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The LINCOLN BUSINESS BUILDER March 2011

Published monthly by the Home Builders Association of Lincoln Volume 48 No. 3

Join us for the HOTTEST event of the year!

HBAL Chili Cookoff

Nebraska Builders Home & Garden Show

Monday, March 14, 2011 Shrine Center

See more photos on pages 14-19 or online at

www.hbal.org/formembers/gallery

1050 Saltillo Road

(off Hwy 77 & Saltillo Road) 6:00 p.m. - Let the feast begin!

7:30 p.m. - Votes must be cast 7:45 p.m. - Prizes awarded Admission - $15 per person (kids 12 and under are free) RSVP to info@hbal.org or 402-423-4225 by March 8.

See page 5 for more information.

President’s Message Upcoming Events Chili Cook-off Member News HBAL Mailbox Golf Tournament Registration Financial Column Step by Step NSP Carrier Enforcement Town Meetings Home & Garden Show “If I Could Build A House” Art Contest

Find the Frog!

Contents 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10-12 13 14-17 18

Interior & Residential Design Contest New Members Renewals Cancellations Directory Changes Educational Opportunities 2011 HOMEPAC Contribution Occupancy Certificates Now Online Appraisals Local Housing Markets Building Permit Update

19 20 20 20 21 23 25 26 26 26 26

Find this guy in the Lincoln Business Builder and be the third person to call HBAL (423-4225) with his location and your meal at the next General Membership Meeting is on us!

Congratulations to Sharon Klein, Regal Building Systems, Inc. on finding the frog last month!

Only one call per member company will be allowed. Note that once you win, you are not eligible for 12 months. If there is not a third caller, the prize will not be awarded.

Celebrating

60

YEARS

Don’t Miss Out on the Fun!!

We have more fun events coming up soon! See pages 4 and 5 for information regarding HBAL’s upcoming events!

1951-2011

Home Builders Association of Lincoln

President’s Message

March 2011 Vol. 48, No. 3

Home Builders Association of Lincoln

6100 S. 58th Street, Suite C, Lincoln, NE 68516 (402) 423-4225 phone • (402) 423-4251 fax www.hbal.org • info@hbal.org 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. The Home Builders Association does not accept responsibility for or endorse any statements or claims made by advertisers or authors of any articles.

The annual subscription rate is included with your membership dues.

Nadine Condello Jennie Korth

Publisher

Editor, Photographer, Design

Executive Committee

Lois Hartzell, GMB, CSP, President Dan Klein, Sr., President Elect Mike Rezac, 1st Vice President Perry Haralson, 2nd Vice President Dan Walker, Secretary Bob Bryant, Treasurer Mike Rezac, Immediate Past President Mike Benker, GMB, CGR, CAPS, CGP, Executive Board Nadine S. Condello, Executive Vice President

Board of Directors

Tom Artz, Eric Hoke, Ken Inness, CGP Justin Johnson, Mike Kinning, Matt Kleinschmit, Jo Lewis, Mike May, Brock Peters, Chuck Pfenning, Gary Reese, Ken Svoboda

Remodelers Council Jenny Samek

National Directors

Mike Benker, GMB, CGR, CAPS, CGP Steve Fulton, CGP Mike Goings, CGP, CSP Allen Barber, Alternate Lois Hartzell, GMB, CSP, Alternate Mike Rezac, Alternate

National Life Directors

Jim Christo, CGR, CGB, Joe Hampton, Duane Helmink, John Hoppe, Jr., Ward Fred Hoppe, Joe McKee, Robert Peterson, J. Greg Schwinn, Bob Stephens, Jerry Witthuhn

Past Presidents

Jerry Boyce, Rick Krueger, Dan Kubr, Donn Mann, Sam Manzitto, Roger Reynolds, CGR, CAPS, Don Rowe, Greg Shinaut, CGP, Ken Westerhold

President’s Message Lois Hartzell, HBAL President Winter is pretty much over and spring is about to begin.

I don’t know about you, but I am thankful for that. With spring comes buyers! I hope you are seeing more activity and finding ways to get your phone to ring. I wanted to think of some words of encouragement to help keep the spirits up.

I came up with a word from a book that I was given written by BJ Gallagher, titled “The Best Way Out is Always Through.” This book is about one word “Persevere.”

So this month and this year, remember this word and how it will get you through the tough times.

Persist no matter what Endure discomfort Request help from other people Steadfastly hold on to your beliefs and values Envision triumph Very consistently keep at it Embrace adversity as your teacher Refuse to give up Enjoy and celebrate every tiny bit of progress!

Now, to the business of the association. It has been a busy couple of months. The residential fire sprinkler bill, LB546, is still in committee, so keep a watch on this bill. The Home & Garden Show was a great success, thanks to all of you and your support through having a booth, by helping with the Food Bank house, judging the student displays, and all the other areas that are needed to make this outstanding “...there is a wealth of production grand.

knowledge among fellow members. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or too proud to discuss a situation you may be facing.”

Darwin Craig, the Assistant Area Director of OSHA came to speak to 80 of our builders with some great information to help us stay compliant. Additional education will be offered so stay on your toes and take the opportunities that are being offered to you by HBAL.

One of the benefits of belonging to a trade association is that there is a wealth of knowledge among fellow members. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or too proud to discuss a situation you may be facing. If you attended the recent OSHA meeting, you probably noticed that the framers, builders and roofers who were there had a lot of questions . . . how do we comply? How do we comply with what the rules say without putting ourselves in a more dangerous situation? By complying, how much is it going to add to the price of a job? There are a lot of questions and the answers aren’t always clear. However, we don’t have a choice, we need to persist and work our way through compliance.

I hope March brings the start of a successful building season for each of you.

2011

HBAL Staff

Kayla Harrison, Jennie Korth & Laure Husmann

Let’s Turn the Charts in a Different Direction 3  Lincoln Business Builder

Upcoming Events

Calendar of Events Mar. 2

Remodelers Council Meeting 11:30 a.m. • Cost: $10.00 per person Preventing Jobsite Theft Valentino’s • 35th & Holdrege

Mar. 4

Tour of Remodeled Homes Deadline

West Gate Bank is Lincoln’s Bank

for Mortgage and

Construction Loans

Mar. 10

Board of Directors 10:30 a.m.

HBAL Office

Mar. 14

HBAL Chili Cookoff 6:00 p.m.

Cost: $15.00 per person (12 yrs & under are FREE) Shrine Center • 1050 Saltillo Road

Mar. 16-17

Mar. 23

LL U F S I

OSHA 10-hr Training Wed. 8 a.m.-4:00 p.m. & Thu. 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Cost: Free • Class is limited to 25 • $25 deposit SCC Lincoln Continuing Education Center

SS

CLA

Scott Williamson

Susan Bredthauer

Adam Flanagan

Vice President Mortgage Lender 323-6521

Vice President Mortgage Lender 434-3473

Construction Lender 323-8968

Whether you’re building, buying, or refinancing, choose West Gate Bank for your home loan. Contact one of West Gate Bank’s experienced lenders or go to www.westgatebank.com to get started on your home loan today. www.westgatebank.com | 434-3456 | member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender

Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Wed. 8 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Cost: Free • Class is limited to 25 • $25 deposit SCC Lincoln Continuing Education Center

West Gate Bank

LincoLn’s Bank

“Neb raska ’s Loc ally O w

er” Suppli ne d E r o s i on Control and Geosynthetics

Erosion Control & GEotExtilEs

Serving you with three locations in Nebraska and a complete product line to cover every application.

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www.lumbermens.biz | Lumbermen’s Hearth & Home of Lincoln 8655 Amber Hill Court • Lincoln, NE 68526 | 402/421.0948

4  Lincoln Business Builder

Mud Mats

Chili Cook-off

Join us for the “HOTTEST” event of the year!

HBAL Chili Cookoff Shrine Center

Monday, March 14, 2011

1050 Saltillo Road (off Hwy 77 & Saltillo Road) 6:00 p.m. - Let the feast begin!

7:30 p.m. - Votes must be cast 7:45 p.m. - Prizes awarded Admission - $15 per person (kids 12 and under are free)

Thanks to Lincoln Federal Savings Bank for providing the keg and to Culligan Water Conditioning for providing the water!

It’s time to form a team, get out the cookbook and start planning your red hot chili booth at our Third Annual Chili Cookoff. Let’s have some fun, eat some chili and win some super prizes. Does your company think it can make the best chili this side of El Paso? Now’s the time to prove it.

Contact the HBAL office at 423-4225 if you want to be a part of the committee or if you want a booth.

You don’t have to be from Texas to make great chili!

RSVP to attend by March 8 Chili Entrant Info (no shows will be billed)

We will be attending the 3rd Annual Chili Cook-off. ________________________________________ Company Name _____ Yes, we will be attending with _____ adults and _____ children under 12.

Please list names below: ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Return your RSVP form to the HBAL office via fax (423-4251) or e-mail (info@hbal.org). ____ Check here if you would also like to enter the Chili Cook-off and complete Contest Registration form to the right.

Cost for a booth - FREE Chili preparation and booth set-up - 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. **All preparation MUST be done at the Shrine Center!** Exhibitors (cooks) will: • Prepare 3 gallons of chili (in a roaster pan) • Have their own meat thermometer • Bring a table cover • Provide their own extension cords • Choose a theme for their booth & decorate • Name their chili (you can do a google search for some great ideas)

HBAL will provide: • 8 ft. table • Chairs • Electrical outlet • Bowls, spoons, napkins • Crackers • Prizes

Contest Registration

Our company wants to have a booth because we are the best cooks this side of El Paso. We understand that all food preparation must be done on-site.

____________________________________ Company Name two with your booth. Each additional attendee is $15.

Raffle Prizes!!

There will be a variety of prizes awarded throughout the evening! Each attendee will receive a raffle ticket upon arriving at the event. Prizes include gift baskets, gift certificates and more!

____________________________________ Contact Name ____________________________________ E-mail Address / Phone No. Return your entry form to the HBAL office via fax (402-423-4251) or e-mail (info@hbal.org).

Don’t forget to RSVP, too! You will receive admittance for 5  Lincoln Business Builder

Member News

Member News Thinking of You...

Our sympathy to Mike and Danelle, Excite! Builders, Inc., on the loss of his grandfather, Raymond Otto Benker, on January 28, 2011. He was a retired farmer and carpenter.

Sherwood Retires from Earl Carter Lumber Gary Sherwood, Earl Carter Lumber Company, has decided to retire. According to Gary “I’ve met a lot of good people in the construction industry and have always found pleasure in being able to say that I had a part in the development and construction of buildings I worked on.”

Arlene Brazie, wife of former Executive Vice President Chuck Brazie, passed away on February 4, 2011. Arlene was an associate real estate broker and an officer in both the NAHB and HBAL auxiliaries.

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 Nadine Condello (402-423-4225) if you have questions.

Thank you.

New Traditions Continues Hartland Homes President and Owner of Hartland Homes, Inc., Duane Hartman, is retiring and is ready to pass the “reins” on to his children. Thus, New Traditions Home & Realty, LLC was created and is ready to continue the family business of home building and real estate. As with any generation, we are adding our own “New Tradition” by offering full real estate services and custom home building as well.

Hartland Homes still offers the same great warranties, excellent products, organized process, years of experience and great prices! Andy and Lea have 30 years combined full time experience building and selling Hartland Homes and look forward to serving you!

Gary plans to spend a lot of time just doing the things he likes to do. “Kind of like being a kid again” said Gary. Gary loves the outdoors; hunting, fishing and camping. He also likes woodworking, building furniture and cabinets.

Gary graduated from Lincoln High in 1965. He received a certification from SCC-Milford in Drafting Technology and attended UNL majoring in Civil Engineering. He worked as a draftsman for UNL while attending school. He is also a veteran, having served in the United States Air Force – Security Police.

From 1970-1977, Gary was a Draftsman and Planning Aide for the City Planning Department and from 1977-1992, was a Building Inspector, Building Inspector II, Plans Examiner, Chief Building Inspector and Building Services Coordinator for the Department of Building & Safety. While there, he helped eliminate several nonsense codes. He was instrumental in developing reinforcing standards for residential foundations and gained approved from the federal government to allow residential garages below the base flood elevation. Gary always tried to help people through the codes rather than around them.

We wish Gary a happy and fulfilling retirement as he spends time with his wonderful wife and best friend of 40 years, Susan.

Congratulations Matt & Laura Karl

New Traditions can help you build, buy or sell your home. Our philosophy is to provide our clients with the best service. We will walk with our client every step of the way, from home selection to closing and beyond. As our client, you will appreciate our organized, honest, and professional approach whether you are buying, selling or building a new home.

They are the proud parents of a baby boy

For more information please contact Lea Hartman at 402-432-9784 or Lea@NewTraditionsHome.com.

9 lbs. 1 oz.

Visit us online at www.NewTraditionsHome.com 6  Lincoln Business Builder

(MK Builders, Inc. & BancWise Realty)

Tyson Drake Born October 14, 2010

HBAL Mailbox

HBAL Mailbox

Dear Nadine and HBAL Board of Directors,

Dear Nadine,

Thank you for the contribution to our Student Chapter.

We’re glad we could help out with the setup of the Home and Garden Show. Our members who worked on Wednesday and Thursday were excited about seeing the show and visiting with the vendors. We also had a great time on Sunday helping out in Kid’s Square.

On behalf of the Lincoln Public Schools, Becky Moock and myself, I would like to thank you and your team of outstanding judges for your efforts in the success of the Interior Design & Residential Design Contests. You and your industry’s partnership with the students and staff of LPS have and continue to be invaluable.

Thank you for allowing us to work at the Home and Garden Show and share in this experience.

The Interior Design & Residential Design Contests continue to be valuable for students and staff, providing excellent connections to curriculum and real world problems for students to solve. We would like to personally thank the following people for their time and willingness to assess the students’ work: Presentation Drawing judges were Greg Smith, Davis Design; Dan Loeck, Loeck Designs; and Doug Nelson, New Ventures. Interior Design judges were Delrae Hirschman, Delrae Designs; Jenny Tolly, Interiors Joan and Associates; and Deb Ahlstedt, Interiors Joan and Associates.

Chair of the annual contest is Joette Kapke, Remodel Solutions.

Respectfully, Michael DeJonge NAHB Student Chapter Secretary SCC - Milford

Correction It has come to our attention that 1st United Mortgage Banc was erroneously omitted from the listing of 25-year members published in our February issue of the Lincoln Business Builder. We sincerely regret this error.

We look forward to working with you in the future as we share new ideas on how we can impact even more students. The project was successful because of the joint efforts from everyone working to make this contest meaningful to all.

Yours truly, Eric Knoll & Becky Moock

Laura Karl Realty Specialist 402.540.2257 Cell 402.323.6777 Office 402.323.6778 Fax laura.karl@bancwise.com 6120 Apples Way Lincoln, NE 68516

www.bancwise.com

BancWise Realty is your one stop resource to saving time, money and minimizing stress. We are well known in the Lincoln community as THE reliable resource for home buyers. We provide all the guidance a home buyer needs - from ensuring home loan approval, to home showings, to negotiations and paperwork, to close - our comprehensive services make home buying convenient and easy.

When it comes to cabinetry, Millard Lumber offers a vast and diverse selection. Whether it’s a color, finish, or look, Millard Lumber has the solution to any builder or contractors needs. Stop by our Design Center today for design assistance and free estimates. Millard Lumber also offers installation for all cabinets and hardware.

11200 N. 148th St., Waverly NE

402.786.3030

M-F 7:30am - 5pm

Your RELIABLE SOURCE for Home Buying 7  Lincoln Business Builder

Golf Tournament Registration

2011 Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation Benefit Golf Tournament Friday, June 3, 2011 Highlands Golf Course - 5501 NW 12th Street “Texas Scramble” - $60.00 per person First tee-off at 6:45 a.m. - Last tee-off at 4 p.m.

Highlands Golf Course Golf Registration

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, first-served event. Payment by May 2 is required to save your tee-time.

Player No. 1 Name _____________________________________________________________________________ Company___________________________________________________________________________ Player No. 2 Name _____________________________________________________________________________ Company___________________________________________________________________________ Player No. 3 Name _____________________________________________________________________________ Company___________________________________________________________________________ Player No. 4 Name _____________________________________________________________________________ Company___________________________________________________________________________ Enclosed is $ ___________________________ for __________________ players at $60 each.

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.

Payment must be received before May 2 in order to ensure a tee-time.

Note: Make checks payable to Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation. You will be sent a postcard as a reminder of your tee time.

8  Lincoln Business Builder

Registration

The $60 registration fee includes green fees, cart, hot dogs all day, 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 1 and pay by May 2, 2011. (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 (423-4225) for more details.

Hurry!

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

Fill out the form on the left and (make checks payable to Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation)

Fax to 423-4251

Or mail to Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation 6100 S. 58th Street, Suite C Lincoln, NE 68516 If the tee-time you request is full, we will call you with other options.

Financial Column

Retirement Plans for Small Businesses

By John Oestreich, Waddell & Reed If you’re self-employed or own a small business and you haven’t established a retirement savings plan, what are you waiting for? A retirement plan can help you and your employees save for the future.

And you’ll be in good company--over 1 million small businesses with 100 or fewer employees currently offer workplace retirement savings plans.

Tax advantages

A retirement plan can have significant tax advantages: • Your contributions are deductible when made • Your contributions aren’t taxed to an employee until distributed from the plan • Money in the retirement program grows tax deferred (or, in the case of Roth accounts, potentially tax free) • You may be able to claim a tax credit equal to 50% of the cost to set up and administer a retirement plan, up to a maximum of $500 per year for each of the first three years of the plan • Certain low- and moderate-income employees may be entitled to a tax credit (“saver’s tax credit”) for a portion of their contributions to the plan

Types of plans

Retirement plans are usually either IRAbased (like SEPs and SIMPLE IRAs) or “qualified” (like 401(k)s, profit-sharing plans, and defined benefit plans).

Qualified plans are generally more complicated and expensive to maintain than IRA-based plans because they have to comply with specific Internal Revenue Code and ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) requirements in order to qualify for their tax benefits. Also, qualified plan assets must be held either in trust or by an insurance company. With IRA-based plans, your employees own (i.e., “vest” in) your contributions immediately. With qualified plans, you can generally require that your employees work a certain numbers of years before they vest.

Which plan is right for your business?

With a dizzying array of retirement plans to choose from, each with unique advantages and disadvantages, you’ll need to clearly define your goals before attempting to choose a plan.

For example, do you want: • To maximize the amount you can save for your own retirement?

• A plan funded by employer contributions? By employee contributions? Both?

• A plan that allows you and your employees to make pretax and/or Roth contributions?

• The flexibility to skip employer contributions in some years?

• A plan with the lowest cost? Easiest administration?

The answers to these questions can help guide you and your retirement professional to the plan (or combination of plans) most appropriate for you.

Simplified employee pension plan

A SEP allows you to set up an IRA (a “SEP-IRA”) for yourself and each of your eligible employees. You contribute a uniform percentage of pay for each employee, although

you don’t have to make contributions every year, offering you some flexibility when business conditions vary. For 2010, your contributions for each employee are limited to the lesser of 25% of pay or $49,000. Most employers, including those who are self-employed, can establish a SEP. SEPs have low start-up and operating costs and can be established using an easy two-page form. The plan must cover any employee aged 21 or older who has worked for you for three of the last five years and who earns $550 or more.

SIMPLE IRA plan

The SIMPLE IRA plan is available if you have 100 or fewer employees.

Employees can elect to make pretax contributions in 2010 of up to $11,500 ($14,000 if age 50 or older). You must either match your employees’ contributions dollar for dollar--up to 3% of each employee’s compensation-or make a fixed contribution of 2% of compensation for each eligible employee. (The 3% match can be reduced to 1% in any two of five years.)

Each employee who earned $5,000 or more in any two prior years, and who is expected to earn at least $5,000 in the current year, must be allowed to participate in the plan.

SIMPLE IRA plans are easy to set up. You fill out a short form to establish a plan and ensure that SIMPLE IRAs are set up for each employee. A financial institution can do much of the paperwork. Additionally, administrative costs are low.

Profit-sharing plan

butions to your 401(k) plan--either matching contributions or discretionary profit-sharing contributions.

Combined employer and employee contributions for any employee in 2010 can’t exceed the lesser of $49,000 (plus catch-up contributions of up to $5,500 if your employee is age 50 or older) or 100% of the employee’s compensation. In general, each employee with a year of service is eligible to receive employer contributions, but you can require two years of service if your contributions are immediately vested.

401(k) plans are required to perform somewhat complicated testing each year to make sure benefits aren’t disproportionately weighted toward higher paid employees. However, you don’t have to perform discrimination testing if you adopt a “safe harbor” 401(k) plan. With a safe harbor 401(k) plan, you generally have to either match your employees’ contributions (100% of employee deferrals up to 3% of compensation, and 50% of deferrals between 3 and 5% of compensation), or make a fixed contribution of 3% of compensation for all eligible employees, regardless of whether they contribute to the plan. Your contributions must be fully vested.

Another way to avoid discrimination testing is by adopting a SIMPLE 401(k) plan. These plans are similar to SIMPLE IRAs, but can also allow loans and Roth contributions. Because they’re still qualified plans (and therefore more complicated than SIMPLE IRAs), and allow less deferrals than traditional 401(k)s, SIMPLE 401(k)s haven’t become a popular option.

Defined benefit plan

A defined benefit plan is a qualified retirement plan that guarantees your employees a specified level of benefits at retirement (for example, an annual benefit equal to 30% of final average pay). As the name suggests, it’s the retirement benefit that’s defined, not the level of contributions to the plan.

In 2010, a defined benefit plan can provide an annual benefit of up to $195,000 (or 100% of pay if less). The services of an actuary are generally needed to determine the annual contributions that you must make to the plan to fund the promised benefit.

Your contributions may vary from year to year, depending on the performance of plan investments and other factors.

In general, defined benefit plans are too costly and too complex for most small businesses. However, because they can provide the largest benefit of any retirement plan, and therefore allow the largest deductible employer contribution, defined benefit plans can be attractive to businesses that have a small group of highly compensated owners who are seeking to contribute as much money as possible on a tax-deferred basis.

As an employer, you have an important role to play in helping America’s workers save. Now is the time to look into retirement plan programs for you and your employees.

This article is written by Forefield, Inc. but is provided by John W. Oestreich. It is meant to be used for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Please consult with your tax, legal and financial advisor prior to making financial decisions. ©2011 Forefield, Inc. All rights reserved. Waddell & Reed and Forefield are not affiliated companies.

John W. Oestreich is a Managing Principal with Waddell & Reed in Lincoln, NE, and can be reached at 402-484-7526. Waddell & Reed, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC.

Typically, only you, not your employees, contribute to a qualified profit-sharing plan. Your contributions are discretionary--there’s usually no set amount you need to contribute each year, and you have the flexibility to contribute nothing at all in a given year if you so choose (although your contributions must be “substantial and recurring” for your plan to remain qualified). The plan must contain a formula for determining how your contributions are allocated among plan participants. A separate account is established for each participant that holds your contributions and any investment gains or losses. Generally, each employee with a year of service is eligible to participate (although you can require two years of service if your contributions are immediately vested).

401(k) plan

The 401(k) plan (technically, a qualified profit-sharing plan with a cash or deferred feature) has become a hugely popular retirement savings vehicle for small businesses. According to the Department of Labor, an estimated 48 million American workers are enrolled in 401(k) plans with total assets of about 2.4 trillion dollars.

With a 401(k) plan, employees can make pretax and/or Roth contributions in 2010 of up to $16,500 of pay ($22,000 if age 50 or older). These deferrals go into a separate account for each employee and aren’t taxed until distributed. Generally, each employee with a year of service must be allowed to contribute to the plan.

You can also make employer contri-

9  Lincoln Business Builder

Step by Step

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

-Unknown Published by the Remodelers Council of Lincoln • March 2011

Chairperson’s Message

by Jenny Samek

Spring is in the air! The week of the Home and Garden show gave us some wonderful weather. I think the spring-like temperatures gave everyone Spring fever early this year. From what I’m hearing, this year’s show brought out more people who are serious about doing some projects which is great for everyone.

Thank you to all the volunteers that donated their time to help with the Food Bank House at the Home Show. This year we raised 5,013 pounds of food and collected $21.08 in cash. That’s up 261 pounds from last year. Seeing the framed Food Bank House is a great way for attendees to see how a small donation can really add up. I know my six-year-old had a great sense of pride knowing he was helping.

The Tour of Remodeled Homes is the weekend of April 9-10 and is by far the best way for prospective clients to actually see your work and get ideas. Don’t delay as the registration deadline is Friday, March 4. Don’t miss this great advertising opportunity.

Please join us Wednesday March 2 at Valentino’s North. Our guest speaker will be Brian Hoefer with the Lincoln Police Department.

Since 2003, we have collected over 45,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank.

Special thanks to the many volunteers who helped with this year’s Food Bank House!

10  Lincoln Business Builder

April Meeting Tour of Vantage Pointe Homes

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 • 11:30 a.m.

1000 W. Rokeby Road

May Meeting Tour of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach

Note special start time!!!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 • 10:30 a.m.

2121 N. 27th St.

Look for more information about these meetings in future emails or your next Lincoln Business Builder.

The video from the Remodeler Council’s Better Business Bureau’s Integrity Award is now online. View it at

www.hbal.org/rc/events/

Step by Step

Remodeling Set to Recover This Year From Most Serious Downturn

Remodeling will be moving into recovery in 2011 following a three-year slump and its most serious downturn since the government began tracking industry activity in the early 1960s, according to economists at the recent NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla.

Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, said that a new report from the Joint Center two years in the making indicates that the remodeling industry is set for a new decade of growth.

In the meantime, remodeling has declined roughly 15% from its peak of $326 billion in 2007 to a trough of an estimated $277 billion in 2010, Baker said. However, the sector fared significantly better than residential construction, which suffered a decline of more than 75%.

As a result, the money spent to improve and repair homes moved up last year to command an estimated 70% share of total residential investment, which, in addition to remodeling, includes single-family and multifamily construction. In the decade or so preceding the crash, remodeling accounted for roughly a 40%-45% share, falling to a little more than a third of the market at the height of the building boom in 2005.

Over the coming five years, researchers at Harvard expect inflation-adjusted spending on remodeling to grow at a 3.5% average annual rate in real dollars, slightly above the projected rate of growth for the economy. By comparison, that spending saw a growth rate of 7.3% from 2000 to 2005 and then a -1.4% drop during the second half of the decade.

The industry is getting a lift from the increasing numbers of distressed properties in need of rehabilitation and from a decrease in household mobility. When home owners don’t move, it makes them more amenable to considering projects with longer paybacks, particularly energyefficient retrofits. A spring survey found that purchasers of distressed properties are spending an average 15% more in the first year after the purchase than those who bought nondistressed homes, Baker said.

Over the longer term, “market fundamentals — the number of homes in the housing stock, the age of those homes and the income gains of home owners making improvements — point to increases in remodeling spending,” according to the Remodeling Futures report.

Remodeling will also benefit from the economy and housing returning to more normal conditions because a disproportionate amount of improvements are made shortly after the purchase of a home.

The downturn that the industry is now crawling out of has been characterized by a 23 % drop in discretionary kitchen and bath remodels and other high-end projects and a shift to smaller jobs, he said.

A corresponding trend has been a decline in the share of total

spending from home owners with the top 5% of incomes. That share decreased from 60.6% in 2005 to 52.1% in 2009.

A Bigger Share for Bigger Companies

Looking at the evolving structure of the home improvement industry, Baker reported a trend toward concentration among larger companies in a “notoriously fragmented” industry that will remain characterized by many small businesses that are highly susceptible to failure.

Of the more than 650,000 remodeling contractors in 2007 (up from 530,000 in 2002), one-third were general contractors and two-thirds were trade contractors, Baker reported. Trade contractors grew about twice as fast as general contractors in the 2002-2007 period. In 2007, there were twice as many one-person remodeling firms as those with employees on the payroll.

Among the top 500 remodelers in the country, those specializing in exterior replacements — such as roofing, siding and exterior doors and windows — fared the best during the downturn, with business trailing down as much as 5%, said Baker.

Design-build, which consists of jobs that can be deferred, took the biggest tumble, declining 20% by 2009.

Baker added that failure rates have been high for remodeling firms even when times are good. “Over onethird of the firms with payrolls that were in business in 2003 were not in business in 2007,” he said, “in one of the strongest periods in the history of the industry.”

Among signs of industry concentration, he noted that through 2007, larger firms with more than $1 million in yearly business accounted for 55% of the employees in the industry and 65% of the revenues among companies with payrolls. From 2002 to 2007, the share of industry receipts for the top 50 remodeling contractors rose from 5.2% to 7.9%.

Best-Positioned Markets

Taking a look at where remodelers are likely to fare the best, Baker said that the top markets are located along coastal California and in the Northeast, where home prices and incomes tend to be higher. Average home owner spending in 2000 to 2009, in 2009 dollars, ran to a high of $5,080 in San Jose, Calif., among the 35 metropolitan areas with the largest populations. The lowest average spending

Tour of Remodeled Homes April 9 & 10, 2011

Entry Deadline: March 4, 2011 11  Lincoln Business Builder

Step by Step was $1,240 in San Antonio.

Spending cutbacks have been especially large in markets with high delinquencies, he added.

Looking at favorable market conditions — including higher house value appreciation, higher median household income, older housing stock, higher home values and a large share of upscale remodeling projects — Baker said that metro markets best positioned for a rebound are San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego in California; and Boston, New York and Philadelphia.

In the second tier, out of five, are Seattle, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Virginia Beach, Va., The least favorable conditions prevail in Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Antonio, Detroit, Atlanta and, in Florida: Tampa, Orlando and Miami.

Also of interest to remodelers, who can expect to derive the most business in areas that are benefitting from domestic migration, Baker identified markets that appear to have reversed the longer-term pattern of population leaving the Northeast and Midwest for the South and West. Both New York and Los Angeles, which experienced sharp net out-migrations in 2006, shifted to significantly slower outward population flows in 2009. Cities that had been losing population but were seeing small gains in 2009 include Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Boston.

Immigrant home owners also represent an important market segment, he suggested, with their spending almost doubling from $10.9 billion in 2001 to $18.4 billion in 2009.

Also, energy-efficiency improvements “have held up better than other categories,” largely because of tax credits, some of which were scaled back by the last Congress at the end of 2010. The percent of remodelers working on energy-related projects jumped from 39% in the third quarter of 2009 to 58% in the third quarter of 2003, according to the Joint Center’s National Green Building Survey, 2009-2010.

Of those who reported in last year’s third quarter that they were working on jobs to improve residential energy efficiency, 97% said those projects included the building envelope, 41% worked on HVAC upgrades and replacements, and 19% were involved in renewable energy systems — including solar, wind, geothermal and fuel-cell technologies.

Responding to a Weaker Market

Among new trends spawned by the downturn, Paul Emrath, NAHB’s vice president of survey and housing policy research, said that prospective remodeling customers have been getting choosier about who they select for their job.

Seventy-six percent of the remodelers surveyed by NAHB in the first quarter of 2010 said that their customers were always, almost always or frequently obtaining multiple bids from contractors. Seventy-five percent reported that more customers were getting multiple bids than two years earlier.

Responding to weaker market conditions, fewer remodelers have been charging fees for submitting an estimate, despite the costs involved. In the same survey, 80% said there was no charge, up from 70% two years previously.

NAHB survey research found remodelers doing kitchen 12  Lincoln Business Builder

jobs dropping from 73% to 52% between 2004 and 2010, room additions “really dropping off” from 57% to 29%; and whole house remodeling down from 44% to 21%. On the other hand, remodelers offering handyman services almost doubled over that period — from 17% to 33% — as remodelers looked for ways to tide their businesses over until the return of better times.

Commenting on another up trend, Emrath cited an NAHB survey in the third quarter of 2009 finding that a median 5% of remodelers reported undertaking jobs for households using energy efficiency tax credits. “That translates into several billions of dollars” in business, he said.

Information by County

Emrath also discussed new NAHB compilations of the Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey data that enable remodelers to find significant information related to remodeling by county. Information includes the number of owner-occupied homes in the county, the married couple share of households, the average value of homes, the housing share built before 1980, the typical-year remodeling volume in the county in millions of dollars; and the average remodeling spent per home.

The county information is being provided to members of NAHB Remodelers free of cost.

For more information on the estimates by county, e-mail Therese Crahan at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8211.

For other information on remodeling, contact Kelly Mack, x8451.

NSP Carrier Enforcement Town Meetings

NSP Carrier Enforcement Town Meetings The Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division has scheduled town meetings to provide information on one of the biggest changes affecting motor carrier enforcement in decades. Implemented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in December 2010, the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA 2010) program will increase the monitoring of motor carrier on-the-road performance, and implement new penalties for unsafe driving behaviors.

Motor carriers will learn about the CSA 2010 program as well as updated information on Nebraska’s Truck Safety Regulations and changes in the Hazardous Materials Regulations pertaining to ethanol.

The meetings should be attended by anyone who operates any of the following vehicles within the State of Nebraska (intrastate): • A pickup pulling a trailer (over 10,000 lbs combined weight or gross combination of weight rating).

• A pickup or truck weighing over 10,000 lbs.

• A pickup, trailer, truck or semi requiring a class A, B, or C Commercial Driver’s License.

• Any motor vehicle transporting hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placards.

• Any farm truck displaying farm plates and registered for more than 16 tons.

• Any passenger carrying vehicle designed or used to transport 8 or more passengers, including the driver, for compensation.

• Any passenger carrying vehicle designed or used to transport 15 passengers, including the driver and not used to transport passengers for compensation.

No pre-registration required.

The schedule of NSP Carrier Division town meetings is a follows: City Lincoln

Date & Time Tues., March 1 • 7 pm- 10 pm

Location Lancaster Event Center • 4100 N 84th Street • Nebraska Room

Burwell

Mon., March 28 • 7 pm- 10 pm

Jeffres Sand and Gravel • 82428 Jeffres Lane (so. of fairgrounds)

Grand Island Tues., March 29 • 7 pm- 10 pm Howard Johnson • 3333 Ramada Road • (corner of S. Locust and Hwy 34) Columbus

Wed., March 30 • 7 pm- 10 pm

New World Inn • 265 33rd Avenue

Camherdz Services Corporation Painting

Interior, Exterior, Commercial, Residential New, Repaint

Decks

Power Washing, Staining

Floors

Sealers, Epoxies, Urethanes

FREE S Y A W AL ND ATES A E M I T S E DABL AFFOR INTING PA ELITE SERVICE R AT YOU

Specialty Coatings

To include Epoxies and Urethanes on walls

Hector Hernandez 2240 S. 46th Street Phone: (402) 580-0870 Fax: (402) 438-6937 Lincoln, NE 68506 Email: camherdzsvcs@neb.rr.com 13  Lincoln Business Builder

Home & Garden Show

Nebraska Builders

Home & Garden Show

Some of HBAL’s newest members enjoyed the Home Show. Pictured are: (top) Sadoff Iron & Metal, Valley Boys, Inc., JR Premier Designs, (middle) Yankee Hill Landscape, CRS - Concrete Restoration Specialists, StoneWorth Innovative Concrete Products, (bottom) Noakes Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Star City Heating & Cooling and Heartland Professional Home Energy Raters, Inc. 14 ď ´ Lincoln Business Builder

Home & Garden Show

Remodelers Council Food Bank House

Since 2003, we have collected over 45,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank.

Special thanks to the many volunteers who helped with this year’s Food Bank House!

kids square

Building the Framework Willet Construction, Inc.

Take Down

Reese Construction Tom Harrison John Harrison Brady Yoder

Runners

Karen Barrett Tom Barrett Mike Benker Danelle Benker Ethan Benker Shianne Benker Kayla Condello Marlene Condello Shelby Condello Connie Hampl Noah Hampl Tom Harrison Dan Hietbrink Mari Hietbrink Ruth Hietbrink Eric Hoke Mason Hoke Zach Hoke Karley Powell Tom Powell Jenny Samek Tate Samek Ray Schapmann Tom Schapmann Ron Schriner Dallas Whitford Brady Yoder

15 ď ´ Lincoln Business Builder

Home & Garden Show

Seminar Speakers Special thanks to the following people who conducted seminars during the Home & Garden Show!

• Staged to Sell: Lights! Camera! Action! - Put Your House on Centerstage presented by Detail by Design, LLC • Turpin Time presented by Dick Turpin • Backyard Farmer Panel LIVE presented by UNL Extension • Green Building Techniques for a Better Built Home presented by Steve Fulton, Fulton Construction • Take a Rain Check - Make a Rain Barrel presented by City of Lincoln • Herbs - Flavor and Beauty in the Landscape presented by Luann Finke, Finke Gardens

16  Lincoln Business Builder

Home & Garden Show

Almost Any Brick You Use Can Last for Hundreds of Years.

So Be Particular.

Y

ANKEE HILL BRICK manufactures the highest quality FBX brick in a color palette ranging from the traditional reds and buffs to the innovative pinks, maroons, and lavenders.

Standard and custom color ranges, sizes, and shapes are our specialty.

Brick murals and ornamentation are brought to a new level of sophistication at Yankee Hill Brick.

Pictured from top left: Floyd Beckmann, Beckmann Cabinet, Inc.; Tom Hegarty, Factory Direct Appliance; Vicki & Mike Goings, Goings Homes, Inc.; Fred Hoke, Development Services Center; Tom & T.J. Artz, Artz & Sons Construction; Vic Stevenart, ICF Connections; Kurt & Jenny Ramaekers, Miracle Landscapes; Peggy Britton, AnDee Harris & Julie Meyer, Union Title Company; Kelli Dring & Sam Stoltz, Lincoln Winnelson; Bob Bleicher, Eagle Nursery, LLC and Jarred Francisco & Brett Jones, BAJCO Construction.

Rely on Yankee Hill to supply your project with the nest of materials.

3705 S. Coddington Lincoln, NE 68522

(402) 477-6663

Face brick Paving brick

Thin brik veneer Pool Coping Ceramic tile and marble Keystones Address & entry signs Brick mural & ornamentation Crushed landscape brick

4212 S. 133rd Street Omaha, NE 68137

(402) 330-2751

17  Lincoln Business Builder

“If I Could Build A House” Art Contest

If I Could Build a House Art Contest HBAL recently held its ninth annual “If I Could Build a House” art contest for 4th & 5th graders in cooperation with Lincoln Public Schools. Children were asked to draw pictures of their dream homes.

The children also wrote narratives to describe the homes. The five participating schools were awarded $250 toward their art budget.

Participating schools were: Pyrtle Elementary, Pershing Elementary, Calvert Elementary, Roper Elementary and Zeman Elementary.

District administrators judged all entries at the first level. The entries were then sent on to HBAL for the second level of judging. Twelve individual winning entries were chosen and will receive $50 checks from HBAL. All entries were displayed at the 39th Annual Home & Garden Show. Following are the twelve winners: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Chase Adams, Pershing Elementary Alexandria Velder, Calvert Elementary Misaki Sandridge-Nishihara, Pershing Elementary Morgan Murphy, Zeman Elementary Chase Chrisp, Zeman Elementary HeeJo Suh, Zeman Elementary Cami McLaughlin, Zeman Elementary Molly Soderquish, Calvert Elementary Alyssa Johnson, Calvert Elementary McKenzie Kapperman, Roper Elementary Grant Roscoe, Roper Elementary Alex Schmura, Roper Elementary

Judges in the final level were Connie Strohmyer, CS Kitchen & Bath Studio; Vicki Christo, Christo Design Build; Delrae Hirschman, Delrae Designs and Kayla Harrison, HBAL.

StoneS, BrickS, Stucco, & More 14981 Grover Street oMaha, ne 68144 phone:

402-510-1799

Baltazar@BaltazarSStoneSaleS.coM www.BaltazarSStoneSaleS.coM

18  Lincoln Business Builder

Interior & Residential Design Contest

Interior & Residential Design Contest Winners HBAL announced the winners of the Interior & Residential Design Contest at the 39th annual Nebraska Builders Home & Garden Show held at the Lancaster Event Center February 10-13. The two categories judged were Residential Design and Interior Design.

Your Hometown Source For • House Beams • Columns • Brick Lintels

Winners of the Residential Design Contest:

• Joists & Deck

• First Place, $100 – Austin Mar, Lincoln East • Second Place, $75 – Cara Woldt, Lincoln East • Third Place, $50 – Hannah Barnes, Lincoln East

• Miscellaneous Plate, Angle, Pipe & Tubing

Winners of the Interior Design Contest: • First Place, $100 – MacKenzie Busekist, Lincoln East • Second Place, $75 – Hannah Olson, Lincoln Southwest • Third Place, $50 – Shelby Clark, Lincoln East Presentation Drawing judges were Greg Smith, Davis Design; Dan Loeck, Loeck Designs; and Doug Nelson, New Ventures. Interior Design judges were Delrae Hirschman, Delrae Designs; Jenny Tolly, Interiors Joan and Associates; and Deb Ahlstedt, Interiors Joan and Associates. Chair of the annual contest is Joette Kapke, Remodel Solutions.

APOLLO STEEL COMPANY Fabricating The Future of Nebraska

LBB Display ad - Sponsor Ad for March 2011 issue.

7200 Amanda Road, Lincoln, NE 68507 Phone: 402-466-8587 • Fax: 402-466-0594

A whopping 85% of home shoppers turn to the Internet to find their new home.

Spring 2011

ONLINE TOUR

www.ParadeOnlineTour.com Preview the Parade starting Monday, April 25th!

Become a Sponsor!

Receiving Honorable Mention in the Interior Design Contest was Kimberly Madson, Lincoln Southeast High School, granddaughter of HBAL members Roger & Kathy Williams, Shine-a-Blind Nebraska, Inc.

Save the Date!

2012 Home & Garden Show

February 9-12, 2012

Reach a Lincoln audience that is actively seeking information.

Get in front of this audience at the Online Tour.

Contact Citygold.com today!

®

Lincoln's Official Web Site Directory

SM

Phone: (402) 420-9800 • E-mail: info@citygold.com

19  Lincoln Business Builder

New Members | Renewals | Cancellations

Welcome New Members Crocker Construction, Inc. Principal: William Crocker

508 W. Jennifer Drive, Lincoln, NE 68521 Email: bcrocker2@windstream.net

Phone: 402-477-0511 Cellular: 402-202-2993

Sponsor: Mike Rezac, Rezac Construction, Inc. Reason I joined HBAL: For the many things HBAL does.

What I hope to get out of my membership: Advertisement and to receive information from HBAL regarding building issues.

Company Information: I have been in business since March of 1988.

Other organizations I belong to: Framers Association (past president, secretary and treasurer).

Personal: I enjoy camping, fishing, hunting and spending time with my grandkids: Kodie (16), Jacob (10), Nicholas (7) and Madison (5).

J.M. Barber Construction and Design Principal: Matt Barber

P.O. Box 124, 106 W. 3rd Street, Firth, NE 68358 Phone: 402-889-3665 Website: www.jmbcustom.com Email: mattb@jmbcustom.com Sponsor: Allen Barber, Barber Homes & Remodeling Reason I joined HBAL: Information.

What I hope to get out of my membership: To receive information about the industry and new business.

HBAL committees of interest to you: All.

design • copy • print

3133 S. 7th, Suite D Lincoln, NE 68502

483-7575

Fax (402) 483-7577

Call us for your design, copy & print needs Multi Color Printing

Engineering Copies

Direct-to-Plate

Graphic Design

Digital Color Copying

Bindery Services

Digital Black & White

Free Pick-up & Delivery

info@pioneerprintinginc.com www.pioneerprintinginc.com

Serving Lincoln for more than 30 years!

20  Lincoln Business Builder

Thanks for Renewing Your Membership!

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

84 Lumber, 9 years Aden Drywall, 9 years Advantage Remodeling, Inc., 10 years Boyce Construction, Inc., 14 years Capital Concrete Co., 46 years Christo Design Build, Inc., 36 years Clearwater Pools, Inc., 4 years Culligan Water Conditioning, 45 years Delrae Designs, 11 years Eagle 1st Roofing & Construction, 1 year First State Bank, 2 years Great Plains Custom Homes, LLC, 2 years Heritage Builders, Inc., 25 years HomeServices Lending, LLC, 16 years KFGE Froggy 98.1, 19 years Kinning Design Build, 25 years KLNC-FM 105.3, 14 years Kuhlman Construction, Inc., 13 years Lee Douglas Interiors, Inc., 2 years Lee’s Propane Service, 4 years Lincoln Public Schools, 7 years Lincoln Drywall Service & Architectural Products, 30 years Lumbermen’s Brick and Supply Co., 8 years Mahris Custom Homes, 11 years Medallion Custom Homes, Inc., 7 years Midwest Steel Works, Inc., 59 years Nebraska Sod Co., 21 years Neighbors Family Homes, Inc., 10 years Old City Homes, 4 years Pioneer Printing, Inc., 25 years Primerica Financial Services, 7 years Schneider Electric, 23 years Seacrest & Kalkowski, PC, LLO, 13 years South Shore Builders, LLC, 2 years Stuchlik & Associates Insurance, 5 years Underwood Construction Company, LLC, 23 years Urban Homes, LLC, 5 years Willet Construction, Inc., Remodeling Specialists, 11 years Woita Homes & Remodeling, 1 year Yoder’s Amish Furniture, 4 years Zimmer Insurance Group, 20 years

Sorry to See You Go!

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

TooFast Supply Nebraska Home Sales

Directory Changes

Directory Changes Address Changes: • New address for Neemann & Sons is 1121 High Street, Ste 2, Lincoln, NE 68502.

• The correct zip code for Cohawk New Horizons Drywall, Inc. is 68324.

Email Changes: • New email address for Gerlach Carpentry, Inc. is gerlachcarpentryinc@gmail.com.

• New email address for Artz & Sons Construction is artznsons@windstream.net.

• New email address for Hausmann Construction is beaud@hausmannconstruction.com.

• New email address for Rainwood Interiors, Inc. is rainwoodinterior@aol.com.

Builder and Banker?

You shouldn’t have to be both. Partner with Cornhusker Bank and get the financial tools you need.

• Latest construction market statistics to help you succeed • Local decisions on residential and commercial construction loans • Pre-sold, spec, lot, and development products Perry Haralson, Vice President 434-9337 • 11th & Cornhusker

Let’s talk about how you can build a more profitable business.

Phone Changes: • New phone number for Carrie Van Meter, Quality Fence Company, is 402-896-9325.

Member Changes: • Jason Firestone is a new affiliate member with Lincoln Federal Savings Bank.

• Deb Brown is a new affiliate member with Willet Construction, Inc. • New principal for Landscape Curbing of Lincoln, Inc. is Drew Phillipi. Address: 527 Elm Street, Greenwood, NE 68366. Email: drew@omahacurb.com.

• Mini-permanent and extended lock programs to help manage interest rate risk

Mike Barrett, Vice President 434-2258 • 56th & South St.

www.CornhuskerBank.com

Member FDIC

21  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

22  Lincoln Business Builder

A & D Auto-Truck Service

“Your Total Vehicle Service & Repair Center”

Special discount for HBAL Members!

10% discount on a service or repair First-time customers only.

“We Specialize in Fleet Service and Repair.”

Open: Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Phone: 464-3211 5940 Colfax Avenue

Educational Opportunities

HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF LINCOLN

Three Upcoming Educational Opportunities OSHA 10-Hour Training

Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program

March 16 & 17, 2011 Cost: Free ($120 value) Registration Deadline: March 2

March 23, 2011

L L U IS F

SCC Lincoln Continuing Education Center - Room 304

S S A CL

Cost: Free ($200 value) Registration Deadline: March 9

301 South 68th Street Place Lincoln, NE

SCC Lincoln Continuing Education Center - Room 303

Wednesday, March 16 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 17 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 23 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

301 South 68th Street Place Lincoln, NE

EPA Approved Course This training is done pursuant to Section 402 of the Toxic Substance Control Act

This 10-hour course follows the OSHA requirements for certification.

A $25 deposit for each class is required by the deadline to reserve your space. You will be reimbursed this amount when you attend the session. Each class is limited to 25 people and HBAL members only. Registrations will be taken on a first-come first-serve basis, so get your reservation in as soon as possible. Only one representative from each company may register. Members may request additional employees be added to the waiting list to fill in remaining spots after the deadline or for any last minute cancellations.

Coming Soon!

Fall Protection Training Seminar

Dates and times are to be announced.

Registration Form Yes, I would like to reserve a seat for: _____

OSHA 10 Hour Training - March 16 & 17

_____

Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program - March 23

_____ Please contact me once the Fall Protection Training Seminar is scheduled.

Name _____________________________________Company ______________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________ City _______________________________________State _______ Zip _______________________________________ Phone _____________________________ Fax ____________________________ E-mail _______________________ A deposit of $25 for each class must accompany registration in order to reserve a seat for you.

Check Enclosed_____ VISA / Mastercard___________________________

Exp. Date_______

Name on card______________________

Fax to 402-423-4251 • E-mail to info@hbal.org. • Mail to HBAL • 6100 S. 58th Street, Ste. C • Lincoln, NE 68516

23  Lincoln Business Builder

When it comes to mid-sized skid steers, speed equals productivity, and you were fast to ask for more of both. Now you have it at the push of a button, with the new two-speed option on the John Deere 318D and 320D Skid Steers. Top speed is now 11 miles per hour, allowing you to make quick work of light hauling and snow removal, as well as moving from one site to another.

So no matter what your job is, if you would like to do it up to 60% faster, see us today.

Productivity? Uptime? Low Daily Operating Costs? We’re On It.™

24  Lincoln Business Builder

www.murphytractor.com

2011 HOMEPAC Contribution

2011 HOMEPAC Contribution

The Primary Election is April 5 and the General Election is May 3. All four District City Council seats and the Mayor’s position are on the ballot. This election will have a major impact on our industry.

This spring’s election is very important to our industry. The mayor’s race as well as all four District City Council positions will be on the ballot. To be at the table when important issues arise, we need your support.

We are asking HBAL members to consider making a donation to provide HOMEPAC with adequate funds to contribute to the candidates who understand the true importance of housing in Lincoln and Nebraska. Members who contribute $100 or more are voting members of HOMEPAC. All other members of HBAL are invited to attend the meetings.

Following are four levels to consider: • Gold Club - $500 • Silver Club - $250 • Bronze Club - $100-$249 • Copper Club - $50-$99 Complete the form below and mail with your check to support a strong HOMEPAC. We need your help reaching our goals, so encourage the other members you know to contribute. We also hope you will support candidates who are friends of housing by sending individual contributions to their campaigns.

Please help us make a difference.

2011 HOMEPAC Contribution Enclosed is my contribution to HOMEPAC. $ _____________________________ Name _______________________________ Company _______________________ Mail to: HBAL, 6100 S. 58th Street, Ste. C, Lincoln, NE 68516

A vAluABle

$offer 500 for

1

NAHB MeMBers.

NAHB members can get a $5001 private offer toward the purchase or lease of most new GM vehicles. Learn more at gmfleet.com/nahb.

How it works: 1) Get your NAHB proof of membership form at nahb.org/ma.

2) Bring form to your GM dealer and mention this private offer.

3) At time of purchase or lease, present your NAHB proof of to your dealer.

| 2011 GMC SAVANA | 2011 GMC SierrA Offer valid toward the purchase or lease of new 2010, 2011 and 2012 Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC models excluding Chevrolet Camaro Convertible and Chevrolet Volt. Not available with some other offers. Not valid on prior purchases. Program subject to change without notice. See dealer for details. Take delivery by 1/3/12. ©2011 General Motors LLC

1

25  Lincoln Business Builder

Occupancy Certificates Now Online | Appraisals| Local Housing Markets | Building Permit Update

Appraisals Remain a Problem Building & Safety remain a major problem for the industry, parAnnounces Occupancy Appraisals ticularly the inappropriate use of foreclosed and distressed as comparables. This has negatively affected Certificates Now Online properties property values and remains an obstacle to the recovery of Occupancy Certificates Available Online - Building & Safety has added the ability for the general public to print a copy of issued Occupancy Certificates. This feature has been added to the department’s website on the Online Building Permit Search webpage. Issued certificates are easily identified by the link attached to occupancy permits showing the status “final.” Click on the link to view a copy of the occupancy certificate ready for printing.

To access the Online Building Permit Search webpage go to: http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/build/bldgsrv/permits.htm

the housing market. To help find constructive solutions to appraisal problems, NAHB on Dec. 9 hosted its third “Appraisal Summit” with federal regulatory agencies and the major housing and financial institution stakeholder and appraisal groups. The summit provided a good venue to further explore opportunities for clarifying and improving methods used in valuing newly built homes. NAHB continues to work with all stakeholders involved in this issue to enact concrete reforms to ensure that appraisals accurately reflect true market values.

Local Housing Markets

Please be aware that occupancy certificates in a “limited” or “temporary” status will not be displayed.

You may retrieve occupancy certificates from as far back as 1999. The issued date shows up in the upper right hand corner and the date you retrieve the certificate is shown in the signature block.

We hope that this new feature provides a worthy benefit to you.

If you have any questions or feedback you can contact Kathleen at 402-441-6406 or Rita at 402-441-6454.

The latest S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index reveals that prices remain above their spring 2009 lows. The report shows that all markets are local and that home prices vary according to state and region. In general, California and the Northeast are faring better than the Midwest and Southeast.

Meanwhile, the latest reading of the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) shows that housing affordability is at its highest level in two decades.

Nearly 74 percent of all new and existing homes that were sold during the final quarter of 2010 were affordable to median-income earning families.

Did you know?

The construction of 100 single-family homes generates 305 jobs, $14.5 million in salaries and wages, and $8.9 million in federal, state and local tax revenue.

Looking ahead, there are signs that conditions in the housing market should show modest improvement in the coming months: 1. An improving economy means continued job growth.

2. Low mortgage interest rates keep housing affordable.

3. Three years of sub-normal household formation rates has created pent-up demand that will help reduce some of the excess housing inventory.

Building Permits

City of Lincoln - 10 -Year Table

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

Jan. YTD

SF 69 69

2002 TH 14 14

MF 81 81

SF 98 98

2003 TH 8 8

MF 4 4

SF 74 74

2004 TH 8 8

MF 5 5

SF 54 54

2005 TH 21 21

MF 0 0

SF 72 72

2006 TH 14 14

MF 0 0

SF 40 40

2007 TH 8 8

MF 4 4

SF 35 35

2008 TH 19 19

MF 6 6

SF 11 11

2009 TH 14 14

MF 0 0

SF 24 24

2010 TH 7 7

MF 2 2

SF 22 22

2011 TH 0 0

MF 4 4

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

Jan. Total Avg. Cost

# 13 13

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Cost # Cost # Cost # Cost # Cost 177,199 8 119,859 19 333,000 7 87,400 9 1,364,460 177,199 8 119,859 19 333,000 7 87,400 9 1,364,460 13,631 14,982 17,526 12,486 151,607

#

2009 2010 2011 Cost # Cost # Cost 2 52,000 6 152,980 3 80,100 2 52,000 6 152,980 3 80,100 26,000 25,497 26,700

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

Jan. Total Avg. Cost

#

2004 Cost 66 699,013 66 699,013 10,591

# 68 68

2005 Cost 774,591 774,591 11,391

26  Lincoln Business Builder

2006 Cost 89 1,007,372 89 1,007,372 11,319

#

2007 2008 Cost # Cost 88 1,163,863 81 907,619 88 1,163,863 81 907,619 13,226 11,205

#

#

2009 Cost 71 784,232 71 784,232 11,046

#

2010 Cost 57 502,454 57 502,454 8,815

#

2011 Cost 69 988,395 69 988,395 14,325

27 ď ´ Lincoln Business Builder

Call For All Your Exterior Needs!

Contact Us Today For A Free Estimate

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

Lance Roach President

Cell 402-730-6333

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID LINCOLN NE PERMIT NO 51

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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Jlexteriors@yahoo.com www.jandlexteriors.com Certified Lead Renovator

Would you prefer homebuyers put more money into their homes, or their utilities?

While ENERGY STAR® qualified homes cost a little more, they’re at least 15 percent more efficient than the 2004 International Residential Code. Their energy savings more than offsets any additional cost. Which makes them more affordable to own. And more profitable to build.

www.les.com MA_8.5X5.5Ads_2011

1/6/11

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National Association of Home Builders

Put your membership to work now.

Money-saving discounts that benefit your business, your employees, and your family

www.nahb.org/MA

The 7” x 4.5” space above is available for an ad.

For more information, please contact Jennie at HBAL, 423-4225 or jennie@hbal.org.