It's official, white non-Hispanic births are less than 50 percent of all births. Of the 4 million babies born during the year ending July 2011, 50.4 percent were to minorities, up from 48.6 percent a year earlier. Among adults over 50, African-Americans are the largest minority while among those under 50, Hispanics dominate. Non-Hispanic whites comprise 63.4 percent of the US population, but are aging fast with a median age of 42. I'm feeling old.
Elliot F. Eisenberg, Ph.D.
GraphsandLaughs, LLC
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.
Friday, June 15, 2012
NAHB's Top 12, Number 10: 20 Clubs
Builder Review Daily is highlighting the top 12 actions taken on behalf of Home Builders so far this Spring.
Accomplishment number 10: 20 Clubs
More than two dozen meetings of NAHB’s “20 Clubs” have been convened so far this spring, providing a unique networking and educational opportunity for participants who value the chance to learn from fellow NAHB members across the country about what’s working, and what’s not, in their markets at the present time.
20 Clubs are comprised of similar type builders or remodelers from non-competing markets who meet several times a year to share their wisdom and learn from each other ways to improve their operations and increase their bottom lines. Members share and compare financial information, look for trouble spots, and offer each other advice on how to increase their profit ratios and improve their performance. These offerings are consistently rated among the most effective networking options that NAHB provides and can be especially useful amidst today’s volatile marketplace.
Accomplishment number 10: 20 Clubs
More than two dozen meetings of NAHB’s “20 Clubs” have been convened so far this spring, providing a unique networking and educational opportunity for participants who value the chance to learn from fellow NAHB members across the country about what’s working, and what’s not, in their markets at the present time.
20 Clubs are comprised of similar type builders or remodelers from non-competing markets who meet several times a year to share their wisdom and learn from each other ways to improve their operations and increase their bottom lines. Members share and compare financial information, look for trouble spots, and offer each other advice on how to increase their profit ratios and improve their performance. These offerings are consistently rated among the most effective networking options that NAHB provides and can be especially useful amidst today’s volatile marketplace.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Dillard-Jones Builders' 2012 Southern Living Showcase Home Raises $10,000 for GHS Children's Hospital
Dillard-Jones Builders does not charge admission to tour its Southern Living Showcase Homes, rather donations are collected to benefit a local charity. GHS Children’s Hospital was selected as the non-profit partner of the 2012 Southern Living Showcase Home held May 4-27, with the Child Life Program, specifically, benefiting from contributions by Showcase Home visitors.
“Once again, the generosity of those who toured the Southern Living Showcase Home was overwhelming,” said Dillard-Jones President Tom Dillard. “We are extremely excited this year to be able to present to GHS Children’s Hospital a check for $10,000, along with almost 300 toys and other items for use by the hospital’s Child Life program.”
The Child Life program at Children's Hospital is not completely included in the hospital's operating budget, relying on the generosity of corporate partners, individual donors and special events to raise the funds to purchase needed items such as coloring books, crayons, markers, bubbles, musical and light up toys, DVD’s, plastic and Match Box cars. Child Life specialists use the items to help children and their families cope with potentially traumatic events, and to help reduce the stress and anxiety that many children experience in hospitals and health care settings. GHS Children's Hospital is one of only two hospitals in the Upstate that have certified child life specialists as part of its health care team.
“We are very thankful for Dillard-Jones’ partnership with Children’s Hospital, specifically our Child Life program,” said Gina Blohm, Program Manager for Children's Hospital of Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center. “We are grateful to Dillard-Jones for the opportunity to be a part of this beautiful Showcase Home tour, and to all of those who made donations.”
The 2012 Southern Living Showcase Home at River Reserve Phase Four in Piedmont, SC was the fourth Southern Living Showcase Home presented by Dillard-Jones Builders. The 2012 tour welcomed more than 5,000 visitors during four weekends in May.
Established in 2004, Dillard-Jones Builders is a member of the Southern Living Custom Builder Program representing the national magazine in Greenville, SC and Asheville, NC. Dillard-Jones was named the Southern Living Custom Builder of the Year in 2009 and 2011 – the first homebuilder to win the prestigious national award twice. For more information, visit www.dillardjones.com.
NAHB's Top 12, Number 9: Effective Marketing on a Shoestring Budget
Builder Review Daily is highlighting your HBA's Top 12 actions this Spring on behalf of home builders.
Number 9, Effective Marketing on a Shoestring Budget:
NAHB added to its online course offerings with the recent introduction of the “Effective Marketing on a Shoestring Budget” program.
Participants in this course learn how to analyze target markets, identify competitive advantages, create accurate pro formas and monitor outcomes, which are essential skills to any business. The course compliments two others that were added to our offerings prior to the Builders Show that focused on the subjects of customer service and the basics of building. A fourth online designation course will be offered by the end of this year for those seeking to be recognized as a “Certified New Home Sales Professional.” Such offerings allow our members to obtain professional designations that can help set them apart from the competition while fulfilling their continuing education requirements on their own schedule. NAHB’s online courses are interactive and include content in audio and video formats, on-screen text, transcripts and other downloadable resources. In addition, each online course offers a discussion forum where students can pose questions and share perspectives with their peers and an NAHB-approved featured instructor. NAHB also offers group discounts to companies and organizations who wish to educate a group of individuals on the same topic.
Number 9, Effective Marketing on a Shoestring Budget:
NAHB added to its online course offerings with the recent introduction of the “Effective Marketing on a Shoestring Budget” program.
Participants in this course learn how to analyze target markets, identify competitive advantages, create accurate pro formas and monitor outcomes, which are essential skills to any business. The course compliments two others that were added to our offerings prior to the Builders Show that focused on the subjects of customer service and the basics of building. A fourth online designation course will be offered by the end of this year for those seeking to be recognized as a “Certified New Home Sales Professional.” Such offerings allow our members to obtain professional designations that can help set them apart from the competition while fulfilling their continuing education requirements on their own schedule. NAHB’s online courses are interactive and include content in audio and video formats, on-screen text, transcripts and other downloadable resources. In addition, each online course offers a discussion forum where students can pose questions and share perspectives with their peers and an NAHB-approved featured instructor. NAHB also offers group discounts to companies and organizations who wish to educate a group of individuals on the same topic.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Understanding High Performance Homes class offered for real estate agents and appraisers
New building codes, voluntary building standards and changes in technology are making new homes more efficient and healthier than homes from 20, 10 and even five years ago. Consumers are hearing about high performance homes and they are asking questions that real estate agents will need to be able to answer. These homes include features, products and building techniques that must be accounted for by appraisers or the true value of the home will be underestimated.
The Green Building Council of Greater Columbia saw a need for real estate agents and appraisers to learn more about this new type of home building and developed a class to fill the need. “Understanding High Performance Homes” has been designed to help these groups understand what makes high performance homes work, how they stack up to traditionally built homes, and how they are scientifically tested, verified and, in some cases, certified in a third-party program.
The class has been approved by the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s Real Estate Appraisers Board and will count toward Continuing Education credit needs for each profession. The class will be offered three times before the end of June in cities around the state. Sponsored by the SC Energy Office.
June 21 - Greenville, SC
The Green Building Council of Greater Columbia saw a need for real estate agents and appraisers to learn more about this new type of home building and developed a class to fill the need. “Understanding High Performance Homes” has been designed to help these groups understand what makes high performance homes work, how they stack up to traditionally built homes, and how they are scientifically tested, verified and, in some cases, certified in a third-party program.
The class has been approved by the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s Real Estate Appraisers Board and will count toward Continuing Education credit needs for each profession. The class will be offered three times before the end of June in cities around the state. Sponsored by the SC Energy Office.
June 21 - Greenville, SC
- Hosted by the HBA of Greenville and Greenville Technical College
- Hosted by the HBA of Greater Columbia and SCE&G
- Hosted by the Charleston Trident HBA and Berkeley Electric Cooperative
Primary Elections are Today; Read the Builder Ballot
Today is Primary Election Day in South Carolina. Candidates from the Republican and Democrat Parties compete today for nomination to run in the General Election in November.
South Carolina Builders Political Action Committee is the method by which members of the Home Builders Association of Greenville work together to elect pro-housing candidates to the various elected offices. HBA members contribute voluntarily to SCBPAC. The Legislative Committee of the HBA of Greenville interviewed various candidates, and the Board of Directors made the final decision on who would receive support.
The following are the candidates who have been supported by S.C. Builders PAC:
Senate District 6: Senator Mike Fair in the Republican Primary
Senate District 7: Representative Karl Allen in the Democrat Primary
Senate District 8: Ross Turner in the Republican Primary
Greenville County Council District 20: Councilman Sid Cates in the Republican Primary
Greenville County Council District 21: Councilman Jim Burns in the Republican Primary
Greenville County Council District 22: Councilman Bob Taylor in the Republican Primary
Pickens County Council District 5: Chairwoman Jennifer Willis in the Republican Primary
If you are a Republican or Democrat, please exercise your right to vote and participate in the Primary Elections today. For information about voting in South Carolina, visit SCVotes.org.
South Carolina Builders Political Action Committee is the method by which members of the Home Builders Association of Greenville work together to elect pro-housing candidates to the various elected offices. HBA members contribute voluntarily to SCBPAC. The Legislative Committee of the HBA of Greenville interviewed various candidates, and the Board of Directors made the final decision on who would receive support.
The following are the candidates who have been supported by S.C. Builders PAC:
Senate District 6: Senator Mike Fair in the Republican Primary
Senate District 7: Representative Karl Allen in the Democrat Primary
Senate District 8: Ross Turner in the Republican Primary
Greenville County Council District 20: Councilman Sid Cates in the Republican Primary
Greenville County Council District 21: Councilman Jim Burns in the Republican Primary
Greenville County Council District 22: Councilman Bob Taylor in the Republican Primary
Pickens County Council District 5: Chairwoman Jennifer Willis in the Republican Primary
If you are a Republican or Democrat, please exercise your right to vote and participate in the Primary Elections today. For information about voting in South Carolina, visit SCVotes.org.
Independent Contractors- Is the IRS Looking at YOU?
If you are an Independent Contractor, or you hire independent contractors, you may want to analyze your records and methods of operation because the IRS and Department of Labor have recently teamed up and are now on the lookout for appropriate use of Independent Contractor Status.
According to the IRS website an Independent Contractor is someone who is self- employed and not controlled by an employer (dictating how a job will be done and what will be done). If this description is not cut and dry for you there are several scenarios and categories to look into. Visit the IRS website by clicking here to review ways to determine which category applies to you.
Based on which type of Independent Contractor scenario you fall into you will want to take a look at the employment tax obligations that may help you avoid future issues. These can also be found at the IRS website mentioned above.
Review these common tax issues to help ensure that an auditor isn’t standing in your office.
- Proper documentation of time worked. Track overtime and not have back pay due to an employee
- Taxes due for both the company and the employee on income from cash payments.
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