Palmetto Builders Show will be a South Carolina Alternative to the International Builders Show

The Charleston Home Builders Association will produce the inaugural Palmetto Builders Show, presented by JamesHardie, April 26-27 at the Charleston Area Convention Center.

The Palmetto Builders Show is designed to bring us back to our roots - creating a working environment between builders, remodelers, architects, engineers, vendors, suppliers and manufacturers. We believe that the future of the industry lies in vendors’ ability to connect with each other, and the Palmetto Builder’s Show is the only trade show in South Carolina to focus solely on supporting industry relationships and building collaboration among professionals.

If you are interested in exhibiting at the Palmetto Builders Show, great booth opportunities are still available.  Click here to review exhibitor opportunities at the Palmetto Builders Show.

Who is invited? Only builders, remodelers, architects, engineers and their clients will be invited to attend the Palmetto Builder’s Show. Over 1,500 of these key industry professionals will be invited from South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and other surrounding areas. Our goal is to interest out-of-town invitees, capitalizing on Charleston’s beautiful scenery and natural appeal, while also giving attendees a taste of the local home building community’s best products and services. In-town invitees will also enjoy the show, without the hassle of having to travel outside the state. All guests will be treated to one-of-a-kind vendor displays, a Charleston ‘Welcome Party’ and informative, engaging educational programs.

Who can showcase? Booths will be sold to exhibitors who market directly to architects, builders, remodelers and engineers. We encourage vendors, suppliers and manufacturers to team together and bring their best products for display. We are not looking for the typical home show booth. We truly want to show our invitees the best products and services that the Lowcountry has to offer. Palmetto Builder’s Show exhibitors will experience a high-end home show that is fun and engaging, with many opportunities to network with the region’s best industry professionals.

Why participate? The homebuilding industry is fast on the road to recovery and the Palmetto Builder’s Show is the perfect opportunity to meet the men and women who design and build homes, ranging from custom designs to production and remodeling. Marketing directly to architects, builders, engineers and remodelers is the best way to ensure your product gets included in a new home. While consumers remain influential in this process, changes within the homebuilding industry have resulted in more professional involvement in products placed in homes.

Why will builders, remodelers, architects and engineers attend? We will organize a first-class show and educational venue offering CE credits, while at an affordable price. With Charleston as the backdrop, we will give attendees and their families the full “Charleston Experience,” while reducing their need to travel long distances for a similar showcase.

Dr. David Crowe Predicts More Housing Growth in 2013

Dr. David Crowe, Chief Economist of the National Association of Home Builders, predicted continued growth in new home construction in 2013 at the sixth annual Upstate Housing Market Forecast Luncheon.  The buzz was clearly in the room: housing is on the rebound.

All segments of the home building industry should continue to grow in 2013, according to the NAHB Economics housing and economic forecast. Single-family and multifamily construction will see strong growth rates, with remodeling experiencing lesser but still positive growth. Driven by demographic factors, the 55+ sector should witness growth comparable to that of single-family and multifamily building.

Growth in the housing industry remains critical for the economy as a whole, as the preliminary fourth-quarter GDP report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis demonstrates. Due to declines in government spending and business inventories, the initial estimate for economic growth for the last three months of 2012 turned down at -0.1%. However, home building (residential fixed investment or RFI) was a net contributor on the growth side of the equation for the seventh consecutive quarter.

For the final quarter of 2012, RFI added 0.36 percentage points to GDP, the second-highest tally since the end of the Great Recession. Put another way, had home building been flat for the quarter, the initial estimate for fourth-quarter GDP would have been strongly negative at 0.46%.

And NAHB expects this growth for home building to continue. For the single-family market, there were 535,500 housing starts in 2012, a 24% increase over 2011. The current rate of single-family construction is now up 74% from the market low point of March 2009 but represents only 44% of “normal” conditions (levels of activity comparable to the period of 2000 through 2003). For 2013, we forecast that single-family starts will total 650,000, a growth rate of 22%. And we expect that growth to accelerate into 2014, when single-family construction will grow another 30%.

Multifamily construction will continue expanding into 2013. This rebound has come more easily than other parts of the housing industry due in part to the strong demand for rental properties. After 56% growth off market lows in 2010, multifamily starts totaled 244,500 in 2012, a growth rate of 37%. NAHB expects this trend to continue, with slowing but still positive growth in future years. For 2013, we forecast a multifamily starts total of 299,000, a 22% increase over the prior year. And in 2014, we expect a smaller 6% growth rate to reach a starts total of 317,000.

Remodeling should also benefit from generally improving housing conditions. Total remodeling activity was up 4.5% from 2011 to 2012, despite the temporary sunset of a commonly claimed energy-efficiency tax credit for existing homes. For 2013, NAHB forecasts additional 2.4% growth, with 1.7% for 2014.

Focusing on the growing 55+ housing market reveals trends similar to that of the overall home building industry. NAHB estimates that total starts allocable to 55+ communities will increase 21.9% to 74,000 in 2013 19.9% to 89,000 in 2014. Demographics are driving this growth: The share of U.S. households aged 55 and over will increase from 42% in 2012 to 46.6% in 2020. Single-family 55+ starts will be up 23% in 2013 to a total of 37,500, while construction of multifamily 55+ housing units will increase 20.8% to a starts total of about 37,000.

The across-the-board growth forecast for the housing sector should result in job gains in 2013. NAHB estimates that on average every, single-family home built creategenerates enough work to create three jobs. Correspondingly, every multifamily unit constructed and every $100,000 in remodeling expenditures each generate one job.

The positive forecast for 2013 and 2014 builds on the gains for housing in 2012. However, there was some slowing of elements of housing at the end of the year. The Pending Home Sales Index, produced by the National Association of Realtors, fell in December but remains strongly higher year over year. Similarly, existing home sales declined a little for the last month of 2012, but the current sales pace is up 13% compared to December 2011. Inventories of existing homes continued their decline.

According to the Census Bureau, the seasonally adjusted homeownership rate remained unchanged at 65.3% during the final three months of 2012. For the year as a whole, the homeownership rate averaged approximately 65.5% – the weakest calendar year average since 1996. Homeownership rates declined across all age groups compared to the fourth quarter of 2011; however, the largest year-over-year decline occurred among households headed by a person between 35 and 44 years old.

The declining homeownership rate for these younger households certainly helped to boost multifamily production for the year. For December, the annual rate of starts in buildings with five or more apartments increased 23%. The five-plus current starts rate is now up 115% year over year.

But the overall improving conditions for housing are reflected in the current Federal Reserve Beige Book. According to the report, real estate activity continues to grow, with all Fed districts except one reporting that residential construction expanding. The exception – the Kansas City District – noted that “increased lumber and drywall costs limited construction.”

Lending activity continues to improve, albeit at a moderate pace. The Beige Book indicated that tightness in mortgage lending may be showing signs of recovery in certain regions of the country. Overall, loan demand was higher or held steady in nine of the ten districts. Credit standards remained “largely unchanged,” though two districts, Atlanta and Chicago, reported that standards may have “loosened some.” In the Atlanta District, aggressive competition for highly qualified borrowers was leading a growing willingness on the part of banks to increase their risk tolerance and loosen credit standards.

Final Ruling on Appraisals for High- Priced Mortgage Loans

     WASHINGTON— Six federal financial regulatory agencies today issued the final rule that establishes new appraisal requirements for “higher-priced mortgage loans.” The rule implements amendments to the Truth in Lending Act made by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act). Under the Dodd-Frank Act, mortgage loans are higher-priced if they are secured by a consumer's home and have interest rates above
certain thresholds.
      For higher-priced mortgage loans, the rule requires creditors to use a licensed or certified appraiser who prepares a written appraisal report based on a physical visit of the interior of the property. The rule also requires creditors to disclose to applicants information about the purpose of the appraisal and provide consumers with a free copy of any appraisal report.
     If the seller acquired the property for a lower price during the prior six months and the price difference exceeds certain thresholds, creditors will have to obtain a second appraisal at no cost to the consumer. This requirement for higher-priced home-purchase mortgage loans is intended to address fraudulent property flipping by seeking to ensure that the value of the property legitimately increased.
     The rule exempts several types of loans, such as qualified mortgages, temporary bridge loans and construction loans, loans for new manufactured homes, and loans for mobile homes, trailers and boats that are dwellings. The rule also has exemptions from the second appraisal requirement to facilitate loans in rural areas and other transactions.
      The rule is being issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Federal Register notice is attached. The rule will become effective on January 18, 2014.

Southern Traditions Window Fashions Acquires Home Interior Solutions

Southern Traditions Window Fashions of Greenville, SC has acquired Home Interior Solutions and the design consultancy services of HIS owner Richard Bernath. A 12-year window fashions consultant, Bernath formerly was the co-owner of Hummingbird Shutters. He received his certification from Window Coverings University in 2005, and has served as a business advisor and on the national advisory board for the Exciting Windows! network of companies. Bernath also is active in the Home Builders Association of Greenville, the Better Business Bureau Upstate SC and Meals On Wheels.

“Richard’s experience and his incredible knowledge of fabrics and drapery design give Southern Traditions Window Fashions a complete list of window treatment options,” said Southern Traditions Co-Owner Matt Cobb.

Southern Traditions Window Fashions offers a wide selection of blinds, shades, plantation shutters, exterior shutters, custom drapery and valances for residential and commercial clients. The company is an authorized dealer for Hunter Douglas, Graber, Kirsch, Levolor, Comfortex, Lutron and Insolroll. Southern Traditions also is part of Exciting Windows!, a national network of window fashions companies.

For more information, visit Shutters4U.com or see Southern Traditions Window Fashions in Booth #175 at the 2013 Spring Southern Home & Garden Show in Greenville, SC.

Todd Usher of Addison Homes Named 2013 Master Certified Green Professional of the Year.

SOUTH CAROLINA BUILDER NAMED MASTER CERTIFIED GREEN PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR BY NAHB

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 10  --  Todd Usher, CAPS, CGB, CGP, CGR,GMB, Master CGP, president of Addison Homes in Greenville, S.C., has been named the 2012 Master Certified Green Professional (Master CGP) of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Usher was honored for his long-time advocacy on green and sustainable design and construction issues and his focus on increased energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality and occupancy health, appropriate allocation of resources and, most importantly, consumer education.

Usher has won numerous awards from NAHB and other organizations for home design, community service and jobsite safety. In 2011, he was named NAHB Green Building Advocate of the Year for his successful promotion and practice of green building. He also is an accredited verifier for the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard.

 In addition to earning the Certified Green Professional™ (CGP) and Master CGP, Usher actively holds the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), Certified Graduate Builder (CGB), Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) and Graduate Master Builder (GMB) designations.

NAHB’s Master CGP educational designation is earned through a combination of class work and industry experience. Designees demonstrate their knowledge and experience in the construction of cost-effective, market-appropriate choices for energy, water and resource efficiency, indoor environmental quality, lot and site development and home maintenance.

The Master CGP of the Year is awarded to the industry professional who best showcases the importance of the educational designation and promotes professionalism. Usher was the first builder to earn the Master CGP designation when it was launched in 2011.

Usher and other leading industry professionals will be recognized at the Designation Achievement Reception at the 2013 International Builders’ Show on Jan. 21 in Las Vegas.

“Todd  understands that it is every member’s responsibility to promote professionalism in the industry, and that one of the best ways to demonstrate that professionalism is to stay on top of educational opportunities, understand best practices and pay attention to emerging design trends, “ said Kimberly Chambers, chair of the Green Building Designations Board of Governors and a Montana builder.  “Todd has directly benefited from NAHB designations and is strong ambassador for the Master CGP program. I congratulate Todd on this well-deserved honor.”

 

Congratulations to Todd and his team on this award. 

Click here for more information on Addison Homes.

For more information on the International Builder Show 1/22-1/24/2013 in Las Vegas click here!

Or to register for the Designation Achievement Reception , held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton) in Pavilions 10 and 11.

General Membership Meeting Sponsored by Progress Lighting!

General Membership Meeting January 30th @ 11:00 a.m.

The General Membership meeting featuring NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe and The Market Edge founder Dale Akins will be held on Wednesday 1/30/2013 at the TD Convention Center. The meeting is focused on the Housing Market and will include view points from both speakers on what can be expected in 2013. Also, included in this meeting will be awards for Builder of the Year and Associate of the Year and Remodeler of the Year.
Before the meeting there will be a Table Top event consisting of 10 tables total, please call the HBA office at 864-254-0133 to reserve your display table as they are going fast.
Confirmed Table Top vendors are:
Norbord
Priority One
Palmetto Exterminators
Greenville Carpet One
Piedmont Natural Gas
Progress Lighting
Stock Building Supply

For more information on the Table Top event or to register for the General Membership Meeting please contact Crystal Yanes at the HBA Office. 864-254-0133

The deadline for registration is Jan 25th and those who register before the deadline will receive a discount.

Quartery Economic Report

That latest quarterly economic report is ready for viewing.  Produced in partnership with RESH Marketing and sponsored by Clark's Services, the report provides HBA members with up-to-date information about the Upstate housing market in an easy-to-consume five-minute video format.

The report is presented by Joseph VonNesson, PhD., CMP, Director of the Real Estate Center at the University of South Carolina Moore School of Business.

A key finding in this quarter's report has been the instability of job growth, the result of uncertainty about the economy by business owners and leaders.

Watch the full Upstate First Quarter 2013 Economic Report at HBAofGreenville.com by clicking here.