asheville hba august newsletter

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose two points to 15 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for July, released July 18th. The gain largely offsets a three-point dip recorded in June, and marks the ninth time out of the past 10 months in which the index has held within the same three-point range.

“The improvement in builder confidence in July is a positive sign that the outlook perhaps isn’t quite as bleak as was feared in June,” said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev. “While builders continue to confront serious challenges with regard to competition from foreclosed properties that are priced below replacement cost, inaccurate appraisals of new homes, and a very restrictive lending environment for new home construction, select markets are showing gradual improvement as consumers begin to take advantage of very favorable buying conditions.”

“We view the upward movement in the July HMI as a correction from an exceptionally weak number in June that was at least partly attributable to negative economic news and the close of a disappointing spring selling season,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “The strong rebound in sales expectations for the next six months likewise marks a return to trend. Basically, the market continues to bounce along the bottom, with conditions in some locations beginning to improve.”

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for more than 20 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index 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 prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores from each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor.

Two out of three of the HMI’s component indexes rebounded in July from declines in the previous month. The component gauging current sales conditions rose two points to 15, returning to its May level, while the component gauging sales expectations in the next six months rose seven points to 22, which is where it stood in April. The component gauging traffic of prospective buyers held even with the previous month, at 12.

Regionally, the HMI inched up one point to 12 in the Midwest and posted three-point gains in both the South and West, to 17 and 14, respectively. Only the Northeast posted a decline, slipping two points to 15.

Editor’s Note: The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index is strictly the product of NAHB Economics, and is not seen or influenced by any outside party prior to being released to the public. HMI tables can be accessed online at: www.nahb.org/hmi. More information regarding housing statistics is also available at http://www.housingeconomics.com/.

Asheville HBA l Your Homebuilding Resource Since 1966 l www.AshevilleHBA.com

AUGUSTAHBA

Annual ‘Pig-nic’

August 1412:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Camp Rockmont, Black MountainJoin us for an exciting day of water

activities and socializing!Details on page 7

RSVP to AHBA Office by August 5

Upcoming Events

September 14-1621st Century Building Expo and

ConferenceCharlotte Convention Center,

Charlotte, NCVisit www.21buildingexpo.com for details

September 22AHBA Annual Golf

TournamentBlack Mountain Golf Club

Details and sign up on page 7

September 29AHBA Builder Breakfast

Third Quarterly Builders only Breakfast

8:30 am - 9:30 amDetails on page 6

RSVP to AHBA Office or [email protected]

June 08

A monthly publication of the Asheville Home Builders Association

November 2010

A monthly publication of the Asheville Home Builders Association

August 2011

Builder Confidence Gains Two Points in July

AUGUST

Calendar

2 | Asheville HBA l Bringing Professionalism to our Industry

Skip Brewer, PresidentC. Skip Brewer AMB, CGP, Custom Builder

Richard Soderquist, Immediate Past PresidentSoderquist Construction Company

James Bound, 1st Vice President Greencraft, Inc.

Steve Wallin, 2nd Vice President Custom Homes of Asheville, Inc.

Robi Eckley, Associate Vice PresidentFerguson Enterprises, Inc.Jill Jones, TreasurerWestall Chandley

Christopher Fox, Christopher Fox Builders

Steve Royster, Bass & Royster Builders

Renee Maxwell, Progress Energy

Chris Brock, Brock Builders

Jennifer Duvall, Asheville Savings Bank

Chuck Cloninger, McGuire, Wood & Bissette Construction Law Team

Thomas McClain, Home Sweet Home Land Management

Nancy Padgett, High Country Homes, Inc.

2011 AHBA Board of Directors

AHBA StaffExecutive OfficerCaroline Purcell [email protected]

Director of Member Services & Special EventsChristi [email protected]

Office HoursMonday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pmPhone: 828-299-7001Fax: 828-299-7008Email: [email protected]

www.AshevilleHBA.com

MeetingsProfessional Women in Building Tuesday, August 2 @ 8:30 amAHBA OfficeMembership Committee Thursday, August 9 @ 3:30 pmAHBA Office

Board of Directors MeetingThursday, August 11 @ 3:00 pm

Parade of Homes CommitteeThursday, August 25 @ 3:30 pm

Events

Education21st Century Building Expo and ConferenceCharlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, NCVisit www.21buildingexpo.com for details

AHBA Annual PicnicAugust 14, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pmCamp RockmountLAST Day to RSVP to [email protected] is August 5Join us for an exciting day of water activites, great bbq, and socializing!

See Page 16 for more information

AHBA Annual Golf TournamentSeptember 225:30 pm - 7:30 pmBlack Mountain Golf ClubSee page 7 for Details and Sign-up.

Buying your first house can be very exciting. But financing your home purchase can be a daunting experience. In both cases, do your research and shop carefully to ensure you find exactly what you want and need.

Deciding how much to spend on your home and which type of mortgage will work best for you — as well as understanding the settlement process — can be confusing. However, there are many sources that can help you get prepared well before you step foot into a sales office, model home or open house.

Get familiar with the lingo. NAHB’s Home Buyer’s Dictionary can help you. Figure out what you can actually afford to pay on a monthly basis. When determining the monthly payment you can afford, remember that, in addition to the monthly principal and interest, you will also be paying into escrows for property taxes, hazard insurance and possibly a homeowners or condominium association assessment. You have more knowledge about your living expenses than a lender. Hold firm with that number and don’t be tempted to agree to an amount higher than what you are comfortable spending. Mortgage calculators are a great way to figure out what your monthly payments would be based on interest rates and down payment amounts. Calculators can be found on most real-estate-focused websites. Pay down your debts. Debt that you carry on your credit cards will limit what you qualify for from a lender. Lenders want to see a total debt service ratio that is less than 40 percent of your monthly income.

Attend a first-time home buying seminar or talk to a credit counselor who does not work for a lender. You can research your options without being influenced by someone who has a financial interest in the home or loan you choose. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers free housing counseling and seminars.

HUD also has a handy booklet on its site called “Buying Your Home: Settlement Costs and Helpful Information.” It describes the home buying and settlement process and explains [Continued from page 5]

Advice on Financing Your First Home

www.AshevilleHBA.com |3

[ monthly message ]

Greetings fellow AHBA Members. I hope everyone continues to enjoy the Summer as we approach the return to the new school year and some cooler weather.

A special “thank you” to everyone who has participated in our Parade of Homes 30th Anniversary. Whether you have an entry, are a sponsor or an advertiser, we greatly appreciate your support. Likewise, another thank you to our Members who have supported Build-Pac!

While our industry continues to digest the economic realities of housing prices, one thing that our Members also have to deal with are construction costs and margins. NAHB statistics show margins have consistently shrunk for Builders

over the past three years. We know material costs, for the most part, are creeping up, yet margins are not. All while new construction costs get compared to existing inventory by the consuming public. Understanding the difference can be a tough bridge to gap with a Client sometimes. During discussions with your Clients, the value and service is what sets you apart. It is ok to explain why “cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean less expensive”. This typically holds true from the Customers perspective, and within the Builder – Subcontractor/Supplier relationship.as well. Sometimes this adage becomes evident quickly and other times it can take a few years. Even still, striking that balance between quality, speed and price is what we as AHBA Members all strive to achieve. Ask your Customer what is most important to them, also educate them and then let them be part of the decision which gives them ownership of it. A true Customer will appreciate you for it!

Coming up on the 14th of this month is the AHBA picnic; you won’t want to miss this one! Lots of great food, activities and prizes. On the horizon, in September the AHBA Golf Tournament is slated for the 22nd, start thinking about your teams!! Additionally, our next Builder Breakfast is September 29th and the feature topic will be “Builder Warranties” I hope to see all of you at the picnic!!

President’s Message by C. Skip Brewer, AMB, CGP, Custom BuilderWorking to Make Your Business Successful

[ builders tips ]


I needed a chute to funnel debris — concrete chunks and tile — from a second-floor bathroom demolition to a dumpster on ground level.I thought about the long, flexible debris chutes that are used on large construction sites and decided to make a smaller version for my job.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, I modified several empty five-gallon drywall-compound buckets to make the chute:

First, I removed the handles and drilled quarter-inch holes where the handles where attached.

Then, I trimmed a half-inch off the bottom of each bucket in order to remove any lip that could catch debris as it falls through the chute.

Finally, I formed the chute by wiring the buckets together using 18-inch lengths of rebar.

Attaching the top of a bucket to the top of the one below it enables you to store the buckets in a tight, nested stack when the job is done by twisting the buckets slightly as you collapse them.When making a chute of your own, keep in mind a few pointers I learned when making my chute:

Use a two-inch overlap if the chute is straight. Increase the overlap if the chute curves.

It’s easier to add buckets to the top of the chute rather than the bot-tom.

While building a debris chute will require a fair number of buckets, you can use old, dirty ones that are cracked, broken or missing handles — putting your throwaways to good use and keeping them out of a landfill.

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Builders’ Tip: How to Make a Debris Chute Out of Leftover Mud Buckets

Lifestyle Choices Behind Next Move for 20% of Home Owners, Survey FindsOne in five home owners have moved or would like to move from their home in order to shorten their commute, be closer to health and safety services, enjoy convenient shopping or otherwise meet their changing lifestyle needs, according to a recent survey by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC.

The findings bolster Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate’s assertion that community and lifestyle decisions are critical components of the home buying process.

“While the relation of price to features has become very favorable in many areas throughout the country, ultimately the surrounding community may determine how happy home owners are with their home purchase,” said Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC.

Survey respondents indicated that they would place more weight on lifestyle criteria — such as family-friendly neighborhoods and easy accessibility to cultural activities such as museums and music venues — when searching for a home in the future.

Top Lifestyle Priorities

Among the top lifestyle priorities indicated by the respondents when searching for their next home:

Ease of commuting by car 38%Access to health and safety services 34%Family-friendly neighborhood 33%Availability of retail stores 32%Access to cultural activities 21%Public transportation access 19%Nightlife and restaurant access 18%Golf-friendly area — access to golf courses 6%

In the survey, which was conducted on April 20-29, 84% of the respondents indicated they were home owners and 10% indicated that they had planned to buy a home within three years.

Tie the chute to the window frame or other practical area of the demo-lition with two more 18-inch wires.— Jim Lagrotta; Boonton Township, N.J. Tips & Techniques provided by Fine Homebuilding. ©2010 The Taunton PressTo contact Fine Homebuilding, email Christina Glennon.

[ builder issues ]


home advantage

Visit progress-energy.com/carolinasHA or call 1.800.327.8704.

©2011 Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc.

With Home Advantage, you’ll build homes that are ENERGY STAR® certified and qualify for a lifetime 5 percent Progress Energy homeowner discount. Plus, you could receive cash incentives starting at $400 per home.

You can pay your membership dues with a Visa

or MasterCard! Call theAHBA Office or pay online at

www.ashevillehba.com! 828-299-7001

Upcoming WebinarsAug. 31: “Sales and Marketing for Busy Builders”

With more home buyers, particularly younger ones, turning to the Internet when first looking for a house, the NAHB Business Management and Information Technology Committee is sponsoring a webinar that will offer builders five basic tips to fast-track their Internet marketing strategies and social media resources to more effectively reach their prospective buyers.

The webinar, “Sales and Marketing for Busy Builders,” will be held from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

Participants can earn one hour of continuing education credit toward their designations.

The fee is $19.95 for NAHB Business Management and Technology Committee members, $24.95 for NAHB members and $44.95 for non-members.

To register online, visit the NAHB Webinar Wednesdays registration page; or call NAHB’s Office of the Registrar at 800-368-5242 x8338, or email [email protected].

For more information, email Marcia Childs at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8388.

Sept. 28: Webinar Looks at What’s Cooking in Kitchen Design

With current home design trending to less space and more quality, a panel of architects and designers participating in a webinar on “Reinventing the Kitchen” will explore the dynamic concepts, products and materials that add value to today’s kitchens.

Sponsored by the NAHB Design Committee, the webinar will be held from 2:00-3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28.

Panelists will discuss a survey of lifestyles and trends that affect home owners’ preferences and provide insights into how to compete in the current housing market.

Attendees will:

Learn how priorities are changing in kitchen design, products • and materialsTake away a list of action points for improving their next kitchen • plansIncrease their knowledge of current trends in kitchen design• Broaden their understanding of the kitchen elements that are • most attractive to buyers

Participants can earn one hour of continuing education credit toward their designations.

To Register

The fee is $19.95 for Design Committee members, $24.95 for NAHB members and $44.95 for non-members.

To register online, visit the NAHB Webinar Wednesdays registration page; or call NAHB’s Office of the Registrar at 800-368-5242 x8338, or email [email protected].

For more information, email Jaclyn Toole at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8469.bers and $44.95 for non-members.To register online, visit the NAHB Webinar Wednesday page.

[Continued from page 2]most of the expenses you will encounter. It is free and most lenders are required to provide their loan applicants with a copy of this document under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). However, you will be able to shop more wisely for settlement services if you have read the pamphlet before you visit a lender.

When you have done your research and are ready to move on to the next step, visit a lender, understand the loan choices that would be available to you, and, once you’ve determined the most suitable loan, get pre-approved for that loan. Since you will already know how much money you can borrow, you will know what price range you should be looking at and can move quickly if you are bidding on a house that has several interested buyers. A lender’s pre-approval would still be subject to a final verification of your credit and a satisfactory appraisal, but it’s a big step toward becoming a home owner.

For more information about this item, please contact Gwyn Donohue at 800-368-5242 x8447 or via email at [email protected].

First Home Financing


[ member news ]

Share your accomplishments, awards, and announcements with fellow members. Send your news to [email protected] and we will be glad to include it in the newsletter!

AHBA Member Featured on DIYLocal AHBA Member, Hans Doellgast was featured on DIY’s “This New House” on July 12. Doellgast gave DIY a tour of his recently completed home, and explained his self named ‘Jappalachian’ style, a mix of local Appalachian architecture and Japanese Zen.

2011 Parade of Homes EntriesSpecial thanks to the following AHBA Builder Members who have entered Homes & Special Projects in this year’s Parade of Homes:Bass & Royster Builders Inc. (Special Project) Bellwether Design-Build (Complete Remodel) Beverly-Grant, Inc (New Construction) Biltmore Farms Homes, LLC (New Construction) Brookstone Builders, Inc. (New Construction)Duinkerken Homes, Inc. (Special Project Entry) Greencraft, Inc. (New Construction) HomeSource Builders (New Construction) Jade Mountain Builders (Builder Occupied) JAG & Associates Construction, Inc. (New Construction) Living Stone Construction, Inc. (Special Project & New Construction)Lifestyle Homes of Distinction (New Construction)Mountain Green Builders (New Construction) PebbleDash Builders (New Construction)

Sulaski & Tinsley Homes, LLC (New Construction - 2 entries)

21st Building Expo - Free Registration for Members!Coming up in September, the ninth annual 21st Century Building Expo & Conference will begin in Charlotte, North Carolina offering a three-day educational conference and two-day exposition. The Expo floor will feature the latest products and services for the home building industry. In addition, over 50 courses and seminars will keep you up-to-date on the trends and techniques in home building. Work towards a professional designation and learn from nationally-recognized instructors how to improve your business.

Special offer! Register online at www.21buildingexpo.com and use promo code EMKT to take $10 off your registration. This will make your Expo Floor registration FREE or take $10 off your conference registration rates.

Builder BreakfastJoin us for our third quarterly builders only breakfast featuring: “Warranties: Everything You Need to Know + More!” presented by Chuck Cloninger of McGuire, Wood & Bissette, PA. Thursday September 29th, at the AHBA Office. There is no charge to attend, but please RSVP as a light breakfast will be provided and space is limited.

New Member Orientation AttendeesCongratulations to the following new members who have completed the final step for membership with the Asheville Home Builders Association! Look for them at an upcoming meeting and welcome them!

Marvin Mercer, Mercer Design GroupChristopher Mears, Home Sweet Home Land ManagementJacob Baker, Continued Independence LLCTaylor Bryan, Valley Stonescapes LLCMelanie Christian, TD BankBrian Knight, Springtime HomesTim Brown, First Bank


[ member news ]

AHBA Annual Golf TournamentIn true AHBA tradition we are excited to host this year’s Annual Golf Tournament on Thursday, September 22nd at Black Mountain Golf Club! You won’t want to miss this exciting day of golf, good food & cold beverages, great networking and so much more! The tournament hosts up to 32 teams all including 1 builder per team! Throughout the tournament our Sponsors will be set up on different holes with lots of goodies including chicken wings, chips & salsa, beer, soft drinks and lots more! You’ll be amazed at what these sponsors pull out on their holes – check out their products and services too that are often on display at the holes! All players can participate in the AHBA Poker Run by purchasing a “hand” to play for just $10 – come ready to play and ready to win! The tournament opens at 10am with registration and a shotgun start at 11am will send everyone on their way! Get your teams and sponsorships in early because this tournament will sell out fast! Send in the bottom half of this page or visit www.ashevillehba.com for a sign up form today! We look forward to seeing you on the course!

[ member news ]


Builder-Realtor Partnerships Can Be Productve and ProfitableNew-home salespeople and Realtors® often view each other as rivals, inevitably believing that their territory has been invaded or that their toes have been stepped on.

That kind of thinking, however prevalent, is outdated and counterproductive.

Would you believe that you can actually make more money — in less time — through cooperation than you ever could on your own?

First, stop thinking of a visitor to an open house or a new model as “someone’s buyer.” Instead, consider them to be valued customers — much like you would regard them if you were a retailer.

Then, try seeing things from their perspective.

Buyers are on a journey. They want a Disney experience and Nordstrom-type service at a Wal-Mart price.

With that in mind, everyone involved in the selling must do all they can to provide buyers with exactly what they are expecting.

Consequently, both new-home sales professionals and Realtors® need to agree on a sustainable system for working together for the long term — with the customers’ best interests always at the forefront.

Contracts, as important as they are, don’t create customer relationships; they create a means of conveying real estate.

What matters to home buyers is that the contract and property meet their criteria. And when a new-home salesperson and Realtor® form a close working relationship centered on the customer’s needs, that is much more likely to occur.

A bond created between a Realtor® and a new-home salesperson increases production and productivity through knowledge and understanding.

How to Create a Bond With Realtors®

The key is to have a team of dedicated professionals already in place who can address the problems or concerns of any individual buyer — not “your buyer” or “their buyer,” but “our customer.”

Begin opening avenues to Realtors® by meeting them through your local board of Realtors® and local chamber of commerce networking events. Also, seek them out at open houses for new models as well as those on the Multiple Listing Service.

Then, adopt an outlook and approach that goes well beyond just one transaction. You want to build solid relationships with people who will refer business to you and recommend your services over the long term — your testimonial teammates.

Building solid relationships will take more than determination. You will need to build a pipeline of contacts and communications — and you will need to always follow up.

The lack of follow through is where many people in business fall short. Your follow-up needs to be timely, meaningful and sequential — if you’re well-organized, all three follow-up aspects will quickly become second nature for you.

Moreover, as you go about your business, you should always be on the lookout for your next testimonial teammate because you never know when opportunity might come knocking.

The Practical Benefits of Teaming Up

When you team up, you will have more impact on your customers because your relationship and reputation are working for you.

You’ll have the ability to provide twice the value, you’ll have greater endurance and you’ll be able to maximize the time that you’ve invested — and there’s nothing more valuable in business than your time.

You also will bring more “essence” into your dealings with customers. You’ll bring strengths that your partners do not have and your partners, in turn, will have traits and abilities to offer clients that are not your particular bailiwick.

In other words, working as a team will give you the opportunity to serve customers in more comprehensive ways than you could ever do on your own — not to mention give you the ability to cover far more territory geographically and from a business perspective.

The best advice I can give you is to be proactive at all times. Start putting your team-building program together now, not when there’s a crisis.

When speaking with other professionals, both sides should clearly discuss what expertise and services they can bring to the table.

This will help to build trust and confidence in one another, which is important because when you achieve a high level of confidence in one another, your fear of loss or competition will disappear.[Continued on page 11]

[ member news ]


In the Know...2011 Committees and CouncilsActivities CommitteeNathan LawrenceThe activities committee is putting the final details together for our next two events, the Summer Picnic and the Golf Tournament. The Picnic on August 14th is a great way to spend the day with your family and fellow members at Camp Rockmont. With lake activities, waterslide, zip line, BBQ and ice cream, it’s a guaranteed day of fun and a sure fire way to beat the heat. We also have a raffle taking place at the picnic to support the activities committee, so be sure to check out the great prizes. You do not need to be present at the Picnic to win, but you will definitely want to be at this event.

The Golf Tournament on September 22nd is always a day you do not want to miss. With only one tournament this year, the teams and sponsorship’s are sure to sell out. We are starting the day an hour earlier this year so make sure to pay attention to the times in the registration forms. You can register for either of these events on the AHBA website, and you can always get more information by contacting the AHBA office.

Associates CommitteeRenee MaxwellPlanning continues for the 2012 Home & Garden Expo set for April 21-22. New features for 2012 will include a new and expanded exhibition space! The WNC Ag Center’s new 45,000-square-foot Davis Event Center will provide a larger and more modern space for the expo. So, make your plans now to exhibit in the biggest and best AHBA Home & Garden Expo ever! The committee will meet in August to continue working on expo details including the selection of a special guest speaker for the event. Please note that we are still recruiting new committee members to join us—so please contact the AHBA office if you’re interested in being part of a great committee!

Legislative CommitteeThomas McClainThe legislative committee is currently working to raise Build-Pac donations in order to reach our goal that the NCHBA has set for the AHBA. We need your help, if you have given in the past, but haven’t given this year please do so now. If you have never given to Build-Pac or do not know what Build-Pac is please call me or the AHBA office and we will give you the details on how your contribution affects our industry. I know times are tough, but we cannot let legislators dictate how we do business and how much it will cost in order to do business. Thank you for your consideration in giving to this important part of our business here in western North Carolina.

Education CommitteeRobi EckleyWe encourage you all to mark your calendars for our next Builder Breakfast that will be held on September 29th at the AHBA office. The topic will be: “Warranties: Everything You Need to Know + More!” presented by Chuck Cloninger of McGuire, Wood & Bissette, PA. These events are for builders only and offer a great chance for education and networking with your peers! The Education Committee is continually striving to offer free education to our members – if you have a suggestion for a course or topic please contact the office!

Parade of Homes CommitteeJason WeilThe Parade of Homes Committee is pushing forward with an exciting 30th Anniversary of the Parade of Homes. At time of print, we have 14 new home entries and 3 special project entries. The extended deadline for entries has passed, but if you have a home which you would like to enter in the Parade you can still enter as a last minute entry. Contact the office today for information on a last minute entry. Remember, the Parade of Homes is an excellent way to market your company and show off all your hard work and talent.

Membership MinuteChristi StokesThe Membership Committee, Board of Directors and AHBA Staff continuously strives to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our AHBA Members through membership retention and engaging AHBA members to be involved! We want to hear from YOU! There is no better time than now to share your feedback, comments and suggestions with us about your experience as a member of the AHBA. We encourage ALL members to take this brief survey. All who complete the Annual AHBA Membership Survey will be entered into a special drawing for $50 in AHBA Bucks that may be used towards ANY AHBA purchase in the coming year. Look for a link in this month’s weekly briefings to the survey or type the following link into your web browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AHBAMembershipSurvey

The lucky winner of the monthly AHBA drawing from July is Nathan Holmes of 1-800-Water Damage! If your membership is up for renewal and your payment is received by the AHBA office prior to your expiration date, you will automatically be entered in the monthly drawing.

Professional Women in Building Council Maria ApontePWBThe Professional Women in Building Council awarded our 2011 scholarships to Nason Rathbone and Greg Capps at the AHBA Networking Night on July 21st. Thanks to everyone who made this possible! Our upcoming PWB meeting is Tuesday August 2nd at 8:30 am at the AHBA office. JeanAnn Taylor, Editor of Sophie magazine, and Linda White of Carmen Carmen Salon and Spa will be our educational speakers that day. We would like to remind you that any non-member of the PWB is invited to attend one of our monthly meetings as a guest in order to check out the group prior to joining. We encourage you, male or female, to join us for one meeting and consider a membership with our group!

Americans still believe that a strong housing industry means more jobs and more money to keep local economies growing, and that the government should continue to promote homeownership through tax incentives.

A new survey found that nearly three out of four American voters—73 percent—believe that it is reasonable and appropriate for the federal government to provide tax incentives to promote homeownership.

And 81 percent of voters are convinced we should do more to improve the housing finance system because we need policies that encourage homeownership if we want to rebuild the middle class.

“Every new single-family home built creates three full-time jobs and increases the property tax base that supports local schools,” said National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. “The American public recognizes that to restore the health of the economy, we need policies that support opportunities for homeownership.”

The poll, which was conducted on behalf of NAHB, also found that an overwhelming majority of respondents oppose eliminating the mortgage interest deduction and would be less likely to support a candidate for Congress who wants to do away with this vital tax incentive.

“Despite the current housing downturn, Americans still see homeownership as a key building block of being in the middle class and creating strong jobs in their communities,” said Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners, which conducted the survey along with Public Opinion Strategies.

Other key survey findings include:

75 % - Voters that say that owning a home is the best long term investment they can make.

73 % - Voters who do not now own a home that say it is a goal of theirs to eventually buy a home.

92 % - Voters who were aware of proposals under consideration by Washington policymakers to raise the down payment requirements for a home loan, that believe it will make it more difficult to buy a home.

Neil Newhouse, partner and co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies, said, “The administration and some in Congress are floating plans to curtail or even abolish the mortgage interest deduction and impose changes that would make it much more difficult and expensive to get a home loan. This is in direct opposition to the views of most Americans, who want the government to encourage growth in the housing market and to maintain tax incentives to keep housing affordable.”

For more information about this item, please contact Gwyn Donohue at 800-368-5242 x8447 or via email at [email protected].

[ member news ]


Creating homes and business with environmental integrity by offering the most unique, durable, and sustainable building

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[ member news ]


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[Continued from page 8]We all live busy lives and time management is more important than ever. That’s why cooperative communication is the wave of the future in our industry.

Making more money in less time by working with more people is the most reliable route for your success for years to come.

Kerry Mulcrone, MIRM, is the president Kerry & Co., a Hudson, Wis.-based company that teaches, trains and consults with new-homes sales professionals, sales managers and builders across the country. She is an award-winning salesperson and motivational presenter with more than 25 years of on-site sales, management and coaching experience and wrote and teaches a course on builder/broker cooperation. For more information, visit www.kerryandco.com; or email Mulcrone, or call her at 612-817-4089.

This article initially appeared in Sales + Marketing Ideas magazine.

Builder-Realtors

AHBA Membership Survey

We want to hear from YOU! Hearing from our members is important as the AHBA Staff,

Board of Directors and Committees plan ahead for future events and services offered through

your membership. There is no better time than now to share your feedback, comments and

suggestions with us about your experience as a member of the AHBA.

We encourage ALL members to take this brief membership survey – it will take less than 5

minutes of your time!

All who complete the Annual AHBA Membership Survey during the month of

August will be entered in a special drawing for $50 in AHBA Bucks that may be used

towards any AHBA purchase in the coming year.

To complete this survey, click on the “Take Survey Now” link below

or copy and paste the following link into your web browser:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AHBAMembershipSurvey

Click toTakeSurvey Now!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AHBAMembershipSurvey


[ member news ]- Renewing Members -

1-800-Water DamageNathan HolmesPO Box 16147 Asheville, NC 28816(828) 398-4027

2-10 Home Buyers WarrantyMeredith Johnson1612 Poplar Hill Rd. Knoxville, TN 37922(865) 719-9504

Abode Custom Builders Inc.Robert Austin1589 Patton Ave Asheville, NC 28806(828) 258-1512

Ammons Building CorporationJeffrey Ammons3115-101 Heritage Trade Drive Wake Forest, NC 27587(919) 453-0175

Beach Builders, Inc.Beach HensleyPO Box 7646 Asheville, NC 28802-7646(828) 450-1508

Bonded Builders Home WarrantyHarry Hudson85 Laurel Ridge Pl Hendersonville, NC 28739-5823(828) 891-4610

Bullman Heating & AirJoey Bullman10 Red Roof Lane Asheville, NC 28804(828) 658-2468

C. Solesbee LLCCarl Solesbee641 Brevard Rd Asheville, NC 28806-2229(828) 665-2265

Carolina ColortonesGuy Campbell2 Industrial Dr Arden, NC 28704-7712(828) 687-9510

Carolina Concrete Designs IncPam BanksPO Box 128 Horse Shoe, NC 28742(828) 891-4742

David Cooper ElectricDavid Cooper105 Stone Dr Swannanoa, NC 28778-3303(704) 686-7119

Day AssociatesDavid Day6 Roberts Rd Asheville, NC 28803-8613(828) 277-3292

DLV Roofing Inc.Pete DeLaVegaPO Box 295 Arden, NC 28704-0295(828) 654-0212

F. R. Koon Construction, Inc.Fred Koon40 Porto Bello Rd Arden, NC 28704-8608(828) 691-9092 Forward ConstructionJames Forward24 Smokey Rd Asheville, NC 28803-9580(828) 298-9532

Fred Bowers General ContractorsFred Bowers399 N Griffing Blvd Asheville, NC 28804-2811(828) 285-0694

Hallmark Development IncStan Robinson39 Old Brickyard Rd Fletcher, NC 28732(828) 779-4200

Harrison Homes Enterprises, Inc.Seth Harrison316 E Forest Pl Candler, NC 28715-7502(828) 777-2981

Henson Building MaterialsJeff Manning139 Broadway Street Black Mountain, NC 28711(828) 669-9602

HomeSource Real Estate & Construction, Inc.Tim Alexander172 Charlotte Street Asheville, NC 28801(828) 252-1022

HomeTrust BankDonna Reeves10 Woodfin St Asheville, NC 28801-3022(828) 259-3939

J Coleman Waterproofing Inc. of WNCJan Coleman505 Lafayette Ave Asheville, NC 28805(828) 299-8506

JD Hanson Design Build, LLCJohn Hanson309 Scarlet Tanager Ct Arden, NC 28704-9107(828) 230-2278

K COM Inc, DBA Summit Telephone ServicesCasey Lonk740 Justice Ridge Road Candler, NC 28715(828) 253-1809

Krog Homes Inc.Dale KrogPO Box 16369 Asheville, NC 28816(828) 284-0382


[ member news ]

- New Members -Mountain Metal Werks & Construction, Inc.Shane DelahozPO Box 1697Candler, NC 28715828-423-3083Roofing ContractorsMetal FabricationSPIKE: John Mertz

To educate and engage, new AHBA Members are required to attend a one hour New Member Orientation as a final step in the application process.

- Pending Members -Beverly-Grant, Inc.Richard Grant64 Peachtree Rd., Suite 201Asheville, NC 28803(828) 274-7084General ContractorCommercial Construction

Continued Independence LLCJacob R. Baker30H Dorset Ct.Hendersonville, NC 28792828-435-0982Aging In Place SpecialistHome Automation

Mountain Green BuildersLarry Deal2517 Pine Cove Rd.Old Fort, NC 28762828-668-8300Green BuilderTimber Frame HomesSeth Harrison

Piedmont Bobcat, LLC dba Bobcat of AshevilleDave Owens28 Old Shoals RoadArden, NC 28704(336) 993-5529Construction Equipment: Parts, Rental & ServiceEquipment, Outdoor Power Equipment SuppliersSPIKE: John Mertz

Stillwell ConstructionNick Stillwell607 Rhododendron Ave.Black Mountain, NC 28711(828) 273-6425CarpentersCarpenters, Interior TrimSPIKE: Greg Spicer

TD BankMelanie Christian200 College St. Suite 120Asheville, NC 28801828-251-7529Banking ServicesMortgagesKaye Thompson

TD BankAmy Congdon200 College St. Suite 120Asheville, NC 28801828-251-7545Banking ServicesMortgagesKaye Thompson

PLEASE READIn compliance with our Bylaws and the policies which have been put in place by our Board of Directors and the Membership Committee, Association procedure is to have new member applications approved by the Board of Directors and by the General Membership. Please look at the lists of all Members. If you know of any compelling reason that any applicant should not be considered for membership, please contact any AHBA staff member at 828-299-7001 or email your comments to the AHBA at [email protected]. All information given to the AHBA is held strictly confidential.

- Sorry to See You Go -The AHBA is sorry to see the companies below drop their AHBA memberships. If you know these past members or do business with them give them a call and help us get them back to the AHBA. And remember, always strive to do business with members!

Advantage Development Co.Builder

Ball Enterprises, Inc.Builder

JELD-WEN, Inc.Associate

JSS Homes, LLCBuilder

Stroup Sheet Metal Works, Inc.Associate

Tim Smith Construction, LLCBuilder

Vision Design CollaborativeAssociate


[ member news ]

Celebrating 30 Years of ExcellenceOctober 8-9 & 15-16, 2011

2011 Parade of Homes SponsorsFeatured Builder Presenting Sponsor

Contributing SponsorsCrossville Tile & Stone of Asheville

Hometrust BankProbuild

Patron Sponsors

Friends of the Parade

Asheville Savings Bank

Bella Hardware & Bath

Brand Vaughan Lumber of Asheville

Brock Builders

Build it Naturally, Inc

Builders FirstSource

Carpet One Floor & Home

Custom Homes of Asheville,Inc.

Tucker Materals, Inc.

Westall Chandley Building Supplies

84 Lumber

A-American Electic

Atlier 359

C. Skip Brewer, Custom Builder

Carolina Drywall Contracting inc.

Ferguson Enterprises, Inc

More Space Place

Retro Fit + Design, LLC

Salon Blue Ridge

Solid Surface Specialists LLC

Parade of Homes GalaOctober 12, 2011

Crest Center and Pavilionpresented by:

Join us for an evening of celebration and recognition at the Asheville HBA’s Fall Gala and Awards Reception. This year’s event will incorporate the traditional Parade of Homes Craftsmanship Awards that our members have grown accustom to with the addition of awarding our coveted Builder, Associate and Affiliate of the Year Awards! This year’s event will also recognize three new award recipients from our association with the New Member Award, Recruiter of the Year Award and the Career Achievement Award. As the Parade of Homes Gala grows into the Fall Gala and Awards Reception, encompassing all of our annual awards, we invite each of you to make plans to join in the festivities! The evening will include a lavish cocktail reception with complimentary beverages and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Guest of the evening will then be seated for the main event – recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of our members! With the support of this year’s event sponsor, Progress Energy, we look forward to an event that will be remembered by all!

Mark your calendars, plan your outfit and get ready for the 2011 Asheville HBA Fall Gala & Awards Reception, October 12, 2011! Invitations to follow – ticketed event. Nominations for the annual awards listed above will be accepted from August 2, 2011 through September 30, 2011. All information will be posted to the website for the submission process.


[ AHBA Nation ]ClearChannel Asheville Hosts Networking NightClearChannel Asheville hosted a lively AHBA Networking Night last month at their location off Leicester Hwy! Members of the AHBA enjoyed networking, great food and beverages on the beautiful patio and lawn area of the ClearChannel Ranch! A special thanks to everyone who came out to the event despite a little rain. Members enjoyed meeting on-air hosts such as Eddie & Sharon from KISS County and Brian Hatfield. Also, Matt Mittan from The Matt Mittan Show and Josh Michaels from 104.3! ClearChannel gave away Box Seat Packages for some of the upcoming Asheville Tourists Games and a $2500 Online Radio Advertising Package! Congrats to our lucky winners: Kevin Kennelly of Bella Hardware & Bath, Taylor Bryan of Valley Stonescapes, Sunny Carr of Mountain Town Carpentry, Josh Abrams of MoreSpacePlace, Jason Allison of Mountain Marble & Granite and last but not least the online radio package winner…Adam Eberhardt of Digital Home Solutions! The evening also highlighted a presentation by the ladies of the Professional Women in Building Council (PWB) of the AHBA! They awarded their 2011 Scholarships to Nason Rathbone and Greg Capps – two deserving students who are both furthering their education within the construction industry beginning in the fall of this year! The PWB was excited to award each student with a scholarship for $1500 – this marks their largest contributions yet! They wish to give a big thanks to members of the AHBA and the community who participated in their June Fundraiser at Highland Brewing Company! Proceeds from the event make these scholarships possible! Congratulations to this year’s recipients and best of luck with your upcoming school year!

AHBA Annual “Pig-nic”

Sunday, August 14, 2011 12:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Lunch Served from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Bring Your Family & Join Us for a Fun-Filled Day!

Monster Water Slide - “The Gulley Washer!” Canoes, Swimming & Zipline

New this year – a RAFFLE will take place!

Items include: Skydiving, Nail Gun, Gift Certificates and more! Tickets: 1 for $5 or 6 for $20

BBQ, Sides, Tea/Lemonade & Ice Cream Provided BYOB (Coolers Allowed) • Bring Swimsuits & Lawn Chairs • No Pets

DIRECTIONS TO CAMP ROCKMONT:

375 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain NC 28711 Travel I-40 East to Exit 59 toward Swannanoa. Left onto Patton Cove Road. Right onto US-70/Black Mountain Highway. Left onto Grovestone Road. Left onto Old US 70W. Right onto

Lake Eden Road. Camp Rockmont is on the left.

Registration Form

Company Name: __________________________________________________________________ Member Name: ________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________ Email: _____________________________________

Member of Record: ___ (Free) Guests: ___($20) Children 8-15___ ($15) Children Under 7___ (Free)

Total Number Attending: ______ Total Enclosed: $ _____

RSVP Required by August 5, 2011

Phone 299-7001 • Fax 299-7008 • E-mail [email protected]

THIS WILL SERVE AS YOUR INVOICE Payment must be received prior to event or at check-in - Check • Visa • MasterCard


[ AHBA upcoming event ]Don’t Forget to RSVP by

AUGUST 5!

asheville hba august newsletter

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