Building Business News
Volume Volume 17 18 •• NO.7 NO.11
February 2013 November July2012. 2011
www.kchba.org
The Official Newspaper of The Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City
Governor Brownback Proposes Eliminating the Mortgage Interest Deduction
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback made his priorities clear through the release of his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2014. One of his top priorities is to completely eliminate the mortgage interest deduction (MID). This proposal, combined with an additional plan to extend the .6 cent sales tax that was set to expire on June 30, 2013, is intended to enable the Governor to patch a multimillion dollar budget deficit. The KCHBA’s Board of Directors reaffirmed its position in March 2012 that the MID historically is the cornerstone of homeownership and is vital to the housing industry’s continued recovery. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the MID benefit is worth more to the middle class and particularly beneficial to younger households who tend to be recent homebuyers. Approximately 65 percent of Kansans who claim the mortgage interest deduction earn less than $100,000 per year. The MID was created as part of a new federal tax code in 1913 and has survived every tax overhaul to date. While many suspected that the Brownback administration would try to eliminate the MID again this year, it was surprising to see this important housing incentive singled out as the only solution to solving the state’s fiscal problems. In September 2012, more than 800 people from Kansas and Missouri took part in a Rally for Homeownership to send a message to their local, state and federal lawmakers that homeownership is critical to a strong, prosperous nation and important to America’s families.
Early Registration Posts 273 Entries for Spring Parade of Homes
Plans for the Spring Parade of Homes are underway and already 273 entries were entered by the early deadline in January. Final deadline is February 8, so don’t miss the opportunity to be a part of this exciting year. Entry forms for the Parade and the American Dream Awards are available at www.kchba.org or contact Gina Battle, 913-7332219. See important deadlines, dates, and rates on page 2.
Dynamic Selection of Education and Training Sessions Offered Take advantage of classes through the winter and spring months that are designed to provide members with information and knowledge to succeed in the homebuilding industry. The HBA has organized sessions ranging from economic outlooks and business management to design ideas and marketing through social media. Some courses go toward professional designations from the National Association of Home Builders as well as for contractor licensing in many local jurisdictions. “Our goal with this line up of classes PRSTRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 108 Lawrence, Ks
David Crowe, NAHB Chief Economist is to give the members what they want, so we surveyed them directly,” said
Beatriz Ibarra, HBA Vice President of Government Affairs. “Members clearly want a variety of opportunities to be informed on the industry, learn new skills, stay on top of trends, and understand laws and regulations.” As a result, the following sessions are scheduled through March: • Economic Outlook with Elliot Eisenberg • Business Management for Building Professionals • Green Building for the Building Professional • Marketing through Social Media
• Economic Forecast with NAHB’s David Crowe • Lunch with NAHB’s Top Lawyer David Crump • NAHB Certified Sales Professionals • 60 Design Ideas in 60 minutes • The Key to Navigating Building Code Changes that Take Effect on April 1 (See details on page 3)
“I encourage members to contact the HBA to let us know what types of subjects interest them,” added Ibarra.
Inside this Edition
Fiscal Cliff Deal Reached
P4
Permits Jump in 2012
P 14