Building Business News
Volume Volume 17 18 •• NO.7 NO.11
October 2013 November July2012. 2011
www.kchba.org
The Official Newspaper of The Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City
Fall Parade Features Highest Number of Entries Since 2008 October 13 269 New Homes 78 Builders 8 Counties $ 192,000 to $ 1.2 million Thru
Homes open daily 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Parade Guides at I-435 & Holmes
KCParadeofHomes.com for
Home Search and My Mobile Tour Sponsored by Stewart Title
Check Out the NEW Parade Website Feature:
My Mobile Tour
My Mobile Tour is a new tool for 2013, designed specifically for smartphones (though it works pretty well on mobile tablets, too). Search homes, save featured homes in a “My Tour” list, request driving directions from your current location, and much more. Check it out at KCParadeofHomes.com.
PRSTRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 108 Lawrence, Ks
The Fall Parade of Homes returned to the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, September 28 and continues through October 13 showcasing 269 new homes that will be free and open to the public 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is the highest number of entries since the Fall Parade of 2008. Seventyeight builders are participating and eight counties throughout the Metro are represented. Prices range from $192,500 to $1.2 million. This year’s Parade is sponsored by Stewart Title. Home building professionals know today’s market offers a number of reasons to buy a home including affordable prices, low mortgage rates and great new homes. In addition, innovative materials and con-
struction techniques mean that today’s new homes are built to be much more energy efficient than homes constructed a generation ago. Planning a Parade experience is made even easier thanks to the wealth of resources available through the Fall Parade site, www.kcparadeofhomes.com. Once there, visitors can browse homes by price, location, builder, floor plan, subdivision and more as well as visit builder websites. Take advantage of the new feature “My Mobile Tour” and create your personalized tour complete with directions from home to home. Pick up the Parade book at the HBA at I-435 & Holmes.
HBA Members Spread Message on Proposed Building Code Changes Members of the HBA Codes Task Force, Board of Directors and other industry leaders reached out to their local building officials regarding proposed code changes that will ultimately become part of the 2015 International Residential and Energy Code. Several area building officials will participate in the International Code Council’s (ICC) Public Comment Hearings from October 2-10, 2013 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. At the hearing, building officials and others will have the opportunity to vote on
the proposed code changes that, without a doubt, will have a significant impact on the housing industry nation-wide. HBA members asked building officials to carefully consider each code proposal and remember that overly stringent codes will price many families out of the housing market or unfairly limit their choices. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the HBA recognize the important work that building officials do on a daily basis to protect public
safety. As voting members of the ICC, building officials also have a responsibility to ensure that the codes are practical, enforceable and cost-effective. According to NAHB the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code did not meet these standards, which is why it has the lowest adoption rate in history. The NAHB and HBA will continue to help inform public officials and members about top priorities for the housing industry leading up to the ICC Public Comment Hearings in October.
Inside this Edition
Fall Education Sales & Marketing
Council
P 2-3 P8