Lincoln Business Builder (June 2014)

The LINCOLN BUSINESS BUILDER June 2014

Published monthly by the Home Builders Association of Lincoln

Volume 51 No. 6

e r t m i m m e! u S these fun summer HBAL events!

Join us for

HBAL Golf Tournament Friday, June 6

Remodelers Council Golf Tournament Friday, August 1

Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation Hog Roast Friday, August 22

Scan this QR code with your smartphone to view the Lincoln Business Builder on the go!

Need a QR code scanner? It’s easy and free to download an application from your service provider.

In this issue...

• HBAL Remodel pages 10-11 • HBAL All Stars pages 12-13 • LPS Job Shadow pages 14-15 • NAHB Victories pages 22-24

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President’s Message June 2014 Vol. 51, No. 6

President’s Message

Contents President’s Message 3 Upcoming Events 4 Hog Roast 4 Spike Party 5 LHBCF Golf Tournament 6 Remodelers Council Golf Tournament 7 Member News 8 HBAL Mailbox 8 Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation 8 HBAL Office Remodel 10-11 HBAL All Stars 12-13 LPS Job Shadow 14-15 LEED Qualified Construction & Demolition Waste Management Course 16 Free Wi-Fi in Iron Horse Park 17 Hazard Communication Standard Final Rule 19 New Members 20 Renewals 21 Directory Changes 21 Cancellations 21 NAHB Victories Saved Members $6,200 per Housing Start in 2013 22-24 Beijing Balancing 25 Building Permits 26

Mike Kinning HBAL President With the steady increase in building and remodeling, many are once again experiencing the stress of managing tight schedules and the challenges of completing projects on time. Organization and communication are vital to staying on top of your game.

Organize and structure your day, week and month to make sure you allocate time for the tasks you need to complete and include time for yourself and/or your family. Good communication can be accomplished via a phone call, text or email. People to include are suppliers, trade contractors, employees and don’t forget your clients!

At the end of a project, your clients will remember and appreciate your communication efforts as much as your attention to detail.

Together good organization and communication will ease your stress, allow you to perform more efficiently and with greater performance!

As for the time for yourself, I wish each of you a safe and fun summer whether in the office, at the jobsite, on the lake or golf course or simply sharing time with family and friends!

Home Builders Association of Lincoln

Executive Committee

Building Young Professionals Council

6100 S. 58th Street, Suite C, Lincoln, NE 68516 (402) 423-4225 phone • (402) 423-4251 fax www.hbal.org • info@hbal.org

Mike Kinning, President

Matt Kinning

Mike May, President Elect

National Directors

Justin Johnson, 1st Vice President

Justin Johnson Mike Kinning Dan Klein, Sr. Jeff Bielenberg, Alternate Perry Haralson, Alternate Mike May, Alternate

The Lincoln Business Builder is published 12 times per year by the Home Builders Association of Lincoln, 6100 S. 58th Street, Suite C, Lincoln, NE 68516. The Lincoln Business Builder is mailed to all members of the HBAL.

Lori Pippitt, CKD, CGR, CAPS, Secretary

The Home Builders Association does not accept responsibility for or endorse any statements or claims made by advertisers or authors of any articles.

Mike Benker, Executive Vice President

The annual subscription rate is included with your membership dues.

Mike Benker Jennie Korth

Publisher Editor, Photographer, Design

HBAL Staff Michaela Harrison, Jennie Korth & Melissa Hilgenkamp

Perry Haralson, 2nd Vice President Bob Bryant, Treasurer Mike Rezac, Immediate Past President

Board of Directors Mark Aksamit, Taylor Ashburn, Jess Baker, CGP, Jeff Bielenberg, Roger Bumgarner, Ruth Hietbrink, Eric Hoke, Bo Jones, Matt Kleinschmit, Jerry Maher, CGP, CAPS, CGB, Lance Roach, Ken Svoboda

Remodelers Council AnDee Harris

National Life Directors Jim Christo, CGR, CGB, Steve Fulton, CGP, Joe Hampton, Duane Helmink, John Hoppe, Jr., Ward Fred Hoppe, Joe McKee, Robert Peterson, J. Greg Schwinn, Bob Stephens

Past Presidents Jerry Boyce, Mike Goings, Lois Hartzell, GMB, CSP, Rick Krueger, Dan Kubr, Donn Mann, Sam Manzitto, Roger Reynolds, CGR, CAPS, Greg Shinaut

3  Lincoln Business Builder

Upcoming Events | Hog Roast

Calendar of Events June 6

Lincoln Home Builders Care Golf Tournament Highlands Golf Course Tee times still available • $60 per golfer

June 11

Remodelers Council Picnic Earl Carter Lumber Co. • 1235 West O Street 11:30 a.m. • Cost: $10 per person

June 12

HBAL Board of Directors Meeting HBAL Office • 6100 S. 58th Street, Ste. C 10:30 a.m.

July 4

Independence Day (Office Closed)

Aug. 1

Remodelers Council Golf Tournament Mahoney Golf Course 8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start • $65 per person

New HBAL Office Hours HBAL’s office hours have changed to 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

4  Lincoln Business Builder

2nd Annual

H g Roast

Friday, August 22 The Home Builders Association of Lincoln is planning its second annual Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation Hog Roast.

A fun evening is in the works! Watch upcoming issues of the Lincoln Business Builder for more information.

Contact the HBAL office at 402-423-4225 for more information about sponsorship opportunities!

This event benefits the Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation.

Spike Party

Attention HBAL Spikes!

Standings As of April 30, 2014

Get Ready for Summer Fun with Fellow Spikes!

Blue Spike 6-24 Lea Barker Jeff Bielenberg Bob Bryant Lynn Kleeb Steve Kunkel Sam Manzitto, Jr. Michael May

Spikes “Pig Out” at Ribfest Thursday, August 14, 2014 Join your fellow Spikes at Lincoln’s largest cookout!

• • • • •

Free admission for Spike & one guest $$$$ for ribs & refreshments Reserved seating for Spike Club Members Entertainment Award-winning BBQ chefs & pit bosses from around the country • Live music • Fun & conversation with other Spikes on a great summer evening Spikes fax this form to 402-423-4251 or RSVP to 402-423-4225 or info@hbal.org.

Reservations required by August 1 so we can mail you your tickets. _____ Yes, I want to “pig out” at the Ribfest _____ Sorry, I can’t attend

The real benefits are intangible: You are recognized for your contributions to the association and regarded as an accomplished and connected member.

Additionally, Spikes receive: • A coveted invitation to the biggest party of the year, the Spike Party at the International Builders’ Show® • Increased visibility, recognition and networking opportunities at industry events • Unique and valuable lapel pins for each level of achievement • Additional VIP treatment throughout the year

How do I become a Spike?

Pat Mooberry Stephen Noel Vladimir Oulianov Bill Richter Bob Ruskamp Jenny Samek

7.00 17.50 10.50 6.50 6.50 21.00

Life Spike 25-49 Mark Aksamit Joe Hampton Perry Haralson Duane Hartman Jeff Johnson Molly Johnson

37.00 37.25 40.50 25.50 35.25 25.75

Mary Kinning Matt Kleinschmit Jeff Mann Don Rowe Connie Strohmyer

30.00 25.00 42.00 49.50 28.75

Green Spike 50-99 Tom Hegarty Justin Johnson Mike Kinning Dan Klein, Sr. Robert Knuth Bob Marshall

53.25 78.50 89.50 60.00 79.00 57.25

Robert Peterson Lori Pippitt Herb Reese Margaret Schultz Robert Schultz

86.75 85.75 72.25 68.00 63.50

Red Spike 100-149 Jerry Boyce Eric Hoke

143.50 114.50

Fred Hoppe

120.00

Royal Spike 150-249 Lois Hartzell Duane Helmink Rick Krueger Dan Kubr Jo Lewis Erin Magnussen

156.50 204.75 190.75 207.25 207.00 206.25

Donn Mann Mike Rezac Greg Schwinn Greg Shinaut Bob Stephens Tom Trainor

196.00 170.75 165.25 153.00 239.50 243.00

Super Spike 250-499 Steve Fulton Bob Gabriel Mike Goings

_____________________________________ Spike Club Member’s name & name of guest

What are the benefits of becoming a Spike?

14.00 6.75 11.50 7.50 20.50 20.75 24.50

Before becoming a Spike, you are a Spike candidate. That means you have earned between one and five credits. Once you earn your sixth credit, you become an official NAHB Spike! Spike credits are earned by recruiting and retaining NAHB and Council members.

To retain your status as a Spike you must earn a minimum of one new Spike credit (new or retention) each year until you reach a total of 25 credits, at which point you are elevated to Life Spike status.

358.25 381.50 259.50

John Hoppe, Jr. Sam Manzitto Roger Reynolds

362.00 440.25 305.25

Statesman Spike 500-999 Jim Christo Jim Crawford

596.75 701.00

How do I earn Spike credits?

Members earn one credit for each new member they sponsor. When that member renews after his or her first year of membership, the sponsoring member automatically gets one renewal credit. Every year the member renews thereafter, the sponsoring member will receive a ½ renewal credit.

Joe McKee

519.50

Spike Rolodex

Every day, you do business with dozens of home building-related companies that are prospective NAHB members. Use this helpful list to create a customized “prospect Rolodex” of 101 potential new member recruits. Update the list as your business contacts expand and as your prospects become NAHB members. Check your list against the association roster to identify non-members, then ask those prospects to join NAHB. The more you recruit, the higher you will move up the Spike Club ladder. Click here for your Prospect Rolodex.

5  Lincoln Business Builder

LHBCF Golf Tournament

Team Registration Please register my team for the Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation Benefit Golf Tournament If you are interested in a designated foursome, register all four players together. If not, you will be assigned to a team. This is a first-come, firstserved event. Payment by May 1 is required to save your tee-time.

Player No. 1

2014 Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation Benefit Golf Tournament Friday, June 6, 2014 Highlands Golf Course

Name__________________________________________________________ Company_______________________________________________________

Player No. 2 Name__________________________________________________________ Company_______________________________________________________

Player No. 3 Name__________________________________________________________ Company_______________________________________________________

5501 NW 12th Street

Player No. 4

“Texas Scramble” • $60 per person First tee-off at 6:45 a.m.

Last tee-off at 4:00 p.m.

Name__________________________________________________________

Registration

The $60 registration fee includes green fees, cart, hot dogs, hamburgers and the fixin’s for lunch, and lots of prizes! Each person will receive drink tickets toward beverages. Additional drinks may be purchased (please assign a designated driver for your team).

Priority Tee-time

By making a donation of $200 to the tournament, you will have the ability to choose your tee-time range on a priority basis. In order to take advantage of a priority tee-time, you must pledge your contribution by March 3 and pay by May 1, 2014. (This contribution is in addition to the entry fee.)

Prizes

Corporate Hole Sponsors are being contacted. If you are interested in sponsoring a hole, contributing giveaways for the golfers, or volunteering your time to help…call the HBAL office (402-423-4225) for more details.

Hurry!

This is a first-come, first-served event. So don’t delay, get your tee-time reserved.

Volunteer opportunities are also available.

Contact Michaela Harrison at 402-423-4225 or michaela@hbal.org if interested.

The proceeds from this event will provide scholarships for high school and college students. The Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation’s mission is to support the educational and charitable activities of the Home Builders Association of Lincoln.

The Foundation strives to support the community by contributing to community service projects focused on housing, as well as providing scholarships for students pursuing a career related to the building industry, and providing funding for other industry related educational and research programs. Gifts are tax deductible to this 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

6  Lincoln Business Builder

Company_______________________________________________________ Tee time range requested__________________________________________ We will do our best to set your tee-time as close to your choice as possible. Tee-times are arranged on a first-come first-served basis. You will be sent a postcard as a reminder of your tee time.

Payment must be received before May 1 in order to ensure a tee-time. l Enclosed is $60 per golfer. Pre-payment is required to play.

l I don’t play golf, but I do want to support the Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation. Enclosed is my contribution of $______.

Sponsorship Registration Yes! I would like to be a:

l Hole Sponsor............................................................................ $200 l Hotdog Sponsor........................................................................ $150 l Hamburger Sponsor.................................................................. $300 l Giveaway Sponsor

l Raffle Prize Sponsor

Item: ________________ Item: ________________

l I do not wish to be a sponsor, but I do want to support the Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation. Enclosed is my contribution of $______.

Name: Company: E-mail: Total Amount Due: $ l Check enclosed Send registration form and check made payable to:

Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation 6100 S. 58th Street, Ste. C • Lincoln, NE 68516 Fax: 402-423-4251 • Email: info@hbal.org

Remodelers Council Golf Tournament

Team Registration Scholarship Golf Tournament

Please register my team for the Remodelers Council of Lincoln’s Scholarship Golf Tournament to benefit the Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation Name: Company:

to benefit the

If you are interested in a designated foursome, please register all four players together. If not, you will be assigned a team. l My other team members are:

Mahoney Golf Course

Friday, August 1, 2014 8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start

l Enclosed is $65 per golfer. Pre-payment is required to play.

l I don’t play golf, but I do want to support the Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation. Enclosed is my contribution of $______.

Sponsorship Registration Yes! I would like to be a: l Hole Sponsor.......................................................... $100 l Hamburger & Hotdog Sponsor............................... $150 l Beverage Cart Sponsor............................................ $100 l Giveaway Sponsor

l Raffle Prize Sponsor

Item: ________________ Item: ________________

l I do not wish to be a sponsor, but I do want to support the Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation. Enclosed is my contribution of $______.

Name:

The proceeds from this event will provide scholarships for high school and college students. The Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation’s mission is to support the educational and charitable activities of the Home Builders Association of Lincoln.

The Foundation strives to support the community by contributing to community service projects focused on housing, as well as providing scholarships for students pursuing a career related to the building industry, and providing funding for other industry related educational and research programs.

Gifts are tax deductible to this 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Company: E-mail: Total Amount Due: $

l Check enclosed

Deadline for Sponsorships is June 13, 2014 or until all sponsorships are filled.

Volunteer opportunities are also available.

Contact Michaela Harrison at 402-423-4225 or michaela@hbal.org if interested.

Send registration form and check made payable to: Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation 6100 S. 58th Street, Ste. C, Lincoln, NE 68516 Fax: 402-423-4251 • Email: info@hbal.org

7  Lincoln Business Builder

Member News | HBAL Mailbox | Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation

Member News In Sympathy Our sympathy to Duane & Connie Helmink, CDS, Inc., on the death of their granddaughter, Kassi, who passed away on May 17.

Congratulations Linda & Dave Potter (Reimers Kaufman Concrete Products)

They are the proud parents of a baby boy

Carson Potter 6 lbs. 4 oz. • 19.75 in.

Born April 24, 2014

Molly & Scott Johnson

(Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery) They are the proud parents of a baby girl

HBAL Mailbox Dear Board of Directors, Thank you so much for choosing me to receive your scholarship. The money will be very useful in helping to pay for my tuition costs. I am so grateful that you decided to support me in my journey to further my education. I am really looking forward to the next four years in college and my career as a construction manager after that. Once again, thank you so much for your support.

Sincerely, Carter Monson • • • • • • •

Dear HBAL, Thank you for the $75 award. I enjoyed the awards banquet and the speech by Curt Tomasevicz.

Thanks again for your consideration.

Sincerely, John Kula • • • • • • •

Johnni Lynn 9 lbs. 6 oz. • 21.5 in.

Born May 16, 2014

Dear HBAL, Thank you for sponsoring the Interior Design competition. I enjoyed the dinner, especially the guest speaker. Thank you for the money.

Caroline Startzer

Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation Please consider a contribution to the Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation when designating memorials. Funds go to scholarships and awards for students who want to be involved in the construction industry. Gifts can also be designated as a specific scholarship to be awarded to worthy students who plan to enter our industry. Gifts are tax deductible to this 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Please contact Bob Bryant (402-486-1040) or Mike Benker (402-423-4225) if you have questions.

8  Lincoln Business Builder

Bob Nohavec Plumbing

420-1552

Service • Remodeling • New Construction Free Estimates Bob Nohavec, Master Plumber 3400 S. 6th Street, Lincoln, NE 68502

• Furniture • Flooring • Appliances • Electronics

Give Your Customers

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More choices, more brands, more savings.

Nebraska Furniture Mart provides an unrivaled selection of products and services all under one roof, making it a one-stop center for your contracting and building needs. We understand your business needs, and understand what you need to make it successful.

Showroom open everyday at 10am

Contractor Sales Division 700 S. 72nd St. • Omaha, NE 68114 Monday - Saturday: 10am to 9pm Sunday: 10am to 6pm Contractor Sales: 800-776-5066 © 2014 Nebraska Furniture Mart, Inc.

9  Lincoln Business Builder

HBAL Office Remodel

Demolition Begins!

Kayla’s son, Jack takes the first swing!

10 ď ´ Lincoln Business Builder

HBAL Office Remodel

Special thanks to Mike Kinning, Kinning Design Build, for acting as general contractor for this project.

Thanks to these companies who have committed to help or have already helped with this project:

Krueger Development Union Title Company Ken Koch Design-Drafting First Choice Rolloffs Window Option Specialists Radebaugh Custom Carpentry Earl Carter Lumber Comfort Techs, Inc. Action Plumbing & Heating Lincoln Winlectric Eric’s Electric American Electronics Lincoln Drywall Cohawk New Horizons Drywall Sherwin-Williams Co. CS Kitchen & Bath Studio Lincoln Laminating, Inc. EMO Flooring Company Millard Lumber, Inc. Carl the Handyman 11 ď ´ Lincoln Business Builder

c HBAL All Stars

E

HBALE

S t a l r l s A

MEMBERSHIP PRIZES 1st Place Prize

$50 per new member recruited up to $500

2nd Place Prize

$40 per new member recruited up to $400

3rd Place Prize

$30 per new member recruited up to $300

Bonus Prize

$100 for the first 10 members who recruit 10 new members Membership contest runs from January 1, 2014 to November 10, 2014. For complete rules, contact HBAL at 402-423-4225.

12  Lincoln Business Builder

Look for more information in upcoming issues of the Lincoln Business Builder!

RECRUITING TOOLS Available at www.hbal.org/members/ hbal-all-stars-membership-drive/

• The “6 Reasons” card can be printed directly from the HBAL website and shared with prospective members.

• A sample letter can be downloaded and formatted to fit on your letterhead. Mail it along with an HBAL Membership Packet which can be picked up from the HBAL office.

• A sample email is also available to send to prospects along with an application and “Your Sure Path to Savings” flyer.

• Request a list of cancelled members or hot prospects from the HBAL office.

• Review your business contacts and encourage them to join.

• Anyone who benefits from a healthy housing industry should be a member of HBAL. Download a helpful list of company categories to think about and start recruiting today!

HBAL All Stars

CURRENT STANDINGS Andrew Will (1)

Jeff Taake (1)

Mike Kinning (1)

• Schneider Custom Homes

• Champion Windows

• Synergy Homes, Inc.

Austin McKillip (1)

Jim Christo (2)

Mike Rezac (1)

• Excel Construction Company, LLC

• Deprez Custom Homes • Great Western Bank

• Vasa Construction, Inc.

Bo Jones (1)

John Hendricks (1)

• Premium Carpet Care, LLC

• Custom Scapes & Tree Removal, LLC

• A4K Heating & Air

Dan Kubr (1) • The Home Depot #3204

Donna Reis (1) • Weddle and Sons Roofing

Greg Schwinn (1) • Landscape Curbing of Lincoln

James Lamb (1) • Epp Concrete Construction, Inc.

Lance Roach (1) • You’re The Boss

Lois Hartzell (2) • CharterWest Mortgage • Rembolt Development, LTD

Mark Aksamit (1) • Terry Quality Homes

Nate Krieser (1) Royce Koehler (1) • Your Next Tire

Ruth Hietbrink (2) • Leighton Homes • Window Depot by J-Tech Construction, LLC

Steve Peregrine (1) • Seward County Housing Corp.

Vladimir Oulianov (1) • Old City Building Group

13  Lincoln Business Builder

LPS Job Shadow

LPS Job Shadow

15 students from Lincoln Northeast and North Star High Schools visited Millard Lumber and three active building sites last month. Thanks to Millard Lumber, Denny Van Horn, Mike Kinning and Matt Kleinschmit for sharing a part of the building process with them.

Thanks also to Mike May and Tracy Kleinschmit for helping with transportation.

14 ď ´ Lincoln Business Builder

LPS Job Shadow

15 ď ´ Lincoln Business Builder

LEED Qualified Construction & Demolition Waste Management Course

WasteCap Nebraska Hosting LEED Qualified Construction & Demolition Waste Management Course WasteCap Nebraska, in cooperation with WasteCap Resource Solutions of Wisconsin, is sponsoring a one-day training course for Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling on Tuesday, June 17th in Omaha.

The session will be held at the Papio-Missouri River NRD, 8901 S. 154th Street. The course begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m., with a continental breakfast and lunch included in the registration fee. The event is partially funded by a grant from Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Litter Reduction and Recycling Grant, which enables WasteCap to offer a sharp reduction in registration fees. Attendance is $79 for WasteCap Nebraska members, $99 for non-members.

Participants will learn:

Participants will receive:

• Why waste reduction, reuse and recycling are important and what the trends are

• Accreditation in Construction Waste Management for use in marketing efforts

• How to save money and waste from construction and demolition projects

• Participants will be a WasteCap Accredited Professional (WC AP) in Construction Debris Recycling for three years.

• How to estimate how much project waste and recyclables will be generated • How to create a construction or demolition waste management plan • How to analyze hauling proposals based on projected quantities of debris • The markets for reuse and recycling including important hazardous waste

• Construction and Demolition Waste Management Toolkit to use in their projects • Everything they need to meet criteria for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Materials and Resources Credits • Continuing Education Credit via AIA and GBCI for qualified individuals

• Regulations which affect your ability to reuse and recycle • How to educate crews and monitor for best compliance and efficiency • How to document recycling results and avoided disposal costs

402.483.7575 WasteCap Nebraska, celebrating its 22-year anniversary in 2014, has been at the forefront of waste and recycling advocacy and education in Nebraska.

WasteCap Nebraska’s mission is to eliminate waste in Nebraska.

WasteCap Resource Solutions has more than twelve years of experience in training building professionals on reuse and recycling of materials.

For more information or to register go to www.wastecapne.org/construction-anddemolition-waste-recycling-training/.

16  Lincoln Business Builder

3133 S. 7th Street • Suite D

Fax 402.483.7577 info@pioneerprintinginc.com www.pioneerprintinginc.com Multi Color Printing Graphic Design Ad Specialties Bindery Services

Digital Color Copies Digital Black & White Engineering Copies Personalized Service

Providing Offset Printing & Digital Services in Lincoln since 1980.

Free Wi-Fi in Iron Horse Park

Free Public Wi-Fi Now Available in Bill Harris Iron Horse Park Last month, Mayor Chris Beutler announced that free high-speed outdoor public Wi-Fi service is available through September 15 in the area of Bill Harris Iron Horse Park at 7th and “Q” streets in the Haymarket. The City is partnering with Ruckus Wireless on the pilot project. The network name is Lincoln_Free_WiFi. “Our long-term goal is to make Lincoln one of the most connected cities in the nation,” Mayor Beutler said. “Access to wireless technology in our public spaces for use by residents, visitors and even businesses is becoming an expectation. This public-private partnership gives residents and visitors a reliable Wi-Fi connection in one of the most exciting areas of our community. It’s the first step in our initiative to expand the service to more of the Railyard, Haymarket and West Haymarket area. It also lays the foundation for future wireless connectivity projects.”

local lending

Bank Local. Local Decisions. Local Mortgage Servicing.

When your mortgage loan is with West Gate Bank®, we have something many banks can’t offer— local decision-making, local processing and local servicing.

That means that during the entire mortgage process and after closing, we’re here to assist you in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The timing and location for the pilot project were chosen because of the large number of potential users in the area for the Haymarket Farmers Market on Saturdays. Ruckus and CSI, the City’s current equipment vendor, will have a table at the Market to assist users.

NebraskaLink is providing a 1-gigabit network connection to support the project. Commonwealth Electric, the City’s fiber optic contractor, donated the installation of the fiber optic network.

Let West Gate Bank® guide you through the entire buying or building process to finance your dream home.

Tracy Grosh of Ruckus Wireless said the partnership is delivering the first cloud-based municipal public Wi-Fi access service using the Ruckus Smart Access Management service. “With the explosive growth of the mobile Internet, the demand for high-speed Wi-Fi access will continue to rapidly increase,” said Grosh. “Lincoln and Ruckus share a similar vision of the vital importance to be able to provide reliable wireless connectivity to people who rely on getting online every day for work and play.”

westgatebank.com | 402-434-3456 | member FDIC | Lincoln’s Bank

David Young, the City’s Fiber Infrastructure and Right of Way Manager, said the pilot project grew out of the 2013 Lincoln Technology Improvement District (LTID), a partnership between the City and private broadband providers to upgrade the fiber network in the central business district.

Your Building Envelope Specialist!

Young said Ruckus Wireless was chosen for the project after extensive testing because its patented technology provides more stable and higher-speed connections than conventional Wi-Fi technology.

He said the technology was developed to deliver stronger signals at longer ranges to large numbers of concurrent users in outdoor environments. Ruckus is providing similar Wi-Fi service in San Francisco and San Jose.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, Ruckus Wireless, Inc. (NYSE: RKUS) is a global supplier of advanced wireless systems for the rapidly expanding mobile Internet infrastructure market. The company offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor “Smart Wi-Fi” products to mobile carriers, broadband service providers, and corporate enterprises, and has approximately 36,000 end-customers worldwide. Ruckus technology addresses Wi-Fi capacity and coverage challenges caused by the ever-increasing amount of traffic on wireless networks due to accelerated adoption of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Ruckus invented and has patented state-of-the-art wireless voice, video, and data technology innovations, such as adaptive antenna arrays that extend signal range, increase client data rates, and avoid interference, providing consistent and reliable distribution of delay-sensitive multimedia content and services over standard 802.11 Wi-Fi. For more information, visit http://www.ruckuswireless.com.

• Solving problems for contractors with Icynene foam since 1995.

• Spray foam is only as good as the installers.

• Both open cell and closed cell insulation available.

Contact Rick McConnell

402-643-2340 or 402-641-1254 rickmcconnell@inebraska.com www.mcconnellthermalservicesllc.com

17  Lincoln Business Builder

BUILD

% 100 HARDIE

™

because your homes mean everything

Every project is a reflection of you. When you build 100% HARDIE,™ homebuyers know they’re getting the absolute best. With siding and trim products that are Engineered for Climate,® your work withstands the harshest Midwestern winters and hot, windy, humid summers. Only James Hardie® products give homes the warmth and character of real wood with lower maintenance. For complete exteriors that homebuyers recommend to their neighbors, it has to be 100% HARDIE.™

Learn more about how a 100% HARDIE ™ home stands up to the elements. jameshardie.com

© 2013 James Hardie Building Products, Inc. All Rights Reserved. TM, SM, and ® denote trademarks or registered trademarks of James Hardie Technology Limited. The is a registered trademark of James Hardie Technology Limited. AD1352 11/13

18  Lincoln Business Builder

Hazard Communication Standard Final Rule

Hazard Communication Standard Final Rule

New changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard are bringing the United States into alignment with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), further improving safety and health protections for America’s workers. Building on the success of OSHA’s current Hazard Communication Standard, the GHS is expected to prevent injuries and illnesses, save lives and improve trade conditions for chemical manufacturers. The Hazard Communication Standard in 1983 gave the workers the ‘right to know,’ but the new Globally Harmonized System gives workers the ‘right to understand.’

The new hazard communication standard still requires chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate the chemicals they produce or import and provide hazard information to employers and workers by putting labels on containers and preparing safety data sheets.

However, the old standard allowed chemical manufacturers and importers to convey hazard information on labels and material safety data sheets in whatever format they chose. The modified standard provides a single set of harmonized criteria for classifying chemicals according to their health and physical hazards and specifies hazard communication elements for labeling and safety data sheets.

For more information about these changes and information regarding training, call HBAL at 402-423-4225.

Effective Completion Date

Requirement(s)

Who

December 1, 2013

Train employees on the new label elements and SDS format.

Employers

June 1, 2015*

Comply with all modified provisions of this final rule, except:

Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers

December 1, 2015

Distributors may ship products labeled by manufacturers under the old system until December 1, 2015.

June 1, 2016

Update alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication program as necessary, and provide additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards.

Employers

Transition Period

Comply with either 29 CFR 1910.1200 (this final standard), or the current standard, or both.

All chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers

* This date coincides with the European Union implementation date for classification of mixtures.

19  Lincoln Business Builder

New Members

Welcome New Members A4K Heating & Air Dan Johnson (Jackie)

1445 182nd Road, Seward, NE 68434 Phone: 402-588-2476 Cellular: 402-890-3511 Fax: 402-588-2605 Email: A4KHeatingAir@gmail.com Website: www.A4KHeatingandAirLincoln.com Sponsor: Nate Krieser, Krieser Dr ywall & Insulation Description: A4K Heating & Air is a new name with familiar faces.

Dan Johnson and Jim Nesmith have been serving Lincoln heating and air customers for many years. With an in-house insulation company, we can offer total home performance!

Reason I joined HBAL: To be part of a pro-construction association that looks out for the best interests of contractors.

What I hope to get out of my membership: Exposure to other tradesmen and contractors.

Window Depot by J-Tech Construction, LLC Jason Olberding

7730 N. 56th St., Unit 1C, Lincoln, NE 68514 Phone: 402-261-3682 Fax: 866-731-7158 Email: jason@jtechconst.com Website: www.jtechconst.com Sponsor: Ruth Hietbrink, Black Hills Energy Description: At J-Tech Construction, we work hard to improve the appearance and value of your greatest investment, your home. Our commitment to excellence, quality and customer service makes us the exterior experts. From siding to gutters to roofs to windows and doors, we are one company with endless capabilities. We are proud to be accredited members of the Better Business Bureau, boasting a current A+ rating. We’ve been in business for over ten years, serving the residents of Lincoln, Omaha and other surrounding communities.

Reason I joined HBAL: Networking opportunities.

What I hope to get out of my membership: To grow our business.

Desired areas of involvement: Home & Garden Show.

Rembolt Development, LTD. Rod Hornby

5831 S. 58th Street, Lincoln, NE 68516 Phone: 402-488-9222 Cellular: 402-430-6510 Fax: 402-423-8832 Email: rod@rembolt.com Website: www.rembolt.com Sponsor: Lois Hartzell, Vistar Homes, Inc. Description: Rod Hornby started building about 30 years ago and incorporated Rembolt Development in 1987. At Rembolt, our goal is to provide construction of homes in budget and on time as agreed.

Reason I joined HBAL: To learn and earn more.

What I hope to get out of my membership: Friends and solutions.

Desired areas of involvement: Home & Garden Show.

Personal: 4 boys, Houston (16), Winston (15), Landon (14) and Eathon (12).

20  Lincoln Business Builder

Merritt

Est. 1904 402-435-3213 • 26th & Randolph

Natural Veneer Stone Custom Cuts & Blends Visit Our Showroom

• Sand / Gravel • Rock / River Rock • Promix / Colored Cement • Crushed Concrete Fines

• U-Kart Ready-Mix • Concrete Block • Mulch • Lennox Fireplaces

We provide quick delivery and quality service.

Visit us at www.dhmerritt.com

Your Hometown Source For • House Beams • Columns • Brick Lintels • Joists & Deck • Miscellaneous Plate, Angle, Pipe & Tubing

APOLLO STEEL COMPANY Fabricating The Future of Nebraska 7200 Amanda Road, Lincoln, NE 68507 Phone: 402-466-8587 • Fax: 402-466-0594

Renewals | Directory Changes | Cancellations

Thanks for Renewing Your Membership!

Directory Changes

(Please allow 60 days for names to appear on this list.)

• Eric Briggs is now the new principal contact for Millard Lumber. Cellular: 402-730-2693.

Email: eric.briggs@millardlumber.com.

Allied Building Products, 1 year Big Red Tire Pros, 1 year

• Matt Kinning is an affiliate member for Kinning Design Build. Cellular: 402-430-1032.

Email: matt@kinningdesignbuild.com.

Campbell’s Kitchen Cabinets, Inc., 25 years Carpetland, 26 years

• Midwest Tile, Boulder Works Landscaping and Br yant A/C, Heating, Plumbing & Electrical Company are no longer a Remodelers Council members.

Cory Reimnitz - Mutual of Omaha, 1 year Craig Construction, 5 years EMO Flooring Company, 12 years

• New address for Murray Custom Homes, LLC is 11401 Aspen Canyon Road, Lincoln, NE 68526.

Golden Rule Contractors, 3 years Great Plains Custom Homes, LLC, 5 years

• Roger Reynolds is a new affiliate member for Woods Bros. Realty. 3201 Edward Court, Lincoln, NE 68502.

Phone: 402-610-6168. Email: rogerreyn@windstream.net.

Harley’s Heating & A/C, Inc., 41 years Inselman Cabinetry, Inc., 12 years

• Shelter Distribution is now Roof Depot.

Ironwood Builders, 7 years

• LynnAnn Scharf is the new principal contact for Allied Building Products. Cellular: 402-419-4017.

Email: lynnann.scharf@alliedbuilding.com.

Larsen Painting, Inc., 13 years Lawnscape, Inc., 5 years

• Kristin Boucher is the new principal contact for HomeSer vices Lending, LLC.

Lyle’s Drywall Service, Inc., 12 years Morton Buildings, 2 years Mutual of Omaha Bank, 41 years Nebraska Land Title & Abstract, 20 years Patriot Plumbing, 2 years

Sorry to See You Go!

Star City Concrete Construction Co., 7 years

If you see your company listed below, contact HBAL at 402-423-4225 to renew your membership TODAY!

Sticks & Stones Hardscapes, Inc., 8 years

Crocker Construction, Inc. Lee Douglas Interiors, Inc. Vitruvian Homes

Vantage Pointe Homes, Inc., 1 years

Stonebrook Roofing, Inc., 8 years

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3 To qualify, vehicle must be used in the day-to-day operation of the business and not solely for transportation purposes. Must provide proof of business. For complete program requirements, including information regarding offers, vehicles, equipment, options, warranties, and ordering, consult your dealer or visit gmbusinesschoice.com. Take delivery by 9/30/14.

4 Not valid with all offers. See dealer for details. Take delivery by 9/30/14. Amounts include parts and labor. ©2014 General Motors. All rights reserved.

21  Lincoln Business Builder

NAHB Victories Saved Members $6,200 per Housing Start in 2013

NAHB Victories Saved Members Roughly $6,200 per Housing Start in 2013 NAHB exists to serve the needs of its members, and it does this by fighting for the housing industry on major policy issues, by providing solid educational and networking opportunities, and with member savings programs with major retailers.

Each year, NAHB economists run the numbers and put a specific dollar value on NAHB’s achievements so that members can see the return on their investment. All together, NAHB’s efforts saved the typical home builder roughly $6,200 per housing start in 2013.

The judge agreed. Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said the ruling could ultimately save Virginia small businesses and taxpayers more than $300 million. The ruling will also discourage the agency from pursuing similar limits on stormwater discharge in other areas of the country.

Based on land use patterns, NAHB estimates that approximately 40% of the savings generated by the ruling will benefit residential construction, generating a savings of $120 million for the industry.

Below is a summary of NAHB programs and policy victories that contributed to tangible savings for members in 2013.

4. Extension of the tax code section 25C energy efficient remodeling credit.

There are many ways to calculate an estimate of the benefits of membership. The numbers below are averages, and some members will experience more of these benefits than others, depending on location, business volume and the aspect of the industry in which they work. And while there are many ways to parse the numbers, the key point is that NAHB’s efforts deliver significant value for the membership.

Thanks in large part to the efforts of NAHB, remodelers in 2013 were able to take advantage of the Existing Home Retrofit Tax Credit (25C). The 25C tax credit provides consumers a tax credit of up to $500 for the purchase of qualifying energy-efficient products.

Government data indicates that the tax credit supported an estimated $4.08 billion of remodeling in 2013 with a typical energyefficient remodeling project costing a little more than $2,800.

1. Leading the fight to save property owners money.

NAHB estimates that almost 18% of these remodeling projects would not have occurred without the credit. Thus, extending the 25C credit through 2013 resulted in an additional $727 million in remodeling jobs for the industry. The tax credit expired at the end of 2013, and NAHB continues to push Congress to extend the 25C credit through 2014.

NAHB led a coalition of 16 prominent real estate and business organizations in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court that explained why it is neither necessary nor fair for governments to extort money from property owners who wish to use their land. In a major victory for NAHB’s members and property rights advocates, the Supreme Court agreed when on June 25 it issued a landmark decision in the case of Koontz v. St. Johns River Water Management District.

The decision overturned a Florida Supreme Court ruling that would have given governments expanded power to force unreasonable exactions upon developers in exchange for permit approvals, and it means that federal, state and local regulators will need to exercise more caution to ensure that permitting demands -- including monetary demands -- are proportionate to the project at hand.

5. Ongoing efforts on building codes.

NAHB’s Construction, Codes and Standards (CC&S) department maintains an intensive ongoing effort to keep costly requirements

NAHB has confirmed reports of one developer saving $150,000 after pointing out the Supreme Court’s decision to a local jurisdiction that was making monetary demands as a condition of permit approvals.

Assuming that the land development sector is operating at half of normal capacity and that half of all developers would have been affected, then industry savings totaled $197 million in 2013.

2. 2013 IBS savings for NAHB members NAHB members saved more than $1 million at the 2013 IBS. Our members saved $1.09 million on registration at the 2013 International Builders’ Show over non-member pricing. In fact, for many of the approximately 17,000 of our members who attended the IBS and 5,000 who participated in the show’s educational programming, the money they saved on registration fees easily surpassed the cost of their NAHB membership.

3. NAHB-supported stormwater court ruling in Virginia.

NAHB helped strike down another attempt at regulatory overreach in early 2013 when a U.S. District Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency cannot set limits on the amount of stormwater allowed to run into a stream or other body of water.

NAHB and two Virginia industry groups joined in the ommonwealth’s lawsuit against the EPA, which had issued a Total Maximum Daily Load for the Accotink Creek, a Potomac River tributary. NAHB and its industry allies argued that the agency could not use flow as a measure for TMDLs – especially when the flow is rainwater, which EPA doesn’t have the authority to regulate.

22  Lincoln Business Builder

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NAHB Victories Saved Members $6,200 per Housing Start in 2013 out of the model codes. When successful, this saves builders significant money in subsequent years in areas built to those codes.

At International Code Council hearings held in early October 2013, for example, NAHB was successful on 78% of the code proposals for the 2015 IRC that the association either supported or rejected in its efforts to keep building codes flexible, cost-effective and product-neutral.

NAHB members will directly benefit from these victories when local jurisdictions begin to adopt the 2015 version of the code.

However, in 2013, members realized benefits from key accessibility proposals that NAHB kept out of the 2009 and 2012 IRC that would have required builders to provide elevators or lifts in all townhomes and split level homes with entrances that do not open into a living space and porches on all homes (to satisfy a proposal to require that all new homes have zero clearance entrances).

NAHB estimates that in 2013, this saved builders $825.9 million in costs of including elevators and $175.9 million in costs of building porches on homes where they otherwise would not be necessary.

6. NAHB designations that boost a builder’s or remodeler’s bottom line By matching records of builders and remodelers who have earned NAHB professional designations to NAHB’s 2012 Member Census, NAHB was able to demonstrate the following differences between the median earnings of members with and without various designations: • Members who have earned the Graduate Master Builder (GMB) designation had company revenues that averaged $1.61 million more last year than those without an NAHB builder designation.

• Those with a Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) designation had company revenues that averaged $990,189 more.

• Members who earned the Certified Green Professional™ (CGP) designation had company revenues that averaged $824,124 more.

• Those who earned the Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation had company revenues that averaged $506,414 more than those without an NAHB remodeler designation.

• Members with the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation had company revenues that averaged $110,838 more.

Almost 1,000 NAHB members earned a designation in 2013 (based on records current as of November 15 and assuming that designations are earned at a constant rate throughout the year).

After adjusting the numbers to account for members who hold more than one NAHB designation, this works out to a total of $288.4 million in additional annual revenue.

7. Extension of the tax code section 45L $2000 new energy efficient home tax credit.

NAHB led the charge on Capitol Hill so that builders were able to take advantage of the New Energy Efficiency Home Tax Credit (45L) in 2013. The 45L credit provides builders with a $2,000 tax credit for the sale of homes that achieve a 50% improvement in energy efficiency over the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code.

Following a 2012 year-end lobbying blitz by NAHB, Congress retroactively renewed the 45L tax credit through 2012 and extended the credit through the end of 2013.

In 2013, home builders who were able to utilize the 45L tax credit received an aggregate of $77 million in tax savings, according to estimates from the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.

NAHB continues to urge Congress to extend the 45L tax credit through 2014.

8. Increased profits for NAHB 20 Club members.

Offering unparalleled networking opportunities, the NAHB 20 Clubs are comprised of similar type builders or remodelers from non-competing markets who meet several times a year to share their wisdom and learn from each other ways to improve their operations and increase their bottom lines.

Statistics indicate that 20 Club members perform better than non-members in financial growth and long-term success. A recent analysis by NAHB shows that on average, 20 Club members double their net profit in their third year of membership in this program.

Association records indicate that 37 members passed this threeyear threshold in 2013. Valuing this at the average of $666,000 in net profit shown in the forthcoming 2014 edition of NAHB’s Cost of Doing Business study produces an aggregate increase in net profit of $24.6 million.

9. Expert free legal advice for NAHB members.

During the past year, NAHB lawyers with years of Washington legal experience have fielded more than 900 calls from members seeking information on a variety of legal concerns, including contracts and liability, labor and subcontractor issues, trade association issues, mechanics liens, and more.

A comparable one-hour session with a Washington attorney could cost a builder well over $500 an hour. Looking at this another way, in just one hour of their time, NAHB members who took advantage of this free legal service more than offset the cost of their national annual dues. Other NAHB legal services designed exclusively for NAHB members include a free review of local ordinances and the Legal Action Fund, which helps members and HBAs to defray high litigation costs. These services saved NAHB members $225,000 in total.

10. New NAHB map tool for endangered species saves members money.

NAHB’s interactive species finder map allows members to search by state and county to determine the status of the more than 1,400 species currently protected by the Endangered Species Act as well as the status of 700 additional species whose listings are now in the planning stages.

According to NAHB’s Member Census, 5,246 builder members were engaged in land development in 2012. Before the advent of this tool, members would need to hire a NatureServe database specialist at an approximate cost of $1,500 to perform a preliminary search to determine whether there are any federally protected species on their land.

Based on the assumption that the new tool allows each member to save the cost of one search per year, the total annual savings for our members was $7.9 million in 2013.

11. Helping Illinois builders defeat a fire sprinkler mandate.

NAHB provided financial and technical assistance to help Illinois home builders mount a quick and effective campaign last summer to defeat the state fire marshal’s plan to mandate fire sprinklers in new single-family homes. NAHB argued for the use of smoke detectors, which is a safer and more cost-effective alternative. HBA of Illinois EO Bill Ward was quick to credit NAHB Construction, Codes and Standards and State and Local Government staff for much-needed technical expertise and a grant to help fund a survey that demonstrated that an overwhelming 83% of local voters did not want fire sprinklers mandated in existing homes and 69% did not want them in new homes.

Based on NAHB’s state housing forecast, this saved builders the cost of installing sprinkler systems in 9,300 Illinois homes in 2013. The average cost of a sprinkler system in NFPA Research Continued on page 24...

23  Lincoln Business Builder

NAHB Victories Saved Members $6,200 per Housing Start in 2013 Continued from page 23...

Foundation’s Home Fire Cost Assessment Study-2013 was a little over $6,000 (including costs of design, permits, additional equipment required, increased tap and water fees, but no mark-up from the builder to the ultimate home buyer). The total savings on all homes built in Illinois during the year was $58.1 million.

12. NAHB Member Advantage provides significant savings for members.

Member Advantage gives members an easy way to reduce expenses, maximize profits and increase efficiency. Through agreements with leading national companies, NAHB offers exclusive discounts on a variety of products and services.

Members saved more than $7.2 million in 2013.

13. NAHB and NKBA sign agreement expanding members’ educational opportunities.

In 2012, NAHB and the National Kitchen and Bath Association announced an agreement that makes it easier for individuals who hold builder and remodeler professional designations to take advantage of continuing education opportunities from both groups.

This will encourage even more home builders, professional remodelers and kitchen designers to take advantage of the excellent training and education offered by both associations. This news closely followed the announcement that the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) and the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) will join forces for a mega-exhibit in Las Vegas Feb 4-6, 2014. In late 2013, exhibit sales were up 16% over 2012, and more than 60 companies that had left the show during the downturn have returned, as NAHB noted in a press release reporting the expanding exhibitor base.

NAHB members will save the $50 registration cost for KBIS attendance. Using a conservative estimate of 32,000 NAHB members attending yields a $1.6 million savings.

14. Victor y on bank rules keeps credit flowing.

In July 2013, the Federal Reserve Board (Federal Reserve), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) approved the final Basel III regulatory capital rule. The new regulatory capital regime increases the quantity and quality of capital for all federally insured banking institutions and imposes additional thresholds for the largest banking organizations.

In a victory for NAHB and the residential construction industry, risk-weights on residential mortgage loans were not increased as proposed and the capital charges on residential AD&C loans were left unchanged. In addition, the final rule reflects NAHB’s recommendations that the regulators consider the impact to community banks of overly burdensome capital rules that would restrict their ability to provide new-home production loans and small business loans. View a more detailed analysis here.

Adverse Basel III changes would have increased the capital requirements for builder lending. NAHB estimates that these requirements would have increased the cost of capital by the amount of additional capital held (up to 12% levels) multiplied by the opportunity cost of the capital (6% interest rate). Combining this impact with the 2013 estimate of AD&C lending yields an industry yields a savings of $169 million.

15. Preser ving affordable down payments.

NAHB scored an important victory for builders and home buyers in August when regulators withdrew a proposed qualified residential mortgage (QRM) standard that would have resulted in 20% downpayments becoming the market standard. In another mortgage regulation development, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized the Ability to Repay (ATR) rule, which went into effect in January 2014. The ATR rule applies to all mortgage lending and includes a safe harbor in the definition of a qualified mortgage (QM) for lenders who make well underwritten loans with no risky features.

24  Lincoln Business Builder

NAHB was instrumental in urging the CFPB to craft a final rule that balances consumer protections and lender liabilities and provides a solid foundation for lenders to provide consumer access to safe, affordable credit.

If the 20% down payment requirement of QRM had gone into effect for calendar year 2013, NAHB estimates conservatively that interest rates would have increased by at least 45 basis points. As a result, 7,400 fewer new homes would have been sold in 2013. These lost sales would have reduced industry revenues by $1.82 billion.

16. A victor y for builders and consumers in Chinese hardwood case.

In a unanimous ruling, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Nov. 5 found that domestic producers had not been materially harmed by imports of hardwood plywood from China.

The 5-0 decision (one commissioner did not cast a vote) means that the U.S. will not impose antidumping or countervailing duties on imports of Chinese hardwood and plywood.

As a result, U.S. companies will not have to pay additional tariffs or fees on imported Chinese hardwood and plywood that are used in certain wood products in cabinets and other construction applications.

NAHB had previously filed comments with the ITC concerning this case, emphasizing that the association “supports government policies, laws and regulations that encourage the removal of barriers to free trade in lumber and other building materials.”

The U.S. value of Chinese hardwood imports in 2012 was $829.0 million. The tariffs that would have been applied for compensation are approximately 73% of the import value. Absorbing these additional charges would have cost NAHB members an additional $606 million.

17. LIHTC rules extensions.

H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (enacted in January 2013), contained two important rule extensions related to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. The first extended the fixed 9% credit rate, which provided a greater flow of equity into affordable housing development. The second extended the military base housing allowance exception for certain areas. Both extensions applied to 2013 only. According to estimates from the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, the combined tax benefit of these two tax extender items was $45 million.

18. 2001-2003 Tax Rate Extensions.

H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (enacted in January 2013), extended a number of tax measures that directly benefit builders. These include: extension of the 10%, 25%, 28% income tax rates and a top rate of 35% for those making less than $450,000 ($400,000 single). The 15% capital gains and dividends tax rate was made permanent. And the alternative minimum tax (AMT) patch was made permanent, which if not enacted would cause many pass-thru entities like home builders to pay AMT. NAHB has been a vocal opponent of the AMT and advocated in favor of lower individual tax rates, as those rates are business tax rates for S Corps, LLCs, and other pass-thru businesses. For 2013, the total tax benefit of these provisions was $206 billion. NAHB estimates that 0.15% of that benefit was collected by home builders.

That yields an industry benefit of $314 million.

19. PMI tax deduction extension.

H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (enacted in January 2013), extended the deduction for mortgage insurance for 2013, including deductions paid for FHA– and VA-backed loans. Such deductions reduce the after-tax cost of purchasing a home with a low downpayment, which is common among first-time home buyers.

According to estimates by NAHB using IRS data, loss of the deduction would have eliminated about 1.6% of home purchases by buyers using the deduction. Thus, there would have been approximately 1,060 fewer new home sales if the deduction had not been extended for 2013, which would have reduced industry revenue by approximately $260 million.

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Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D., • GraphsandLaughs, LLC

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(402) 330-2751

Much has recently been made of the notion that China has enough serious structural problems with its economy that chances are good it will experience a “hard landing,” defined as economic growth quickly slowing from 7.5% today to the low single digits.

This slowdown would weaken commodity prices, hurting developing nations, and reduce Chinese imports of high-quality finished goods from developed nations, also hurting the US, Europe and Japan. While the Chinese economy has problems, many are chronic and I believe the government has sufficient resources to manage the acute ones and avoid a hard landing.

The key problems the Chinese economy suffers from are threefold; a profound overreliance on large trade surpluses, massive government overinvestment in infrastructure and a weak financial system that has resulted in both bad loans made by irresponsible local and regional governments and a highly leveraged and lightly regulated shadow banking system (sound familiar?) that may well implode.

The first problem is fading away. After running trade surpluses in the $45 billion/year range through 2003, they skyrocketed to $400 billion/year by the end of 2008. However, that highpoint coincided with the Great Recession which resulted in a huge contraction in trade and simultaneously an effort by many nations to boost exports to help their domestic economies. As a result, Chinese trade surpluses have averaged about $300 billion/year (about two-thirds of that with the US) since early 2009 and show no discernable upward trend. Moreover, as the Chinese economy is about twice as big today as it was in 2005, the economic impact of the now smaller trade surpluses on the overall economy is much smaller.

The second problem of roads to nowhere, massive over building of plant leading to ruinous excess capacity along with the construction of uninhabited ghost towns is being rectified. And rectified they can be, because these destructive outcomes are the direct result of policies pursued by the central government that are now being overhauled. GDP growth targets are being reduced, artificially low interest rates earned by savers are likely to rise in the near future and the currency, which has been profoundly undervalued, is slowly appreciating. Collectively these policies will curb wasteful overinvestment and slowly replace it with increased domestic consumption and reduced exports.

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As for the substantial dodgy debt on the books of local and regional governments and shadow banks due to weakening housing prices and raw land values that act as collateral for many loans, here the problem is serious. That said China’s debt is about 25% of GDP, giving the central government ample room to borrow should it be necessary. Moreover, the central government is beginning to force local and regional governments to sell some of the $7 trillion in assets they own in an effort to shore up their financial condition.

Moreover, with $4 trillion in foreign reserves and the ability to weaken the Chinese currency at will to boost exports, China has tools other nations don’t have. Lastly, expect Beijing to re-stimulate sagging housing markets by relaxing home-purchase requirements, and local governments to augment this policy by giving residency benefits to out-of-towners to further boost demand. Combining the above with looser monetary policy makes me think that those making key policy decisions, the brightest minds in the nation, will see to it that China comes through this relatively unscathed.

Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D. is President of GraphsandLaughs, LLC and can be reached at Elliot@graphsandlaughs.net. His daily 70 word economics and policy blog can be seen at www.econ70.com.

25  Lincoln Business Builder

Building Permits Building Permits

City of Lincoln - 10 -Year Table

Jan. Feb. March April YTD

SF 54 66 92 80 292

Jan. Feb. March April Total Avg. Cost

2005 TH 21 10 11 16 58

#

7 4 33 56 100

MF SF 0 72 4 58 4 82 4 91 12 303

2006 TH 14 20 17 16 67

2007 Cost 87,400 314,300 1,283,155 539,511 2,224,366 22,244

SF=detached single family - TH=townhouses - MF=multi-family (including duplexes)

MF SF 0 40 2 35 16 59 60 61 78 195

#

9 9 36 62 116

2007 TH 8 4 40 70 122

2008 Cost 1,364,460 141,600 589,154 1,208,366 3,303,580 28,479

MF 4 12 112 66 194

SF 35 22 41 50 148

2008 TH 19 0 28 2 49

2009 TH 14 2 14 14 44

MF SF 6 11 4 29 2 30 2 30 14 100

2010 MF SF TH 0 24 7 3 32 18 2 42 6 15 33 8 20 131 39

MF SF 2 22 60 26 8 42 0 28 70 118

2011 TH 0 0 10 26 36

MF 4 20 180 3 207

Remodeling Permits: Additions City of Lincoln - Detached Single Family - 8 Year Table #

2 5 10 10 27

2009 Cost 52,000 125,240 206,900 198,413 582,553 21,576

#

6 3 11 19 39

2010 Cost 152,980 99,500 317,000 706,474 1,275,954 32,717

#

3 7 18 15 43

2011 Cost 80,100 178,700 452,005 908,366 1,619,171 37,655

#

2 5 10 11 28

SF 27 31 47 43 148

2012 TH 4 13 24 19 60

2012 Cost 43,500 107,786 691,458 600,931 1,443,675 51,560

MF 0 144 36 24 204

#

6 2 8 10 26

2013 SF TH 24 2 34 4 46 9 69 18 173 33

MF SF 0 34 0 40 0 68 0 70 0 212

2013 Cost 422,000 33,000 357,600 212,603 1,025,203 39,431

#

3 3 8 12 26

2014 TH 6 18 12 33 69

MF 51 6 16 51 124

2014 Cost 59,336 64,000 338,910 609,495 1,071,741 41,221

Remodeling Permits: Alterations

Jan. Feb. March April Total Avg. Cost

#

88 78 107 88 361

2007 Cost 1,163,863 909,207 1,280,089 1,031,776 4,384,935 12,147

#

81 76 89 82 328

2008 Cost 907,619 947,505 800,412 877,275 3,532,811 10,771

City of Lincoln - Detached Single Family - 8 Year Table #

71 76 72 85 304

2009 Cost 784,232 706,588 946,927 813,112 3,250,859 10,694

#

57 69 125 154 405

2010 Cost 502,454 600,743 1,229,150 1,386,859 3,719,206 9,183

Are

#

69 79 104 133 385

getting level service deserve?

YOU

OF

the

you

2011 Cost 988,395 893,584 900,086 1,292,245 4,074,310 10,583

#

81 69 96 96 342

2012 Cost 804,484 565,929 1,055,957 871,985 3,298,355 9,644

#

66 42 65 108 281

2013 Cost 751,024 702,668 1,000,016 1,158,054 3,611,762 12,853

#

90 87 93 110 380

2014 Cost 1,279,205 811,667 1,011,061 1,010,930 4,112,863 10,823

At Norandex Building Materials Distribution, we’re all about people, products and service.

Our people are experienced building industry professionals who are genuinely interested in your business.

We distribute top quality, competitively priced windows, siding, roofing, doors and more, that are strongly warranted for performance.

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Our customers deserve the best, and we deliver it, because of the high level of trust they put in us.

Visit oNe oF our loCatioNs: 12201 Cary CirCle laVista, Ne 68128 (402) 334-8286 (800) 999-1494 Fax (402) 334-7994

26 ď ´ Lincoln Business Builder

5601 N. 57th street liNColN, Ne 68507 (402) 464-7433 (800) 927-7969 Fax (402) 464-7437

www.norandex.com

27 ď ´ Lincoln Business Builder

YOUR AD HERE! This 3.75” x 2.25” space and the 7” x 4.5” space below are available for an ad. For more information, please contact Jennie at 402-423-4225 or jennie@hbal.org.

It’s your electricity.

Own it.

Turn the cost of a geothermal heat pump from “good gracious” to “good value.”

Home Builders Association of Lincoln 6100 S. 58th Street, Suite C Lincoln, NE 68516

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID LINCOLN NE PERMIT NO 51

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

There’s no disputing geothermal heat pumps are pricey. Or that they’re extremely efficient and save a lot of energy. That’s why they qualify for a 30% federal tax credit. And why, through our Sustainable Energy Program, LES offers homebuilders significant financial incentives to install them. Whether you keep these incentives or pass them on to clients, you’ll help save energy, reduce environmental impact and delay the need to build expensive power plants. Visit www.les.com or call 402.473.3275 for complete details.

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