unemployment rate should fall from 5.0% today to between 4.6% and 4.8% by year end and possibly lower, depending upon the behavior of the labor force participation rate (LFPR). If the LFPR rises, and that would be good, unemployment may end the year as high as 4.8%, but if the LFPR continues to fall, an unemployment rate of 4.6% or even 4.5% is distinctly possible.

As for inflation, headline inflation will noticeably increase while core inflation (which excludes food and energy) edges up only slightly. Inflation should rise because energy and commodity prices are not likely to fall further and the dollar is unlikely to continue strengthening. As a result, the downward pressure these forces have exerted on headline inflation will cease and headline inflation, now at 0.3%, should move towards the core rate which is now at 1.3% and will probably rise to 1.7% by year end, which is still below the Fed target of 2%. As a result, the Federal Reserve will have the luxury of time to slowly raise the federal funds rate from where it is now, between 0.25% and 0.50%, to between 1.00% and 1.25% by year end, with a rate increase coming every three to four months

As a result of slightly faster GDP growth and falling unemployment in 2016, 10-year Treasuries will end the year at 2.75% and 30-year mortgage rates will probably hover around 4.5% as the yield curve flattens due to faster rising short-term rates. But slightly easing credit conditions and rising consumer spending due to improving employment numbers and wages will keep the economy and housing market on track despite mildly higher interest rates. Finally, I put the chances of a recession in 2016 at 15% to 20%. So look forward to steady economic activity in 2016 and fear not slowly ascending interest rates.
From last month... 
1st Quarter at the HBA
Mark your calendars to be more involved with the HBA this year! Some great events to attend in the 1st quarter include...

Wednesday, February 17th
Tuesday, February 23rd
Annual Housing Forecast 
(registration link coming soon)

Wednesday, February 24th
Professional Women in Building Dinner @ Tony Angelo's (registration link coming soon)


Friday, March 11th

Improving Jefferson Parish Inspection Process
Jeff Parish Seal
Jefferson Parish Department of Inspection and Code Enforcement, in an effort to provide you with better and more convenient service, the Mechanical Department has been working to simplify the inspection process. Below are a few tips to help the inspection process run more smoothly and efficiently.

The Manual J, S, and D form must be submitted at the time of the rough-in inspection. 

The Duct Blast Test may be completed at 4 different stages and must be completed before building final inspection. The 4 stages are as follows:
  • At time of rough-in without air handler
  • At time of rough-in with air handler
  • At time of final without blower door
  • At time of final with blower door
(Different standards are required at different stages of test.)

*If foaming house, duct test is not necessary, provided ducts are ALL located within the thermal envelope of the building.

During the application process, the general contractor must choose either the Blower Door test at the time of final inspections or the Air Barrier Checklist during the construction phase.

The Blower Door test must be completed before building final inspection.

The Air Barrier Checklist must be completed during the process of construction. All visual inspections must be done prior to concealment for Air Barrier to be valid. Otherwise, blower door test must be completed. 

In order to perform the Blower Door Test and Duct Test, Jefferson Parish only recognizes BPI, Southface, or Resnet Certifications.

A copy of current certification needs to be provided with the testing form.

All forms for testing are being made available on our Jefferson Parish website, www.jeffparish.net

All completed testing forms may be emailed to the Mechanical Department at [email protected]

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The Louisiana State Plumbing Code (Part 14 of the LA Sanitary Code) has been repealed effective January 1, 2016 per Act 836 of 2014. The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council (LSUCCC) will promulgate State plumbing regulations through the evaluation, adoption, and amendment of the following codes as part of the State Uniform Construction Code:

2012 International Building Code, Chapter 29 - Plumbing Systems;
2012 International Residential Code, Part VII - Plumbing,
2012 International Plumbing Code

Member Rebate Program
The Member Rebate Program is a free member benefit of your State & Local Home Builders Association.

There are over 40 of the country's leading manufacturer brands participating in the Member Rebate Program.

Visit Member Benefits for more information, or CLICK HERE to view an online brochure with helpful information about the program.

Also Supported By: 

 

 

In This Issue:
Member Achievements
Economic Forecast for 2016: Slightly Better Than 2015.
From Last Month
Quick Links & Job Postings

Did you know you can renew your membership online? 

Just login from the HBAGNO homepage to renew your membership.

February Calendar of Events
All Events held at HBA office unless otherwise noted 

See details below for 
"Featured Events"

9) Mardi Gras Day, Office Closed

10) Executive Commttee Meeting @ 4pm

11) Education Committee Meeting @ 11:30am

15) Crawfish Boil Committee Meeting @ 2pm
Ferguson Showroom, 901 S. Labarre Road, Metairie

15) Home & Garden Show Board Meeting @ 4pm

16) HBA Board of Directors Meeting @ 4pm

17) FREE Sales Training Breakfast @ 8:30am

18) Advanced Building Practices Council Meeting @ 12pm

18) Parade of Homes Committee Meeting @ 1:30pm

23) Quarterly President's Reception & Annual Housing Forecast @ 5pm
NOMAR Office, 3rd Floor, 3645 N. I-10 Service Road, Metairie

24) Professional Women in Building Dinner @ 5:30pm
Tony Angello's, 6262 Fleur de Lis Drive, New Orleans

25) MEMBERSHIP CONTACT DAY @ 8:30AM
FEATURED EVENTS
Wednesday, February 17
 @ 8:30am

5 Steps to Increase your Networking Results in the HBA
FREE Sales Training Breakfast

Tuesday, February 23
@ 5pm

Quarterly President's Reception & Annual Housing Forecast

NOMAR Office, 3rd Floor, 3645 N. I-10 Service Road, Metairie

Wednesday, February 24
@ 5:30pm

Professional Women in Building Dinner 

Tony Angello's, 6262 Fleur de Lis Drive, New Orleans

In Every Issue
JOB POSTINGS

Members: List your job opening here at no charge!
QuickLinksQuick Links & Resources



* Under Compliance, click on Employers' Workers' Compensation Coverage Verification
NAHB Online Courses Logo
2016 Senior Officers of the Board

President, Floyd Simeon
Vice President, Michael LeCorgne
Treasurer, Frank Morse
Secretary, Michael Kraft
Immediate Past President, Roy Olsen

2016 Board of Directors

Steve Albert
John Arms
Alexis Brown
Nick Castjohn
Charlie Fontenelle
David Gaspard
Phil Hoffman
Kevin Katner

Jo Ann Kostik
Peter Lanaux
Bruce Layburn
Harold LeBlanc
Brian Mills
Scott Morse
Helmut Mundt
Randy Noel
Lynda Nugent Smith
Rolf Parelius
Kimberly Rooney
Dorothy Stanich
Zach Tyson
Kirk Williamson
Steve Wobbema
Wes Wyman


HBA Staff Contacts

Jon Luther, Executive Vice President
Philip Thomas, Education Director & NOEL Program Director  [email protected]
Lauren Galliano, Director of Membership & Industry Relations   [email protected]g
Rita Bautista, Governmental Affairs Representative    [email protected]
Shane Gray, Accountant  [email protected]


Did We Miss Something?
Please contact Lauren at the HBA office with any pertinent industry-related issues and/or professional achievements you'd like to share with your association members.

Feature Articles in upcoming issues of sticks & bricks or HBA's printed publication, the homebuilder quarterly(HQ), are FREE opportunities for HBA members to market themselves to 1,000+ industry professionals.

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