BRICC Awards Recap Online Voting for People's Choice Active
NAHB Chairman Ed Brady issued this statement regarding President-elect Trump’s announcement to nominate Dr. Ben Carson as the next secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): “NAHB congratulates Dr. Carson on his nomination as HUD secretary. He is a thoughtful leader who is sure to assemble a professional team of policy experts and be a great spokesperson for housing. “Upon his confirmation to the Cabinet post, NAHB looks forward to working with Dr. Carson to promote pro-housing policies that support homeownership, provide rental housing opportunities for low- and middle-income households, and remove regulatory barriers that are needlessly raising housing costs for hard-working American families.”
December 2016
In This Issue
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 start 1/26/17. 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, Cape Cod Homebuilders & Remodelers Association, 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 Provincetown.
In a victory for NAHB, a federal judge in Texas on Nov. 22 granted a preliminary injunction to delay implementation of the Department of Labor’s new overtime rule. The rule, which was scheduled to take effect Dec. 1, would double the minimum salary limit from $23,660 to $47,476. NAHB joined other business groups in filing a legal challenge to the overtime rule on Sept. 20. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. In addition, 21 states have also filed suit challenging the rule and the two lawsuits have been consolidated. The parties have filed motions for a summary judgment. While the injunction is only temporary, the ruling by Judge Amos Mazzant sent a strong signal that he could likely side with NAHB and our business coalition. “The State Plaintiffs have shown a likelihood of success on the merits because the Final Rule exceeds the Department’s authority,” Mazzant wrote in his opinion. Working with House and Senate lawmakers and members of our business coalition, the Partnership to Protect Workplace Opportunity, NAHB has been leading the effort to mitigate the effects of the overtime rule.
New Affordable Employee Assistance Plan Announced to Help with Substance Abuse Crisis
Federal Judge Delays Overtime Rule
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 not 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
HBRACC Member Jim Gronski Receives Award at Int'l Bldrs' Show
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 Sand also received Platinum for "Best Single Family Neighborhood" and Best overall project in the North Atlantic (from among all Platinum winners in the region).
HBRACC Member Honored at NAHB's International Builders Show in Orlando
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.
Jim accepting 2017 NAHB Student Chapters Distinguished Service Award from Eric Holt Advisory Board Chair at the International Builder's Show
1/23 4:30p Membership Matters-New Member Orientation 1/31 2p HBRAMA State Assn Govt Affairs & Board Meeting 2/7 12p HBRACC Exec Committee Meeting 2/16 4p Direct Connect: Associates - Do A Year's Worth of Marketing in One Evening!!! 2/21 6:00pm Feb Monthly Dinner Mtg Building Inspectors
Calendar of Events
Builders Report Easing Credit
OSHA Issue Final Surfaces Rule
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.
Celebrating NAHB’s 75th Anniversary
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.
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.
Resolution to Vacate Waters of the US (WOTUS) Rule Introduced in Senate
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.
BuilderNews is a new monthly digital and print newsletter distributed to our member mailing list (over 1,000 emails) via constant contact, email, website, and social media. A minimum of 100 will be printed each month and mailed or distributed to new and prospective members, event attendees, etc... DATE: Monthly; DISTRIBUTION: over 1,100 per month (delivered digitally and print) BuilderNews Advertiser: Annual fee Full Page: $2,500 per year - 2 available Half-Page: $1,250 per year - 2 available Quarter Page: $ 625 per year - 4 available Ad specifications, color or b/w: Full page: 612 x 792 pixels or 8.5 x 11 inches Half page: 612 x 379 pixels or 8.5 x 5.263 inches (horizontal) ; Half page: 287 x 792 pixels or 4 x 11 inches (vertical) Quarter page: 287 x 379 pixels or 4 x 5.263 inches
Your Ad Here
According to a report issued this month by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, fewer than 4% of existing U.S. homes have features that allow for easy wheelchair access, including entryways without stairs, wide hallways and doors, and a first-floor bathroom. At the same time, one in three U.S. households is projected to be led by someone 65 or older by 2035 – and about 17 million households will include someone with a physical disability. At the same time, according to a 2014 AARP survey, 87% of seniors want to stay in their homes as long as possible, and almost three million households did renovations to ease elderly or disabled access in 2015, accounting for 4% of all home renovations, according to the Federal Housing Survey. People in the industry said they expect those numbers to increase. More than 6,000 people have completed a three-day National Association of Home Builders course focused on aging in place, making it the organization's most popular offering, said Dan Bawden, CEO of Houston Legal Eagle Contractors, who started the program in 2001.
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
Did You Know?
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
Over the past few years our association and membership have become much more well known to the press, politicians, and home owners. Why? How? Through our magazine-At Home on Cape Cod; our community events such as: bowling, lego, builder blitz, housing summits, residential construction career day; social media, plus our radio ad campaign in partnership with several members. We are receiving noticeably so many more inquiries from home owners looking for a contractor to build or remodel their home, or asking for a service or product. Here's the deal...we don't refer one member over another. We let the consumer know they can search for who or what they want on our online member directory. It's up to them to choose who they will contact. OK, here's the deal about that...if you have not completed your company profile ... they will not find you!!! We want them to find you, in fact, we would like to find you...then we can also do a search and pass on your information to the inquirer. Please, please, 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! WvD+�V�M�
UNDERSTANDING THE NEED FOR ACCESSIBLE HOME DESIGN
LEADERSHIP
Tips about the Association and Ways to Enhance your Membership
Home Builders & Remodelers Assn of CC 3 Patti Page Way Centerville MA 02632
