HBASC announces 2012 Housing Advocacy Agenda

Your Home Builders Association of South Carolina announced the Housing Advocacy Agenda for 2012 following its annual Legislative Conference in Columbia on November 9.

1. Multi-lot Discount: Allow for a grace period for annual re-certification to reduce risk of losing property tax discount, and increase from 5 to 8 the years the discount is available due to the economic downturn. Bill up in Senate. 
2. Reverse Anti-Economic Development Case: SC Supreme Court decision said any discharge into the environment must be permitted, and anyone can have standing in the case. Ominous decision for land development & construction – permit nightmare! Bill to be introduced. 
3. IECC 2009 Adoption: The PURC Advisory Committee is scheduled to move forward with recommendations to the General Assembly to adopt the IEEC 2009 energy code. Bill to be introduced. 
4. Immigration Reform: There is new political pressure in our state due to concerns over the Hispanic growing population in the US. We would anticipate that immigration reform legislation may have to be introduced if the Court rules against the recently passed state law - similar to the Arizona law. Bill challenged in court! 
5. Impact Fees: HBA has to defend the state impact fee law every year every year, as some areas of the state continue to push for school impact fees, and more liberal interpretation of our state’s impact fee law. Recent court action helped! 
6. Comprehensive Tax Reform: General Assembly will possibly pursue a comprehensive review of taxes in 2012 based on some of the TRAC Committee recommendations with additions, deletions, and changes to the SC tax code. Tax reform bill likely be introduced. 
7. Private Transfer Fees: A bill was passed last session to ban the use of private transfer fees in SC. Bill will be up for passage in Senate in 2012. 
8. Labor Unions Expand Their Influence: Business interests are concerned that labor unions will attempt to undermine our right-to-work state by state and federal legislation.

Watch for Calls to Action from your Home Builders Association in support of these housing-related public policy issues.

HBA members save $500 when they buy a GM vehicle

HBA members can save $500 when buying a vehicle from a GM dealer.

Click here to learn more about which vehicle qualify for the GM $500 discount.

To qualify, download a proof of membership form by clicking here.  Take the form to your GM dealer.  Negotiate your best deal, then present your membership form for an additional $500 off of your purchase.

Only vehicles purchased by the HBA member of record qualify for the discount.  The program can not be combined with another private offer.

HBA members save money when buying a Lowe's

Did you know HBA members who use their Lowe's Account Receivable account save five percent on their purchases?  Plus, visit LowesForPros.com/NAHB and save an additional two percent through December 7, 2011.

Click here to visit LowesForPros.com/NAHB for details on savings for HBA members.

NAHB appeals elements of Lead Paint Rule to U.S. Court of Appeals

Your National Association of Home Builders appealed the removal of the opt out provision of the Lead Paint Rule to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.  The hearing took place November 1.

A part of the argument was that the EPA exempted the largest part of home improvements from the Lead Paint Rule: the Do-It-Yourself "industry."  Following the hearing, NAHB reported that relief from the Lead Paint Rule "may have to wait for a new Administration."  Read why at Nations Building News by clicking here.

Did You Know: Household Income

Did You Know?

According to Demo Memo, a blog about demographic trends, household income for dual-income couples rose 5 percent between 2000 and 2010, adjusted for inflation, while income for all households fell 7 percent during the same period.

Big Box Homes?

BUILDER magazine featured super-size homes, and the builders who have profited from them, in an article on builderonline.com.  From the article:

"...the big-box home trend was born as a way to compete with resales because it is rare to find large homes among resales and foreclosures, making their plus-size a product differentiator. Also, the larger homes can often pass muster with appraisers more easily, because the bigger the house, the smaller the square-foot price, and the higher-priced portions of the home, kitchens and bathrooms, are amortized over a larger number of square feet. The lower price per square foot helps the homes compete with the lower per-square-foot cost of distressed home sales."

Read the entire article at builderonline.com by clicking here.

South Carolina ranked sixth in domestic migration in 2010

In a study by New Geography, South Carolina ranked sixth in net domestic migration in 2010, and has not ranked lower than seventh since 2001.

Read the report at newgeography.com by clicking here.