February 2022 Building Connections by HBRA of Fairfield County

T H E E - M A G A Z I N E O F T H E H B R A O F FA I R F I E L D C O U N T Y - F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 2

UPCOMING

FEATURES

April GMM Goverment Affairs Meeting May GMM

HBRA Directory NAHB News Latest Updates

MEMBER BENEFITS mynpp.com NAHB Benefits

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Your Monthly Newsletter Building Connections is a monthly digital magazine produced and published by the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Fairfield County. Inside you will find the latest association news, legislative updates, upcoming events, and featured articles about the industry.

hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com www.buildfairfieldcounty.com @hbraffc (203) 335-7008

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L ET T ER F RO M TH E EXECUTIVE OF FICER

Hello All, We recently had some great events with Beyond the Blueprint, OSHA and Axe Throwing. It is so nice to get back to some normalcy and have everyone network as usual. We are very excited to continue these fun events. Our April 6th GMM will be held at Clarke in Norwalk with a fun networking game-Be sure to come out! You can register here. If you want to place an ad in our directory, please contact me-there is still time to do so! Be sure to keep our online membership directory in mind whenever you are looking for a business: www. buildfairfieldcounty.com/directory. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can do anything for you or your business. kerry@buildfairfieldcounty.com Kind Regards, Kerry Brunn

ELITE 2022 OFFICERS President Kim DiMatteo Cross Insurance

Sr. Vice-President John Hertz Hertz Construction

Vice President Rob Michaud

Michaud Development Group

Secretary Michael Wood

DIAMOND

Wood Builders

Treasurer Steven Roth

Elevator Service Company

Immediate Past President Anthony DeRosa DeRosa Builders

PWB Chair Emilia Ferri

Emilia Ferri Architecture + Design

2022 DIRECTORS

TITANIUM

Luigi Altamura Altamura Homes

Propane Pete Battaglio Hocon Gas

Max Bender Bender Supply

Karen Bradbury

Closet & Storage Concepts

PLATINUM

Ken DeLeo

Doherty & DeLeo

Brian Kurtz

Interstate Lumber

Peter Sciarretta

Hemingway Construction

Alex Shook

Pella Commercial

Lisa White

Breakwater Renovation & Design

LIFE DIRECTORS Joanne Carroll JMC Resources

Michael Palumbo ERI Building & Design

Jerry Effren The Greyrock Companies

Peter Gaboriault Bear Paw Builders

Gary Fanali City Carting

Terrence Beaty William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Peter Fusaro Preferred Builders

Chris Steiner Steiner, Inc.

MEDIA

H BRA PRESIDEN T

Hello All, Welcome to the Spring! It is hard to believe that we are already in the second quarter of 2022. But it is nice to see that people are getting out and networking more, and that the building industry is thriving. The National Convention in Orlando was a huge success. The annual CT Party, sponsored by Bender, Cross Insurance, Cyclone Home Services, and DiMatteo Group Financial Services, had a great turn out where everyone enjoyed getting together. Next year, the International Business Show will be held in Las Vegas from January 31st to February 3rd. For those who have not been: mark your calendars - it is worth the trip. Spring is in the air and we have a lot planned as the Home Builders & Remodelers Association moves into the coming months, as the administration has been working hard to ensure that they are eventful. A few of the main focuses include the Ultimate Building Tour, BuildPac Wine Tasting, and our Annual Meeting in June. That being said, there is a lot for us to look forward to. We are currently in our legislative session, which Jim Parras, the Executive Officer of our State Association, is busy working on behalf of all of us. We look forward to him making progress for our industry this year. Some of the focuses involve the following: • Fairshare • Transit Oriented Development • Mandatory electrification of new construction • Efforts to change the gallon per day per bedroom requirements and the update of other septic system regulations We are excited to see you all this spring at the upcoming events. Remember, members working with other members makes our association strong, and membership is what makes up our association. So, please continue to do your part in promoting us and encouraging more members to join this amazing group. Take care and stay well. All my best, Kim Marie DiMatteo President

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L ET T ER F RO M TH E EXECUTIVE OF FICER

HB RA O F F A I R F I E L D COUN T Y I NV I T E S YOU T O :

HBRA OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY INVITES YOU TO: HBRA OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY INVITES YOU TO:

GMMBreakfast Breakfast GMM

us for February GeneralMembership Membership Meeting Join Join us for thethe February General Meeting at J.M. Wright Technical High School in Stamford at J.M. Wright Technical High School in Stamford Find your newest employees and network with students looking for Find your newest employees and network with students looking for employment, apprenticeships, and internships in trades including employment, apprenticeships, andmembers, internships inguests, trades including Network with yourFacilities fellow and Carpentry, Electrical, Management, Plumbing and Heating, Carpentry, Electrical, Facilities Management, Plumbing and Heating, other industry and enter the Member Digital professionals, Media, and Information Systems Technology. Digital Media, andMeet Information Systems Technology. Raffle! Thank you to our sponsors A delicious breakfast will be prepared and served the Thank you to our sponsors A delicious breakfast willby Each attendee will be given a raffle card at registration. As you meet culinary program. Students will be fellow prepared and served the about their businesses, cross off the your members and by learn provide tours of the J.M. Wright culinary program. Students corresponding square on thewill raffle card. When your card is facility following the meeting.

completed, turnofit the in at registration to be entered into a raffle drawing! provide tours J.M. Wright facility following the meeting.

Wednesday, April 6th Wednesday, February 5, 2020

To register visit buildfairfieldcounty.com (203) 335-7008 www.buildfairfieldcounty.com or Wright Technical High Schoolor callVisit 6pm J.M. - 9pm call 03-335-7008 to register Wednesday, 5, 2020 Clarke Distributors 120 BridgeFebruary Street Visit www.buildfairfieldcounty.com or J.M. Wright Technical 64 South Main Stamford CTStreet 06905 High School Members $15 $25 | General Admission $25 Members: | General Admission: $35 call 03-335-7008 to register Week of event Members $25 | General Admission $30 South Norwalk, CT 120 8:15AM Bridge -Street 9:45AM

Stamford CT 06905

Members: $25 | General Admission: $35

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2022 MEMBER DIRECTORY

Each year, the HBRA of Fairfield County publishes a Member Directory & Resource guide that is distributed to all current members and is made available throughout the year at events, in member’s showrooms, and by request. Your listing is included with your membership. We ask all members to complete the listing form to ensure the correct information is included and you are listed under the appropriate categories. We also have new advertising opportunities for our members. An ad in the directory is an investment that gives you year-round exposure to fellow members, industry professionals, and consumers. Plus the revenue generated from the ads helps the HBRA expand our services, events, and legislative advocacy opportunities so that we can better serve the members of the HBRA of Fairfield County.

Click here to finish your directory listing for 2022

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at kerry@buildfairfieldcounty.com or at 203.335.7008.

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N AH B N EWS

What a $17 million renovation looks like when women lead the construction

When Consigli Construction was in the running to take on a $17 million renovation of a YWCA, project executive Jody Staruk saw an opportunity. She believed her company was in a unique position to center the project around women—in multiple ways. Recently promoted to become the first female project executive in Consigli’s 116-year history, Staruk is a rarity in the male-dominated world of construction. And that gave her some power to rethink how things were done. The client for the project was the YWCA Central Massachusetts in Worcester, which is a community center, gym, and women’s shelter. Given the YWCA project’s scope and the organization’s focus on women, Staruk realized her company’s bid could make a statement. The company pledged that if it were to get the contract, every one of the project’s leadership roles—from project manager to foreman to supervisor—would be filled by a woman.

Property Taxes are Largest Share of State and Local Tax Receipts Property taxes accounted for a whopping $672.5 billion state and local tax receipts between the fourth quarter of 2020 through the final quarter of 2021, according to NAHB analysis of the Census Bureau’s quarterly tax data. As NAHB tax economist David Logan reports in a recent Eye on Housing post, property taxes constituted 36.2% of state and local tax receipts, a 0.8 percentage point decrease over the prior quarter.

List with a Member. • HBRA Member for 27 Years • Government Affairs Committee • 30-year REALTOR® • Fairfield County Focus

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N AH B N EWS

Save Face on the Jobsite with the Right Eye Protection

NAHB Urges Swift Action on Canadian Lumber Pact Following UK Deal on Steel Tariffs NAHB is calling on the Biden administration to move immediately to negotiate a new softwood agreement with Canada that will end tariffs after the administration announced last night that it had reached a deal with the United Kingdom to lift steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018. “Now that the administration has moved to end steel and aluminum tariffs from the United Kingdom, it must act with the same sense of urgency to negotiate a new agreement with Canada that will eliminate tariffs on softwood lumber shipped into the U.S.,” said NAHB Chairman Jerry Konter. “With the nation in the midst of a housing affordability crisis, the lumber tariffs are contributing to unprecedented price volatility that has added more than $18,600 to the price of a new home since last August.

The most preventable injuries on a construction site are ones involving damage to the eyes. And yet, thousands of accidents that cause severe damage to eyes occur on jobsites every year. Potential eye hazards on construction jobsites are numerous, and include:

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FEBRUARY 2022 | HBRA of Fairfield County 19

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N AH B N EWS

Top 10 Features for First-Time Home Buyers Rising Interest Rates, Construction Costs The recent NAHB study, What Home Buyers Really Want, 2021 Edition, asked first-time buyers to rate more than 200 home and Exacerbate Housing community features using a four-tier scale: essential, desirable, Affordability indifferent and do not want. The chart below shows the 10 “most wanted” features for first-time home buyers, based on the percentage of buyers rating a feature either desirable or essential.A laundry room tops the list, rated essential or desirable by 83% of first-time buyers, followed by a ceiling fan and exterior lighting, each rated essential or desirable by 81%. Four of the features most wanted by first-time buyers are kitchen features: A double kitchen sink and walk-in pantry (each rated essential or desirable by 80%), Drinking water filtration (78%) and Table space for eating (77%). Two are outdoor features: a patio (rated essential or desirable by 78%) in addition to exterior lighting.

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An elevated pace of inflation will challenge the economy for at least the next few years, prompting tighter credit market conditions. The broadest measure of inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is up 7.9% over the last 12 months, reaching a 40-year high. Although this rate of inflation should ease, albeit slowly, it will remain above the Federal Reserve’s target for price changes. This is particularly true for housing rents, which make up approximately one-third of overall inflation data.

FEBRUARY 2022 | HBRA of Fairfield County 23

N AH B N EWS

Biden’s Budget Would Boost HUD Funding by $12.3 Billion President Biden’s proposed fiscal 2023 budget, which runs from Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30 2023, would increase the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s budget by $12.3 billion to $71.9 billion, or 21% above the 2021 enacted level. It’s important to note that no White House budget is ever approved “as is” by the Congress. The annual appropriations process determines the levels of federal spending for each of the federal departments and agencies, and all programs within their respective jurisdictions. While the president’s budget recommends spending levels for the next fiscal year, it is not legally binding. Congressional appropriators will have the final say in program realignment and spending levels. Read More

How to Check the Financial Pulse of Your Business For builders who want to know how their business stacks up against the competition — within their regional market as well as across the nation — the NAHB publication The Cost of Doing Business Study, 2022 Edition has the answers. Builders now have the opportunity to see which U.S. builders are operating in the black, and compare the health of their business operations to industry standards. Read More

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FEBRUARY 2022 | HBRA of Fairfield County 29

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February 2022 Building Connections

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