DHEC Stormwater Permit issued effective January 1, 2013

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control issued the new NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities on October 15.  The new permit will be effective January 1, 2013.

There are changes to the new permit compared to the existing permit, although the changes were relatively minor.  As a result of the actions of NAHB, the Environmental Protection Agency dropped its plan to impose numeric limits on effluent.  Because the new permit is valid through 2017, any requirement to measure and limit effluent on construction sites will not be required in South Carolina before January 1, 2018.

To help HBA members understand the new permit, DHEC will hold three informational seminars:

• Upstate: Monday, November 19, Chapman Cultural Center, 200 East St. John Street, Spartanburg (9 a.m. until 12 noon)
• Midlands: Wednesday, November 28, Peeples Auditorium, DHEC Headquarters, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia (1 p.m. until 4 p.m.)
• Coastal: Friday, November 30, Horry County Government Center, 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway (1 p.m. until 4 p.m.)

Design engineers, CEPSCI inspectors, and others involved in land development are encouraged to attend one of these free sessions.

Study shows increase in South Carolina home sales for July

The S.C. Realtors said in their monthly home sales report that sales are up by 13.4% statewide. Which indicates a trend toward rising prices and more homes sold in a shorter time on the market. This is great for many sellers who have waited to place their homes on the market as new listings in South Carolina increased 2% and pending sales were up 11%. Another great sign for optimistic sellers is that the inventory of unsold homes has gone down 15.1% and low interest rates have helped as they dipped below 3.49% for a 30-yr fixed mortgage.  However, we still have a ways to go before sustained recovery as consumers are still lacking confidence in both the economy and their family finances.
The strongest increases in the number of homes sold were in the Spartanburg and Hilton Head markets reaching 25% in both areas.

Here are some market facts:

• The strongest price range was $200,001-$300,000 with a 15.4% increase in sales during July, compared with the year-earlier month.
• The bedroom count with the strongest sales in July was 4 bedroom or more, and sales up 15.1%.
• Condominiums were the property type with the strongest sales, up 11.4%. 

Verizon discounts just for HBA members.

Have you ever wondered how some people just always know how to get the BEST deals? Well, now you can be in the know. The National Purchasing Partners(NPP) update their deals frequently and often include the most popular brands and services. This quarter Verizon has several promotions to keep your phone up to date and the service to help keep you connected without such a hard tug on your budget. Listed below are the deals for Verizon however, for the most up to date info on the details click here .

• The latest Smartphone offers: the Casio G’zOne Commando for free, the LG Lucid for $29.99, Motorola’s Droid Razr for $49.99 and Razr Maxx for $149.99, when you activate a voice with data plan.
• Related voice/data discounts includes 450 Anytime Minutes with Unlimited Data for $51.19 per month, down from $79.99.
• Mobile broadband access to Verizon’s 4G LTE network. You can receive Verizon’s Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi for free, and the Franklin Wireless X720 for $49.99.
• Push to Talk devices at low prices, including the Casio G’zOne Ravine 2 $99.99, and the Samsung Convoy 2 for free.

For more information on the NPP program/membership please call  800.810.3909 or emailcustomerservice@mynpp.com. 

50+ University Day 10/18 8-5pm

The Atlanta 50+ Housing Council is proud to present its second annual 50+ University Day. This conference will feature education sessions taught by leading industry experts. It is a great opportunity to network with other colleagues in the industry who share a passion for this growing demographic. Some topics include: "Design Trends: The Multigenerational Builder and Buyer" and "Marketing to the 50+ Buyer." If you are interested in more information contact Janel Grant, 678-775-1446 or visit their website. Also, keep in mind that you can earn up to 6 Builder License Credits and 3 GREC credits.
The event will be held at The Crowne Plaza Ravinia Hotel
OCTOBER 18, 2012 | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM BREAKFAST, REGISTRATION & NETWORKING
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDUCATION SESSIONS
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM COCKTAILS

Pricing for this event is as follows:
$35.00 FOR 50+ COUNCIL MEMBERS
$50.00 FOR NON-50+ COUNCIL MEMBERS
GROUP RATES AVAILABLE
REGISTER ONLINE AT ATLANTAHOMEBUILDERS.COM

"Stocktober Fest" BAH October 16th 5-8 p.m.

The 1st Annual Stock-toberfest, a Builder After Hours sponsored by Stock Building Supply, is tomorrow night and is sure to be a ghoulishly good time. The event will have Food, Spirits, and Live Music by the band "Off Duty". There will also be a chance to win some spook-tacular prizes.
Please RSVP, as soon as possible through Builder Fusion or call Crystal Yanes at the HBA of Greenville (864)254-0133.
We look forward to seeing you there!