Call to Action: Want your voice heard? Join a HBA committee

Want your voice heard? Want to help make your association better, smarter, more relevant? Join an HBA of Greenville Committee. Want to know more about our committees? Click here to review our committee list and download job descriptions. Want to volunteer? Simply email Michael Dey at mdey@hbaofgreenville.com and state your committee preference. Don't want to serve on a committee but still want to volunteer? Send Michael an email with your areas of interest. The board forms task forces on a regular basis that handles a specific task and then disbands. Your association would love to have your help.

Call for Nominations for Builder, Associate, and Remodeler of the Year

It is that time of year again for you to recommend a member for our annual Builder of the Year Award, Associate of the Year Award, and Remodeler of the Year Award. The awards are given to a members who freely gives of his or her time, efforts and participation in order to make the HBA of Greenville a stronger organization for all of its members. These members serve the industry through participation on HBA Committees and with special projects of the Home Builders Association. Each represents the highest level of integrity and honesty in the home building industry. Below is a list of recent recipients:

Builder of the Year:

• Thomas Dillard, 2011
• Brad Thompson, 2010
• Todd Usher, 2009
• Rick Quinn, 2008
• Ted Smith, 2007
• Coleman Shouse, 2006
• Ted Smith/Ron Taylor, 2005
• Keith Smith, 2004
• Jim Gregorie, 2003
• Dan Rawls, 2002
• Clyde Rector, 2001
• Bill Fuller, 2000

Richard A. Ashmore, Sr., Associate of the Year:
The Board of Directors has renamed the Associate of the Year Award the Richard A. Ashmore, Sr., Associate of the Year Award. Richard Ashmore was President of Ashmore Brothers Inc. He was a member of the HBA of Greenville until his death in 2011, and was inducted in to the S.C. Housing Hall of Fame.

• Jason Freeman, 2011
• Scott Presley, 2010
• Eric Hedrick, 2009
• Chuck Childress, 2008
• Tom Ward, 2007
• Scott Presley, 2006
• Lou Hutchings, 2005
• Richard Powers, 2004
• Sandy Wiygul-Bell, 2003
• Robert Murphy, 2002
• Gary Gilliam, 2001
• Richard Powers, 2000

Remodler of the Year:
The Board of Directors also voted to bring back the Remodeler of the Year Award, which has not been awarded in more than 10 years.  The recipient should derive his or her primary business from residential or commercial remodeling activities.

In addition, these awards also may be given to members of the association:

• Community Service Award
• Sales and Marketing Award
• Membership Award
• Spirit of the HBA Award
• Committee Chairman of the Year Award
• Rookie of the Year Award

These awards may be given to a political or community leader:

• Distinguished Service Award
• HBASC Champion of Housing Award

If you know of a member or other person who should receive one of these awards, please send your nomination to Michael Dey at mdey@hbaofgreenville.com.  Your nomination will be confidential.

Tax Information of 657,000 Businesses Also Compromised

Tax information for at least 657,000 S.C. businesses was compromised as part of the recent hacking of SC taxpayer records, according to information released Wednesday by Gov. Nikki Haley and Department of Revenue Director James Etter.

The State of South Carolina has arranged through Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp. for free credit monitoring services for all S.C. businesses for the life of the business.

Starting Friday, Nov. 2 at 8 a.m., businesses can register at www.dandb.com/sc/ or by calling 800.279.9881.

Duke Energy Announces New Security Deposit Policy for Builders and Landlords

Beginning in February 2013, Duke Energy will require builders, property managers, landlords and realtors to settle unpaid prior obligations prior to establishing new electric service accounts. Also, if a customer has not established a satisfactory credit history – or has no credit history – a security deposit will be required before new service can be established.

Customers with satisfactory payment records will not be assessed security deposits.

Learn more at duke-energy.com/deposits.

Emerging Workforce Stats

According to XYZ University, a demographics consulting firm specializing in organizational dynamics, the U.S. Workforce will change in significant ways in the next five years:

• By 2015, Generation Y (born since 1982) will out number Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) in the workforce.
• On average, 10,000 Baby Boomers retire each day.
• Generation X (born between 1965 and 1982) will make up 65 percent of the workforce by 2020.
• 70 percent of college grads leave their first job within two years.
• 75 percent of employed Americans are looking for a job.
• One in three college students and young professionals under the age of 30 prioritize social media freedom over salary in accepting a job offer.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a shortage of 10 million workers due to the retirement of Baby Boomers.

General Membership Meeting and New Member Orientation 11/8

There will be a General Membership Meeting on Thursday, November 8th starting with cocktails at 5:30p.m. and then dinner with Rick Judson- Incoming NAHB chair. Rick is also our featured speaker of the night, for more information on Rick visit NAHB by clicking here.

There will also be a new member orientation meeting beginning at 4:15 p.m.for any one that has joined this fall.

To register please contact Crystal Yanes at 864-254-0133 or cyanes@hbaofgreenville.com, members of the HBA can also register through the HBA website here.
The meeting will be held at Hubbell Lighting @ 701 Millennium Boulevard Greenville, SC

• Pre-registration is encouraged to expedite the security process at the meeting event.

We will also be donating to Toys for Tots, so please bring a new toy to help a child in need have a special Christmas this year. 

New Home sales up 5.7% in September

Sales of single-family homes have risen 5.7% to an ajusted rate of 389,000 units in September, making it the fastest sales pace recorded since April 2010. The reason for the increase in sales is because most consumers have been anxiously waiting for the perfect time to buy over the past few years and are now going forward with the purchase of a new home. However, there has been some kick back for some, as mortgage guidelines are still stringent.
It has been suggested that there is only a 4.5 month supply of new homes at the current sales price. There is an indication that builders continue to have a tough time obtaining construction credit which could mean problems down the road as the completed number of new homes for sale is at is tightest since October of 2005.

One further note: while most areas have experienced increases  for new home sales the Midwest had a 37.3% decline.

For the full article from the NAHB click here.

David Crigler of C. Dan Joyner Co Elected to S.C. Real Estate Commission

HBA of Greenville member and realtor David Crigler has been elected to the S.C. Real Estate Commission and will begin his three year term in November. Crigler who has been with Prudential C. Dan Joyner Co. for over 25 years and served as broker-in-charge for 16 years will represent the Fourth Congressional District.
Crigler is a past president of the Greenville Association of Realtors and has served as secretary and treasurer of the S.C. Realtors Association. 

The S.C Real Estate Commission is part of the state Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. The commission is responsible for licensing real estate practitioners and enforcing standards of practice required by the license law.