Jan/Feb 2017
Click here to view the brief slide presentation
In this inaugural Annual Report we highlight what has happened during 2016, and we also touch upon some events, facts and figures from the past five years. We've enjoyed tremendous membership growth since 2011, 93%, reaching a milestone in 2016 of over 300 member companies! Over the past five years, we've added new programs and events. A few of the new events are: CSL renewal classroom education, and Online education BRICC Awards LEGO Home-Building Challenge Residential Construction Career Day In 2016 we moved into a new office, hired an administrative assistant, saw record breaking attendance at monthly meetings, residential construction career day, and at our 2016 BRICC awards banquet. Thank you for your support & membership. Here's to a great 2017! Chris Matt Christine Duren Matthew Anderson Executive Officer President
Members Honored at Int'l Builders' Show Employee Assistance Plan Available Upcoming CSL Exam Prep Courses Real Estate Market Update Design Trends Who is Bowling this Year? E-Referrals Available HBRAMA Legislative Agenda Announced NAHB News Age of Housing Survey Waters of the US Labor Shortage Fund and more...
Announcing our new Newsletter, and the Association's first Annual Report
In This Issue
Jim accepting 2017 NAHB Student Chapters Distinguished Service Award from Eric Holt Advisory Board Chair at the International Builder's Show. Congratulations Jim-well deserved!
Calendar of Events
Heritage Sands, the first new oceanfront cottage community built in Cape Cod, Mass. in over 50 years, has been recognized as the Community of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders in the 2016 Best in American Living Awards, or BALA, which were announced at the NAHB Int'l Bldrs' Show in Orlando. The NAHB notes that the BALA judges were impressed with the rich sense of place at the Heritage Sands community. The community consists of 63 cottages on eight acres of oceanside property, clustered around a few common green spaces, reminiscent of the “pocket neighborhoods” in the traditional summer-cottage communities on Cape Cod. The cottages range from 900 to 1,350 square feet in size, with one-and-a-half story floor plans with high-ceilinged public areas, smaller private rooms, and large front porches. A clubhouse and pool are included as community amenities, as well as more than 600 feet of private beach. Heritage Sands is the product of builder KBS Homes, architect/designer and land planner Union Studio Architecture & Community Design, interior designer Mackenzie & Company and developers & HBRACC Member Rob Brennan of CapeBuilt Development and MS Ocean View, LLC. The BALA, now in its 33rd year, recognizes outstanding achievement across all sectors of the residential industry. In addition to taking home NAHB's top prize winning "Community of the Year!" Heritage Sands also received Platinum for "Best Single Family Neighborhood" and Best overall project in the North Atlantic (from among all Platinum winners in the region)!
CAPE COD’S HERITAGE SANDS NAMED COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR AT NAHB 'BEST IN AMERICAN LIVING' AWARDS Judges note the rich sense of place and tradition at the oceanfront cottages. By Mary Salmonsen , Builder Magazine Congratulations to HBRACC Member Rob Brennan, CapeBuilt Devel.
HBRACC Member Jim Gronski Receives Award at Int'l Bldrs' Show
HBRACC Member, CapeBuilt, Honored at NAHB's Int'l Builders Show in FL.
1/31 2p HBRAMA State Assn Govt Affairs & Board Meeting -Westborough 2/7 12p HBRACC Exec Committee Meeting -HBRACC 2/16 4p Direct Connect: Associates - Do A Year's Worth of Marketing in One Evening!!! Doubletree, Hyannis 2/21 6:00pm Feb Monthly Dinner Mtg, "Ask the Building Inspectors-4 Points, Eastham
As a response to the opioid and substance abuse crisis, our organization has partnered with others* to offer an affordable employee assistance plan (EAP) for local companies which will help colleagues and their families struggling with work or personal life issues. REACH EAP, offered by Diamond Healthcare is a confidential, short term, counselling service for employees with problems that affect their work performance or their personal life. A very affordable rate of $9.50 per employee per year is being offered. Workshops and webinars are scheduled to help answer employer questions. EAPs grew out of industrial alcoholism programs of the 1940's, and are often a part of a larger company plan to promote wellness, reduce absenteeism and increase productivity. While EAPs are common in larger corporations, businesses of all sizes can benefit from EAP programs. REACH EAP services include: Face-to-face, telephonic and virtual appointments available for both employees and family members. Support for supervisors who may have employees with substance abuse or other issues impacting their work life. Critical incident consultations and services. More information on the plan and workshops may be found online at http://www.whycapecod.org/reach-eap. *Partners in the EAP announcement include: Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Rogers & Gray Insurance, Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, CCYP, Barnstable County Health & Human Services Regional Substance Abuse Council, Homebuilders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Tech Council, and the chambers of commerce for Eastham, Greater Hyannis, Brewster, Mashpee, Wellfleet, Sandwich, Canal Region, Harwich, Falmouth, Chatham, Yarmouth, Orleans, Truro, Dennis and P'town.
New Affordable Employee Assistance Plan Announced to Help with Substance Abuse Crisis
Upcoming Unrestricted Construction Supervisor Exam Prep Courses
Location: Upper Cape Technical High School Dates: Monday, January 30, 2017 Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm Cost: $229.00 Number of Class Meetings: 6 Sessions Instructor: Roger Laporte, Certified Inspector of Buildings, Construction Supervisor License with over 25 years of teaching experience.Course Description: This class provides a comprehensive review of the Massachusetts State Building Code in preparation for taking the CSL licensure exam. Textbook requirements are as follows: (1) 2009 International Residential Code for 1 & 2 Family Dwellings 2009; (2) 2009 International Building Code; (3) 29 CFR 1926 OSHA Construction Industry Regulations, (4) 521 CMR - Architectural Access Board Rules and Regulations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; (5) 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); Exam and Licensing Costs additional $250.00 The State Amendments and 521 CMR can be purchased at the State Book store at www.sec.state.ma.us/spr phone: 617-727-2831. All other books can be purchased online such as amazon.com, constructionbook.com, or bnibooks.com.
Upper Cape Technical High School
Cape Cod Community College
Location: Cape Cod Community College, 2240 Iyannough Road, West Barnstable, MA Dates: Monday, February 13 to March 27 Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm Cost: $349 Number of Classes: 6 sessions (no class 2/20) Register Now This license is for those who wish to be licensed for construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, removal, or demolition involving any activity regulated by the code. This license includes all of the Specialty Licenses. With this Unrestricted CSL, building permits can be applied for and obtained through the Building Departments in Massachusetts towns. This course is 6 weeks of intense training and testing to equip students to take and pass the 75 question exam. Course will include AAB regulations, OSHA, IECC energy code 2012, IRC and IBC 2009 Codes with Mass amendment. Students must have the AAB and OSHA regulations the first day. A comprehensive review and examination of the MA State Building Code will be provided to prepare construction professionals for the state license exam. Candidates must have proof of at least three plus years of construction experience required for eligibility to take state exam. Click here for the complete Candidate Information Bulletin for Construction Supervisor Licensing Examination details. Important: MA State Building Code Books required. There are required textbooks that MUST be purchased before the start of class and brought to each class. Click here for book list.
Submitted by: Ryan Castle -Executive Director of Cape Cod & Islands Assn of Realtors
The inventory of homes and condos for sale is getting dangerously low. Due to supply and demand, housing is expected to get more unaffordable at a more rapid pace unless existing homeowners start putting their house on the market or increased new building occurs. We see the reasons as several: 1. The housing market is stuck in a vicious cycle. if no one is downsizing because there is nothing to buy or because that smaller house is now more expensive due to lack of inventory, then there is nothing for the move up buyer to buy either and as such, there is nothing for the downsizer to buy. Without housing production, that kind of cycle cannot be broken. 2. A lot of people are in a fixed rate mortgage for less than 4% and would move to a higher interest rate, so it's an even bigger monthly jump to do the move up buying 3. Some specific areas of the Cape and some homeowners still have not seen their prices back up to 2006 level, so even though they are not 'under water', the value for what they could have gotten for their house is not where it was then and they still have that value in their mind. A couple of other facts on the housing market: · Only 473 homes are on the market in Barnstable County between $300,000 and $500,000 · 525 homes sold in that $300k to $500k price range in October and November combined, which means all the inventory in that range would sell in less than 3 months (6 to 9 months is considered healthy inventory).
Real Estate Market Update
MAJOR SPONSORS-Thank You BLFR Architects Cape Associates, Inc. EJ Jaxtimer Builder Falmouth Lbr/Andersen Wdws Paul J Cazeault & Sons Mid Cape Home Centers
BALA winner Lake Keowee Cottage. Photo by Inspiro 8 Studios LLC
The 2016 Best in American Living Awards (BALA), which were presented during the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla., showcased design trends that home buyers can expect to see over the next several years. The trends include: Benches and nooks. In single-family custom and production homes, architects and designers include benches and nooks because they’re cozy, chic and practical, serving as places to snuggle up with the kids or a good book. Big showers and tubs. Showers continue to get larger and free-standing tubs more luxurious. Walk-in showers feature wall-to-wall glass and universal design features. Board and batten. You’ll see a lot of this siding on the exteriors of this year’s winners, and they also add a classic touch to today’s contemporary interiors. Dark door and window frames. Architects and designers are choosing dark brown or black frames around windows and doors instead of whites. These windows pop on white or light siding, and dark frames add a striking effect from the interior looking out. Modern farmhouse. We’re seeing farmhouse sinks, reused wood siding in interior design details and barn doors that are customized to have a more contemporary feel. Metal roofs. Metal roofs are featured on many custom homes, from more traditional homes to distinctively modern homes. Natural wood beams and ceilings. From remodels to new homes, wood beams left in their original state add a natural touch and create a focal point in interiors. And while hardwood floors have always been popular with home owners, many of this year’s winners added warmth with natural wood ceilings. Under-stair storage. Architects and designers made the most of spaces under staircases. Often, these spaces include shelves for books and works of art. Unique wine storage. Wine storage is now a prominent feature in the home. Kitchens include floor-to-ceiling open or glass-enclosed wine storage.
Advanced Communication Technologies, Inc.
AP Kimball Construction
Bayswater Development,
Beacon Marine Const LLC
Botello Home Center
Brown Lindquist Fenuccio & Raber Architects Inc
Cape Associates, Inc. #1
Cape Associates, Inc. #2
Cape Cod Five Cent Savings Bank
Coastal Engineering Company, Inc
E J Jaxtimer Builder Inc
Eastward Companies Business Trust
Falmouth Lumber Company
M. Duffany Builders
Meyer and Sons, Inc
Mid Cape Home Centers
Mullen Building & Remodeling
Paul J Cazeault & Sons Inc
Shepley Wood Products,
The Wood Lumber Company
Cheer on the Bowling Teams! Thursday Mar 2nd at the Lanes in Mashpee. Be a Lane Sponsor!
BALA Winners Highlight Design Trends
Matthew Anderson President Peter Kimball 1st VP/Treasurer Trevor Meyer 2nd VP/ Secretary Michael Duffany Immediate Past President Directors Warren Brodie John Cotton Brian Harding Stephen Klug Ben LaMora Tim Sawyer Tony Shepley Jack Stevenson Christine Duren Executive Officer Stacy Hylinski Administrative Assistant
Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod (HBRACC) 3 Patti Page Way Centerville, MA 02632 O: 774-330-3140 F: 774-994-8284 capecodbuilders.org
LEADERSHIP
Barnes Custom Builders Capizzi Home Improvement Fiberon The House Company Tom Hague III Builder, Inc.
Sunrooms
Additions
no one!
Decks
Did You Know?
Barnes Custom Builders Cape Associates, Inc. Cape Cod HERS Raters Custom Crafted Homes Fore & Aft Inc. R.W. Anderson & Sons, Inc. The House Company Tom Hague III Builder, Inc.
We can now refer our members (you) to homeowners! We are receiving noticeably many more inquiries from home owners, than we have over the past few years, looking for a contractor to build or remodel their home or asking for a service or product. It is our policy that we don't refer one member over another. What we can do is: gather basic information regarding the homeowner's request, example: need to add a sunroom and a deck. we will then search our member directory for those members who have "addition, sunroom, and/or deck" as a business activity or those words listed in their business description. we send an e-referral to those members with the homeowner request and contact information. the homeowner also receives an email from us informing them that their request has been referred to qualified members, with a list of members attached. Please go online and check your member information, complete as much as possible on your business profile. If you need help, let us know. If you need your logon information, let us know. Make it easy for consumers to find you, and sometimes it's other members who may be looking for exactly what you offer! True example: Below are lists of members who have indicated on their record that they do additions, decks, and sunrooms.
Age of Housing Stock Varies Greatly by State
Home Builders & Remodelers Association of MA (HBRAMA) Announces Draft Legislative Agenda
With a new legislative session comes a new set of legislative priorities. The HBRAMA recently released its draft legislative agenda for the coming session. While a number of the newly filed bills are similar to bills filed in the last session, several new bills are worth noting: House Docket No. 612, An Act Facilitating Site Plan Review Sponsor: Rep. Kevin G. Honan (D-Boston) This legislation would amend the State Zoning Act (Chapter 40A) to include provisions specifically related to site plan review. Currently, the State Zoning Act includes no provision for site plan review, and the proposed legislation would formalize the process. House Docket No. 571, An Act Relative To Variances Sponsor: Rep. Kevin G. Honan (D-Boston) This legislation would amend the variance provisions under Section 10 of the State Zoning Act (Chapter 40A) to provide an automatic tolling provision when a variance decision is appealed, for the duration of an appeal. Otherwise, a variance decision could expire during the pendency of a variance appeal. This provision simply adds a tolling provision similar to the tolling provision already existing for special permits. House Bill 2893 (re-file) An Act Relative To The State Board of Building Regulations and Standards Sponsors: Rep. David Vieira (R-3rd Barnstable); Rep. Chris Walsh (D-Framingham) This legislation would amend the powers of the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (G.L. c.143, § 94) to prohibit the board from adopting any amendment to the State Building Code that may be accepted by a city or town on a local option basis. The purpose of the legislation is to ensure the uniformity of the State Building Code by banning future “stretch codes.” A summary of the Association's entire legislative agenda is [here].
According to the latest data from the 2015 American Community Survey, the median age of owner-occupied homes nationwide is 37 years. The age of housing stock is not evenly distributed across the United States. Among the states, New York has the oldest homes with a median age of 57, followed by Massachusetts at 53 years. The median age of homes in the District of Columbia, which is entirely urban, is 75 years. The newest homes are in the West. The median age of homes in Nevada is only 20, followed by Arizona where half of all owner-occupied homes were built in the last 24 years. Older houses are less energy-efficient than new construction and ultimately will require remodeling and renovation in the future.
The housing industry has created the Skilled Labor Fund to address the lack of skilled labor entering the residential construction field. NAHB, the National Housing Endowment, the National Kitchen + Bath Association, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and SGC Horizon announced the new fund during the Builders’ Show in Orlando. The fund will be launched with the support of SGC Horizon, parent company of Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines. The fund will be used to attract and train skilled labor for the residential construction market by providing scholarships for students to attend accredited training schools and training facilities across the country.
NAHB recently filed comments opposing HUD’s planned implemen- tation of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard. The proposed rule is substantially flawed and should be withdrawn. HUD’s proposal unnecessarily expands floodplain management requirements and fundamentally threatens access to FHA mortgage insurance programs for single- family home buyers and multifam- ily builders. If implemented, the proposal will severely disrupt the housing market and harm count- less families.
Flood Risk Standard Would Disrupt Market
In a move that will make home loans more afford- able, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced recently that it will reduce the annual premiums most of its borrowers pay on mortgage insurance premiums by 0.25 percentage points from 0.85% to 0.60%. The agency said that the lower premium rates are projected to save new FHA-insured home owners an average of $500 this year.
Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) have introduced a resolution to withdraw the Waters of the United States rule, which contains new and expanded definitions that NAHB has long fought as a federal intrusion into state and local land-use decisions. “Congress left to states their traditional authority over land and water, including farmers’ fields, non-navigable, wholly intrastate water (including puddles and ponds), and the allocation of water supplies,” the resolution said. After the federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay in late 2015, NAHB led a coalition of industry partners to challenge the rule, saying that it is deeply flawed, arbitrarily written, and provides no clarity or certainty to members of the regulated community. On Jan. 13, 2017, the Supreme Court agreed to examine the Sixth Circuit decision after a petition by NAHB and a coalition of industry groups affected by the rule. The Senate resolution seeks to stop EPA's encroachment once and for all, asking that the rule and its new definitions of what constitutes the waters of the United States be vacated.
Senate Resolution Would Withdraw EPA Definition of "Waters of the U.S."
The House of Represent- atives on Jan. 11 approved H.R. 5, the Regulatory Accountability Act, legisla- tion that would modernize federal rulemaking under the Administrative Procedures Act and make the regulatory process more transparent, agencies more accountable and regulations more cost- effective. This comes one week after the House passed two other NAHB-supported regulatory relief measures – the REINS Act and the Midnight Rules Relief Act.
Lower Mortgage Insurance Costs
New Fund to Address Labor Shortage
Fast Start on Reg Reform
Resolution to Vacate Waters of the US (WOTUS) Rule Introduced in Senate
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Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) have introduced a resolution to withdraw the Waters of the United States rule, which contains new and expanded definitions that NAHB has long held as the poster child of federal intrusion into states’ rights and an example of federal overreach on land-use decisions. “Congress left to states their traditional authority over land and water, including farmers’ fields, non-navigable, wholly intrastate water (including puddles and ponds), and the allocation of water supplies,” the resolution said. New definitions finalized in June 2015 turn that authority on its head. “By dramatically extending the areas in which home builders are required to get permits, the rule will lead to bureaucratic delays, increase project costs and mitigation fees, and harm housing affordability,” former NAHB Chairman Tom Woods said at the time. After the federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay later that year, NAHB helped lead a coalition of industry partners to challenge the rule, saying that it is deeply flawed, arbitrarily written, and provides no clarity or certainty to members of the regulated community. On Jan. 13, the Supreme Court agreed to examine the Sixth Circuit decision after a petition by NAHB and a coalition of industry groups affected by the rule. “As a business that sometimes must challenge these rules in court, NAHB must know whether it is proper to bring these challenges first to district court or whether the challenges must be brought in a court of appeals,” said vice president for litigation Tom Ward. “We are seeking clear guidance from the Supreme Court so that businesses like NAHB aren’t forced to file two lawsuits to protect our interests,” he said. The Senate resolution seeks to stop the encroachment once and for all, asking that the rule and its new definitions of what constitutes the waters of the United States be vacated.
Builders and developers continue to report easing credit conditions for acquisition, development, and construction (AD&C) loans according to NAHB’s survey on AD&C Financing. However, the pace of easing slowed somewhat in the third quarter of 2016 from the rate in the second quarter. In the third quarter of 2016, the overall net tightening index based on the AD&C survey was -10.7. The third quarter reading indicates somewhat less easing than in the second quarter of 2016 when the index was -25.0. The index is constructed so that negative numbers indicate easing of credit, the lower the index, the higher the extent of credit easing for AD&C loans. According to the NAHB survey, easing on net over the third quarter took place on all forms of credit with standards on single-family construction rec- ording the greatest net percentage of easing. A net of 17 percent of respondents reported that stand- ards on loans for single-family construction had eased. Meanwhile, 10 percent of respondents on net said that land development loans had eased.
Celebrating NAHB’s 75th Anniversary
Next year marks NAHB’s 75th anniversary, and preparations are underway for this year-long celebration, which will kick off during the NAHB 2017 International Builders’ Show®. To keep you up to date on anniversary-related news and events, NAHB will launch a dedicated, 75th anniversary webpage in January. The web- page will feature resources that local HBAs can use to highlight the impact of the home building industry and showcase the benefits of member- ship to prospective members. HBAs can opt to join in on the celebration by hold- ing their own 75th anniversary-themed events. We’d like to hear from you about the positive contribution of your members in your community. Did your HBA or company recently reach a significant milestone ? What impact did your HBA and its builders have on your community? Some of these achievements will be featured on NAHB’s 75th anniversary webpage to be shared with other members nationwide as well as the general public. You can send us a brief summary of those success stories by using this submission form. For more information, contact Camilo Cuba at 800-368-5242 x8437.
OSHA Issue Final Surfaces Rule
The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a final rule that updates its 44-year-old general industry Walking-Working Surfaces standard, created to better protect workers from slip, trip and fall hazards. According to OSHA, the rule aligns the fall protection requirements for general industry with those for construction that will make compliance easier for those companies who perform both types of activities. It should be noted that this new general industry rule does not change the construction standard. Additionally, all inspections, investigations or assessments of a job prior to the actual start of work, or after all the work has been completed, is exempt from the standard. NAHB had urged OSHA to include this provision. The rule also allows employers to select the fall protection system that works best for them, choosing from a range of accepted options.
Builders Report Easing Credit
Home Builders & Remodelers Assn of CC 3 Patti Page Way Centerville MA 02632
