The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) are working together to share information and resources to promote proper flooring installation standards and best practices. As part of this new collaboration, NWFA is making its Wood Flooring Installation Guidelines available to HBA members at no cost.
The organization has found moisture-related flooring problems to be a long-standing issue for the residential construction industry. When problems like these result in expensive insurance claims and dissatisfied home owners, the impact is felt by all parties in the supply chain.
NWFA spends a significant amount of time each year educating flooring contractors on the proper installation of wood flooring. Recently, after noticing a disproportionately high number of claims for improper installation of wood flooring, NWFA reached out to NAHB to extend the education offering to HBA members.
One solution the guidelines offer, for example, is having an HVAC system in place to help get the wood to optimum performance condition. In fact, the guide recommends that where building codes allow, permanent heating and/or air conditioning systems should operate at least five days prior to flooring installation to promote proper acclimation.
Brett Miller, NWFA vice president of education and certification, met with the NAHB Construction Liability, Risk Management, and Building Materials Committee at the 2015 International Builders’ Show board meeting to discuss the organization’s top concerns related to this issue. Following this meeting, NAHB and NWFA agreed to establish a mutually beneficial, strategic relationship to work cooperatively to achieve their common interests.
To access the guidelines and learn more about other substantive technical, legal and business issues affecting the building industry, visit nahb.org/constructionliability.
The Home Builders Association of Greenville are your neighbors and community leaders providing education and support for building industry professionals. We create jobs, encourage homeownership, and promote responsible growth throughout the upstate of South Carolina.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Sting Nets 73 Cases of Unlicensed Builders/Contractors in State
Investigators for the S.C. Residential Builders Commission (RBC) and S.C. Contractor’s Licensing Board (CLB) found 73 cases of unlicensed activity when they participated in a national sting operation during the week of June 16, 2015. The sting was in coordination with the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA).
Of the 33 cases that have resulted in public orders so far, three were for companies with Greater Greenville addresses.
Six investigators from the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s (LLR) Office of Investigations and Enforcement and three staff members reviewed internet listings and physically monitored home improvement store parking lots across the state to look for people who were advertising plumbing, electrical, carpentry, HVAC, roofing, home inspecting and other building services requiring licensure by LLR.
“The goal of the sting was to work together with NASCLA and other boards across the country to protect consumers and deter illegal construction activity,” RBC Administrator Janet Baumberger said. “This is the second time we have participated in the sting, and each time we have discovered at least 70 cases. We look forward to participating again to further protect consumers.”
In addition to South Carolina, eight states participated in the sting: Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah and Washington.
“LLR is committed to its mission of protecting the health and safety of South Carolina citizens,” LLR Director Richele Taylor said. “Operations like these help us educate the public on how to protect themselves from unlicensed contractors and highlights the steps individuals must take to become licensed.”
RBC and CLB encourage consumers to check to see if a builder is licensed by going to llronline.com and clicking on Licensee Lookup. RBC licenses all residential builders and home inspectors and licenses/registers all specialty contractors in the state. RBC investigates complaints from homeowners having problems with builders or licensed/registered specialty contractors and, if necessary, takes disciplinary action against them.
Most builders who do home improvement projects will fall under the RBC. However, a contractor might be licensed by the CLB, which regulates the practice of general and mechanical contracting, burglar and fire alarm system businesses and fire protection sprinkler contractors.
“Persons holding themselves out to be a general or mechanical contractor while not licensed presents a threat to the general public,” CLB Administrator Roger Lowe said. “By participating in this operation, it is clear that unlicensed practice presents a very real problem in South Carolina. If a property owner discovers that a potential contractor is unlicensed, we would encourage them to pass that information along to our Office of Investigations and Enforcement. By law, offering to perform regulated work without a license is the same as actually doing the work.”
In addition to making sure a builder is licensed, the RBC and CLB offer the following tips when hiring someone to do work on your home:
For copies of Cease and Desist orders issued as a result of the sting, click here. Orders are posted to this site as the Boards receive notice the orders have been served on the individuals.
Of the 33 cases that have resulted in public orders so far, three were for companies with Greater Greenville addresses.
Six investigators from the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s (LLR) Office of Investigations and Enforcement and three staff members reviewed internet listings and physically monitored home improvement store parking lots across the state to look for people who were advertising plumbing, electrical, carpentry, HVAC, roofing, home inspecting and other building services requiring licensure by LLR.
“The goal of the sting was to work together with NASCLA and other boards across the country to protect consumers and deter illegal construction activity,” RBC Administrator Janet Baumberger said. “This is the second time we have participated in the sting, and each time we have discovered at least 70 cases. We look forward to participating again to further protect consumers.”
In addition to South Carolina, eight states participated in the sting: Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah and Washington.
“LLR is committed to its mission of protecting the health and safety of South Carolina citizens,” LLR Director Richele Taylor said. “Operations like these help us educate the public on how to protect themselves from unlicensed contractors and highlights the steps individuals must take to become licensed.”
RBC and CLB encourage consumers to check to see if a builder is licensed by going to llronline.com and clicking on Licensee Lookup. RBC licenses all residential builders and home inspectors and licenses/registers all specialty contractors in the state. RBC investigates complaints from homeowners having problems with builders or licensed/registered specialty contractors and, if necessary, takes disciplinary action against them.
Most builders who do home improvement projects will fall under the RBC. However, a contractor might be licensed by the CLB, which regulates the practice of general and mechanical contracting, burglar and fire alarm system businesses and fire protection sprinkler contractors.
“Persons holding themselves out to be a general or mechanical contractor while not licensed presents a threat to the general public,” CLB Administrator Roger Lowe said. “By participating in this operation, it is clear that unlicensed practice presents a very real problem in South Carolina. If a property owner discovers that a potential contractor is unlicensed, we would encourage them to pass that information along to our Office of Investigations and Enforcement. By law, offering to perform regulated work without a license is the same as actually doing the work.”
In addition to making sure a builder is licensed, the RBC and CLB offer the following tips when hiring someone to do work on your home:
- Ask the builder to provide you with the names and contact information of people he or she worked for in the past.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been complaints filed against the builder.
- Don’t rely on verbal promises. Ask the builder to provide you with a contract, and read it thoroughly to make sure everything you agreed on is in the document.
- Don’t pay all the money upfront.
- Beware of any builder or contractor who solicits business saying he or she “has material left over from another job in the area and can give you a real good price.” This is a sign you may be dealing with an unlicensed contractor or scam artist.
- Ask the builder, contractor or specialty contractor to provide you with a copy of his or her license or registration.
- Click here to verify the individual is currently licensed with the RBC.
- Click here to verify the individual is currently licensed with the CLB.
- Click here to search for any possible disciplinary actions with the RBC.
- Click here to search for any possible disciplinary actions with the CLB.
- Call the RBC at 803-896-4696 or the CLB at 803-896- 4686 for assistance in locating an individual.
For copies of Cease and Desist orders issued as a result of the sting, click here. Orders are posted to this site as the Boards receive notice the orders have been served on the individuals.
Your HBA membership saved you $29,853*
*Estimated savings per licensed South Carolina builder as a result of direct efforts of the Home Builders Association of South Carolina
Why should you continue to support your Home Builders Association? Because in 2015, the Home Builders Association of South Carolina worked diligently to advance the issues most important to HBA members. Your Home Builders Association was actively engaged in more than 100 bills during the first year of the 2015-16 legislative session to promote and protect the vital work of Home Builders, Remodelers, land developers, light commercial contractors, and other professionals across South Carolina. Our efforts included:
If you know someone who makes their living in the construction and real estate development industry, but is not a member, tell them about these results and ask them why they are not a member. Keep our industry strong and ask that they join your Home Builders Association today to make sure they have a job tomorrow!
Why should you continue to support your Home Builders Association? Because in 2015, the Home Builders Association of South Carolina worked diligently to advance the issues most important to HBA members. Your Home Builders Association was actively engaged in more than 100 bills during the first year of the 2015-16 legislative session to promote and protect the vital work of Home Builders, Remodelers, land developers, light commercial contractors, and other professionals across South Carolina. Our efforts included:
- Successfully opposing mandated residential fire sprinklers in the building code: more than $180 million in annual savings.
- Passed a budget proviso for state-specific high wind and seismic zone mapping: more than $150 million in annual savings.
- Supported legislation to prevent enforcement of erroneous building code section requiring fireproofing of floor joists in crawlspaces: more than $25 million in annual savings.
- These items, along with other legislative and regulatory issues like health and unemployment insurance, local government policies, septic tanks, and building codes, created a total savings of more than $355 million for 2015 alone!
If you know someone who makes their living in the construction and real estate development industry, but is not a member, tell them about these results and ask them why they are not a member. Keep our industry strong and ask that they join your Home Builders Association today to make sure they have a job tomorrow!
NAHB Chairman Tom Woods on EPAs New Rule and Flawed Data
The letter below to HBA members is from Tom Woods, a Home Builder from Kansas City and Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders.
This week, we learned that before the Environmental Protection Agency released its final version of the waters of the United States rule, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told EPA it was using flawed technical and scientific analysis to craft the regulation – methods so indefensible that the Corps wanted no part of the critical documents that EPA used to support the rule.
This new information is yet another example of how EPA has flaunted the law in completing this rulemaking.
On behalf of our members, and on behalf of the new home buyers being squeezed out of their chance at the American Dream as they suffer the fallout of this regulatory overload, I think this is scandalous. And I said just that in a press release and blog post.
I want you to know that NAHB is calling on EPA to immediately drop its plans to change the way the Clean Water Act is enforced and how "waters of the United States" are defined.
Many of the scientific and economic justifications to support the broad regulatory definitions in this rule – already a new low in federal regulatory overreach – have turned out to not be worth the paper they're printed on. They fly in the face of the Corps' recommendations, and as you know, the Corps is in charge of jurisdictional decisions and issuing the permits that allow homes to be built.
By ignoring stakeholders and willingly choosing which regulations to follow, EPA has not only made a mockery of the regulatory process, but it's impeding our nation's housing recovery and economic growth with this land grab.
Please be assured that we don't plan to turn down the heat on this latest public affront. NAHB will continue to work to make a difference for your business and for housing affordability, and I thank you for your support.
Tom Woods, Chairman, National Association of Home Builders
Interested in why the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers thinks the EPA's rule is flawed?
NOT A JOINT ENDEAVOR:
“The preamble to the proposed rule and the draft preamble to the draft rule state that the rulemaking has been a joint effort of the EPA and the Corps, and that both agencies have jointly made significant findings, reached important conclusions, and stand behind the final rule. These statements are not accurate.” (Letter from General Peabody to Assistant Secretary of the Army, 4/27/15)
“Shall not identify Corps as Author, co-author, or substantive contributor.” (Letter from General Peabody to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, 5/15/15)
“To the extent that the term ‘agencies’ includes the Corps any such references should be removed.” (Letter from General Peabody to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, 5/15/15)
“The Corps of Engineers logo should be removed from those documents.” (Letter from General Peabody to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, 5/15/15)
THE SCIENCE OF THE RULE:
“Corps data to EPA has been selectively applied out of context, and mixes terminology and disparate data sets. In the Corps judgement, these documents contain numerous inappropriate assumptions with no connection to the data provided, misapplied data, analytical deficiencies and logical inconsistencies.” (Letter from General Peabody to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, 5/15/15)
“The 1500 ft limitation is not supported by science or law and thus is legally vulnerable.” (Lance Wood memo to General Peabody, 4/24/15, Pg. 5)
“The 4000 ft bright line rule is not based on any principle of science, hydrology or law, and thus is legally vulnerable.” (Lance Wood memo to General Peabody, 4/24/15, Pg. 9)
“Gross misrepresentation of Corps raw data” (Jennifer Moyer memo to General Peabody, 5/15/15, Pg. 3)
THE LEGAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THE RULE
“It will be legally vulnerable, difficult to defend in court, difficult for the Corps to explain or justify and challenging for the Corps to implement.” (Lance Wood memo to General Peabody, 4/24/15, Pg. 5)
“Rule not likely to survive judicial review in federal courts” (Lance Wood memo to General Peabody, 4/24/15, Pg. 9)
“Inconsistent with SWANCC and Rapanos” (Lance Wood memo to General Peabody, 4/24/15, Pg. 10)
“The draft final rule continues to depart significantly from the version provided for public comments, and that the corps recommendations relation to our serious concerns have gone unaddressed. Specifically, the current draft final rule contradicts long-standing and well-established legal principles undergirding CWA 404 regulations and regulatory practices, especially the decisive Rapanos Supreme Court decision. The rule’s contradictions with legal principles generate multiple legal and technical consequences that in the view of the Corps would be fatal to the rule in its current form.” (Letter from General Peabody to Assistant Secretary of the Army, 4/27/15)
This week, we learned that before the Environmental Protection Agency released its final version of the waters of the United States rule, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told EPA it was using flawed technical and scientific analysis to craft the regulation – methods so indefensible that the Corps wanted no part of the critical documents that EPA used to support the rule.
This new information is yet another example of how EPA has flaunted the law in completing this rulemaking.
On behalf of our members, and on behalf of the new home buyers being squeezed out of their chance at the American Dream as they suffer the fallout of this regulatory overload, I think this is scandalous. And I said just that in a press release and blog post.
I want you to know that NAHB is calling on EPA to immediately drop its plans to change the way the Clean Water Act is enforced and how "waters of the United States" are defined.
Many of the scientific and economic justifications to support the broad regulatory definitions in this rule – already a new low in federal regulatory overreach – have turned out to not be worth the paper they're printed on. They fly in the face of the Corps' recommendations, and as you know, the Corps is in charge of jurisdictional decisions and issuing the permits that allow homes to be built.
By ignoring stakeholders and willingly choosing which regulations to follow, EPA has not only made a mockery of the regulatory process, but it's impeding our nation's housing recovery and economic growth with this land grab.
Please be assured that we don't plan to turn down the heat on this latest public affront. NAHB will continue to work to make a difference for your business and for housing affordability, and I thank you for your support.
Tom Woods, Chairman, National Association of Home Builders
Interested in why the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers thinks the EPA's rule is flawed?
NOT A JOINT ENDEAVOR:
“The preamble to the proposed rule and the draft preamble to the draft rule state that the rulemaking has been a joint effort of the EPA and the Corps, and that both agencies have jointly made significant findings, reached important conclusions, and stand behind the final rule. These statements are not accurate.” (Letter from General Peabody to Assistant Secretary of the Army, 4/27/15)
“Shall not identify Corps as Author, co-author, or substantive contributor.” (Letter from General Peabody to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, 5/15/15)
“To the extent that the term ‘agencies’ includes the Corps any such references should be removed.” (Letter from General Peabody to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, 5/15/15)
“The Corps of Engineers logo should be removed from those documents.” (Letter from General Peabody to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, 5/15/15)
THE SCIENCE OF THE RULE:
“Corps data to EPA has been selectively applied out of context, and mixes terminology and disparate data sets. In the Corps judgement, these documents contain numerous inappropriate assumptions with no connection to the data provided, misapplied data, analytical deficiencies and logical inconsistencies.” (Letter from General Peabody to the Assistant Secretary of the Army, 5/15/15)
“The 1500 ft limitation is not supported by science or law and thus is legally vulnerable.” (Lance Wood memo to General Peabody, 4/24/15, Pg. 5)
“The 4000 ft bright line rule is not based on any principle of science, hydrology or law, and thus is legally vulnerable.” (Lance Wood memo to General Peabody, 4/24/15, Pg. 9)
“Gross misrepresentation of Corps raw data” (Jennifer Moyer memo to General Peabody, 5/15/15, Pg. 3)
THE LEGAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THE RULE
“It will be legally vulnerable, difficult to defend in court, difficult for the Corps to explain or justify and challenging for the Corps to implement.” (Lance Wood memo to General Peabody, 4/24/15, Pg. 5)
“Rule not likely to survive judicial review in federal courts” (Lance Wood memo to General Peabody, 4/24/15, Pg. 9)
“Inconsistent with SWANCC and Rapanos” (Lance Wood memo to General Peabody, 4/24/15, Pg. 10)
“The draft final rule continues to depart significantly from the version provided for public comments, and that the corps recommendations relation to our serious concerns have gone unaddressed. Specifically, the current draft final rule contradicts long-standing and well-established legal principles undergirding CWA 404 regulations and regulatory practices, especially the decisive Rapanos Supreme Court decision. The rule’s contradictions with legal principles generate multiple legal and technical consequences that in the view of the Corps would be fatal to the rule in its current form.” (Letter from General Peabody to Assistant Secretary of the Army, 4/27/15)
Friday, July 31, 2015
New Member Reception and Meet the Board, Sponsored by Palmetto Exterminators- Tuesday, August 4th 5:30-7p.m.
The Home Builders Assocation of Greenville would like to officially welcome you, please join us for new member orientation at
the HBA office on Tuesday, August 4th at 5:30p.m. The reception will start with a short meeting on what
the HBA of Greenville is about and how you can get the most out of your
membership and get involved. After which, please stay for a reception
with the board of directors and current members of the HBA.
We hope that you will join us!
It's not to late- for more information or to register for this event click here or contact the HBA office (864) 254-0133
We hope that you will join us!
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| Event Sponsor |
It's not to late- for more information or to register for this event click here or contact the HBA office (864) 254-0133
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Wells Fargo Discontinues Affiliated Marketing Agreements
Responding to concerns from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Wells Fargo announced on July 29 that it is voluntarily discontinuing affiliated marketing agreements with builders and realtors. In general, these type of agreements benefit both builders and lenders. Lenders receive business from builders who refer their buyers and because the lender is familiar with the builder, it helps to make the home buying lending process proceed more smoothly.
While these marketing agreements are legal, Wells Fargo has acted unilaterally to take this action to avoid any appearance of paying for referrals.
The Wells Fargo announcement is expected to have a limited impact on our industry, as the vast majority of our members do not have such agreements with Wells Fargo. However, if the Wells Fargo action causes other financial institutions to follow suit, this could affect builders who have similar agreements with other lenders.
Note that Wells Fargo is not a member of the Home Builders Association of Greenville.
While these marketing agreements are legal, Wells Fargo has acted unilaterally to take this action to avoid any appearance of paying for referrals.
The Wells Fargo announcement is expected to have a limited impact on our industry, as the vast majority of our members do not have such agreements with Wells Fargo. However, if the Wells Fargo action causes other financial institutions to follow suit, this could affect builders who have similar agreements with other lenders.
Note that Wells Fargo is not a member of the Home Builders Association of Greenville.
FHFA: Mortgage Interest Rates Rose in June
Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages increased from May to June, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts.
The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders index was 3.85 percent for loans closed in late June, up 10 basis points from 3.75 percent in May.
The average interest rate on all mortgage loans was 3.85 percent, up 10 basis points from 3.75 in May.
The average interest rate on conventional, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages of $417,000 or less was 4.04 percent, an increase of 14 basis points from 3.90 in May.
The effective interest rate on all mortgage loans was 3.99 percent in June, up 9 basis points from 3.90 percent in May. The effective interest rate accounts for the addition of initial fees and charges over the life of the mortgage.
The average loan amount for all loans was $325,600 in May, up $14,700 from $310,900 in May.
The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders index was 3.85 percent for loans closed in late June, up 10 basis points from 3.75 percent in May.
The average interest rate on all mortgage loans was 3.85 percent, up 10 basis points from 3.75 in May.
The average interest rate on conventional, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages of $417,000 or less was 4.04 percent, an increase of 14 basis points from 3.90 in May.
The effective interest rate on all mortgage loans was 3.99 percent in June, up 9 basis points from 3.90 percent in May. The effective interest rate accounts for the addition of initial fees and charges over the life of the mortgage.
The average loan amount for all loans was $325,600 in May, up $14,700 from $310,900 in May.
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