January 2022
South Carolina Federal Glenn Garrett Roofing and Construction Mark III Properties
West Fraser North America | Engineered Wood Products
Despite inflation concerns and ongoing production bottlenecks, home builder confidence edged higher for the fourth consecutive month on strong consumer demand and limited existing inventory. Builder sentiment in the market for newly built single-family homes moved one point higher to 84 in December, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released in December. This ties the highest reading of the year that was posted in February. Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 35 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo HMI gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospec- tive buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores for each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor. The HMI index gauging current sales conditions rose one point to 90 and the gauge charting traffic of prospective buyers also posted a one-point gain to 70. The component measuring sales expect- ations in the next six months held steady for the third consecutive month at 84. HMI tables can be found at nahb.org/hmi.
CENTURY CONCRETE ENCHANTED CONSTRUCTION CANNON SUPPLY Autorino Construction
Fed Tightening May Bring Higher Rates The Federal Reserve on Dec. 15 signaled that it will be shifting from an accommodative monetary policy stance that has supported the economic rebound from the 2020 recession toward a tighter policy as a direct result of ongoing, elevated inflation data. This policy pivot means that mortgage interest rates are likely to rise in 2022. This will reduce housing affordability and again emphasizes the need for policymakers to fix the nation’s supply chains that are impeding more robust housing construction.
Take Advantage of IBS Pre-Show Education The NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) provides access to critical professional development opportunities through education sessions and workshops. Attendees can get a head start on these educational tools through pre-show education. Ten NAHB Education courses and five Master Workshops are available on Sunday, Feb. 6, and Monday, Feb. 7. Participants may register for NAHB Education courses and Master Workshops for an additional fee. Register today. Sandra L. Thompson Nominated to Head FHFA President Biden in December nominated Sandra L. Thompson as the new director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Thompson currently serves as acting director of the FHFA. She replaced Mark Calabria in June after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the FHFA director can be removed at will. Thompson previously served as deputy director of FHFA’s Division of Housing Mission and Goals since 2013. Prior to joining FHFA, Thompson worked at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for 23 years in a variety of leadership positions.
EPA Publishes Proposed WOTUS Rule The Federal Register in December published a proposed rule by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to rescind the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) as finalized during the Trump administration. If finalized as proposed, the new rule will rescind the WOTUS definition NAHB supported under the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) and replace it with a new WOTUS definition that includes elements of the 1986 definition and elements of the Supreme Court’s 2006 Rapanos decision.
Congress Pushes Commerce on Lumber At the behest of NAHB, 84 members of Congress sent a joint letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo expressing urgent concern regarding the Commerce Department’s recent decision to double tariffs on softwood lumber products from Canada. The letter highlights the critical need for the United States and Canada to renew negotiations in an effort to come to an equitable solution that will satisfy all sides, including domestic industries and consumers, that need a reliable supply of softwood lumber.
NHE Offering Grants to Support Workforce Development
NAHB Provides Safety Videos Working in construction can be dangerous. Workers can be exposed to hazards such as falls, electrical shock, and harmful chemicals. Before your employees step on the jobsite, be sure they understand how to protect themselves while at work. NAHB has published a new safety video toolbox talk, Safety Basics, to help home builders familiarize their staff with the hazards of a residential construction site. While construction work can be inherently dangerous, understanding hazards and creating a safety plan to address them will help keep everyone safe on the jobsite. Visit NAHB's video toolbox page for a Spanish version of the safety basics video.
The National Housing Endowment (NHE) has set a bold goal for 2022 – to introduce 10,000 young people to career oppor- tunities in the residential skilled trades. NHE encourages state and local home builders assoc- iations to apply for the Career Connections grant program. The program is funded by the Skilled Labor Fund (SLF) and managed by NHE. The funding is designed to support career fairs, presentations, participation in school- organized career events, and other activ- ities that introduce students to careers in residential skilled trades. The fund will award grants up to $2,500. A committee will consider each application and will award funds based upon merit and funding availability. Applications are due Feb. 16, 2022, for career events taking place by Nov. 18, 2022. Grant recipients will be announced in March. Contact Mark Pursell, NHE President and CEO, with any questions.
DHS Expands H-2B Visas The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the forthcoming publication of a joint temporary final rule making available an additional 20,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2022. These additional visas will be set aside for U.S. employers seeking to employ additional workers on or before March 31, 2022. H-2B visas allow employers to hire foreign workers who come temporarily to the United States and perform temporary non-agricultural services or labor – including construction work – on a one-time, seasonal, peak-load or intermittent basis. Eligibility and filing requirements can be found on the H-2B Nonimmigrants webpage.
Calendar of Events Mon. Feb. 7 Board Meeting 11:45 Mon. Feb. 7 Meeting with Attorney General , Alen Wilson. 4:30
Leadership List Executive Committee Ryan Kaiser Manning Lynch Shannon Carruth Len Reed Mark Autorino Slavik Cholak ( Past Pres.) BUILDER BOARD MEMBERS Allen Bunn Mike Seay Parker Champion ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBERS Bobby Amaker Chris Bryant Sammy Sanders Brent Laney HBA of SC Mark Autorino NAHB Ryan Kaiser Slavik Cholak
RETIREMENT AND JOB OPENING Mary Speed was officially honored at the Oyster Roast for her 10 years of serving as the EO for the HBA of Spartanburg. She is transitioning to a temporarty office staff position and is ready to train a new EO. Please let us know if you are aware of someone who would be a good candidate for this job. Board members are working diligently on a search. A good candidate would know a little bit about a lot of things including,: Mircosoft Office, home building and developing, county departments and leadership, event planning,, membership growth. Some work from home is an option. Pay is comminserate with qualificatios and experience.
The NAHB/NAR Home Performance Counts: Virtual Green Home Tour Series continues on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. ET with a full home remodel in the Fort Worth, Texas area. Greening the existing housing stock is critical to reducing the environmental footprint of residential construction. Check out the high-performance remodeling journey of a mid-century modern home in North Texas with Heather Ferrier Laminack of Ferrier Custom Homes. See the process, from demo to finished product on how the home was updated to be efficient, healthy and comfortable while maintaining its mid-century character. Learn about the challenges and rewards of a green update to an existing home and how to realize the added value of those updates in the real estate market. A live Q&A will take place immediately after the tour with Laminack and Mike Garza, Global Real Estate Advisor, Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty, Fort Worth, Texas. These free 45-minute programs are planned quarterly for 2022. Register at nahb.org/greentour. Can’t make it on January 20? Registrants can also access the replay for this event and others in the series through NAHB's webinar replay library. The series is a product of Home Performance Counts, a joint educational initiative between NAHB and the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Home Performance Counts is designed to help members of both associations work together and succeed in the rapidly growing marketplace for high-performance homes.
Green Tour Series Looks at Mid-Century Modern in Texas
GREAT COMPANY GREAT MEMBERS THANK YOU, HEIRLOOM!
Home Builder Sentiment Strong as 2021 Comes to a Close
YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING...
Spartanburg Association of Realtors Monthly Indicators for DECEMBER CLICK HERE Spartanburg County Building Codes Department Monthly Permit Report for NOVEMBER ( most recent available) CLICK HERE Spartanburg County Planning Dept Land Use Report NOVEMBER ( most recent available) CLICK HERE NAHB LUMBER PRICING WEBSITE INFO 3/14 CLICK HERE NAHB research and activism is funded by your membership in your local HBA. Thank you for your support of us and the building industry. The Business Intelligence Division of S.C. Dept. of Workforce and Employment Labor Market Information , Trends S.C. Statute of Repose CLICK HERE
ANNOUNCEMENT F. HUGH ATKINS DEFENDER OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AWARD
We are proud to announce that Hugh Atkins will be honored by the Home Builders Association of South Carolina (HBASC), by renaming the HBASC Defender of the American Dream Award in his name. From this day forward the award will be presented as the Hugh Atkins Defender of the American Dream Award. The Hugh Atkins Defender of the American Dream is awarded to an individual in recognition of their leadership and efforts in keeping the American Dream of home ownership affordable. As you are aware Hugh was a shining beacon of this high principal and his fervor and dedication toward this goal will continue by highlighting those who display the same selfless characteristics. The importance of home ownership cannot be understated. A home is the most valuable asset many families will ever own, but additional regulatory costs keeps many families from owning a home. For every thousand dollars added to a house, 2,880 S.C. families are priced out from owning their own home. Hugh Atkins and future award winners will continue to fight for the American Dream for every South Carolinian. Hugh was a friend and mentor of many HBA Spartanburg members. Chances are, if you did not know him personally, his life and work are an influence on you today. He was a fierce advocate for our industry and we channel him for inspiration often. PAST WINNERSHugh Atkins,Steven Mungo,Lt. Colonel Nick Nicholson,Ken Ormand
DO BUSINESS WITH THESE NEW MEMBERS DECEMBER Annette McGinnis, Budget Blinds Bob Miller, Miller HVAC Ivan Khdod, Contour Construction LLC Ashley Newton, Quality Builders Warranty Lee Bright, DLB Construction, LLC William Cureton, Triad Grading, LLC John Farrell, Farrell Real Estate Attorneys William West, Event Rentals, Inc. DO BUSINESS WITH THESE RENEWING MEMBERS ! JANUARY Frank Nutt, The Nutt Corporation Shannon Carruth, Sherwin Williams Freddie Blanton, Bobcat Cody Townes, Carter Lumber DECEMBER Bob Walker, Landrum Insurance Ken Shull, F Hugh Atkins Real Estate and Construction Kent Shull, F. Hugh Atkins Real Estate and Construction Michael Greene, Piedmont Concrete Products Ryan Settle, Yaupon Development, Inc., Docks, Houses, Cattle .FIND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS HERE
341 East Kennedy Street Spartanburg, SC 29302 www.hbaspartanburg.com info@hbaspartanburg.com 864-583-5471
MEMBERS! PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MEMBER SAVINGS AND BENEFITS CHECK THE ONLINE INFORMATION AND SIGN UP TODAY! HBA OF SC MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDING SNAZZY TRAVEL
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