GAHM0309 by Catharine Snell

THE VOICE OF THE GREATER ATLANTA HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

www.atlantahomebuilders.com VOL. 10, NO. 3, MARCH 2009

ATLANTA BUILDING NEWS

Greater

Atlanta

Home Builders

Association

When will it happen? Economic Outlook Plus

CPHB Offers Advanced Leadership Series

Winn House Renovations Completed

Tax Credits for Green Improvements

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FEATURES

BUILDING NEWS

March 2009 Volume 10, Number 3

State of the Economy When the market will begin to show signs of recovery and how to tell when the turnaround is coming.

EDUCATION Erosion and Sediment Control Recertification

ATLANTA 50+ HOUSING COUNCIL Positive Trends Continue

EARTHCRAFT HOUSE Tax Credits for High-Performance Homes

HOMEAID ATLANTA Newly Renovated Winn House Continues to Provide Hope

SALES AND MARKETING COUNCIL Surviving and Thriving in 2009

BOOKSTORE Gift Your Books to Others

EVERY ISSUE

THE HOUSING INSTITUTE Advanced Leadership Series Addresses Buildersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Needs

Letter from the President By Steve King

Classes and Events Calendar

17 Index to Advertisers

ATLANTA BUILDING NEWS SPONSOR

Greater

Atlanta

Home Builders

Association

DEPARTMENTS

MARCH 2009

Dues payments to the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (HBA) are not deductible as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes. However, dues may be deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense, subject to exclusions for lobbying activity. Contributions to a political action committee are not tax deductible. Because a portion of your dues for 2009 is used for lobbying by the National Association of Home Builders ($18) and the Home Builders Association of Georgia ($27), these amounts are not deductible for income tax purposes. You are advised to consult a professional tax advisor regarding the deduction of your dues payments to the HBA.

ATLANTA BUILDING NEWS

P.O. Box 450749 Atlanta, GA 31145 (770) 938-9900 (770) 934-8363 FAX www.atlantahomebuilders.com

STAR QUALITY.

Build ENERGY STAR® and All-Electric and build in quality. Distinguish your homes by following ENERGY STAR® New Home guidelines – and by building All-Electric. Today, energy efficiency is a huge selling point. And an ENERGY STAR qualified new home is at least 15% more energy efficient than Georgia’s standard building code. You’ll appreciate the simplicity of building All-Electric. Plus you can get a $300 rebate from Georgia Power for each All-Electric ENERGY STAR new home you build. To learn more, call 1-800-524-2421 or go to georgiapower.com/energystar.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Changes Coming to Market, Magazine

T he V o ice o f t he G reat er At lant a H o me B uild ers A s s o c i a ti o n

ATLANTA BUILDING NEWS Atlanta, Georgia | Volume 10, Number 3 | March 2009

HBA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President: Steve King Vice President: Les Stumpff Parliamentarian: Steve Palmer Associate Vice President: Mitch Hires Associate at Large: Carol Stone Builder at Large: Steve Brock Builder at Large: Dean Cowart Builder at Large: Phil Gressly Builder at Large: Dan O’Dwyer Executive Vice President: David Ellis

HBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Builders

By Steve King

By the time you read this, the Stimulus Bill will have passed and perhaps the “Mark to Market” rule will have been eased for banks. Both of these measures are positive for our industry and provide badly needed light at the end of a long tunnel. The inventory of new homes in Atlanta continues to decline. While we are not out of the woods yet, there are indications that we could be in a vastly improved situation later in the year. As you begin to think about restarting your businesses, we at the HBA would like to know what we can do to help. Please feel free to e-mail me at skbuilder@mindspring.com with your suggestions. HBA staff and I also want your input on a change that is about to occur with what you’re doing right now, rather, what you’re reading right now: this magazine. Atlanta Building News (ABN) has been the association’s main communication piece for decades and has been in its present magazine form since 2000. It’s gone through many revisions throughout the years, and you will see another change shortly. You may have noticed that over the last nine months or so, the number of pages has decreased, and some of the regular columns have been shorter or perhaps omitted altogether. The length of the magazine is dictated by the number of pages of ads sold in each issue, and like many any other publications that have been affected in this economy, ABN advertising revenue is quickly dwindling. To compensate, ABN will now be printed and mailed four times a year. In the months when there will not be a printed issue, an electronic edition of ABN will be sent to all members. These changes will not result in a decrease in the amount of content in each issue, printed or electronic. In fact, making these production changes means there will be more space for content and photos. Quarterly printing allows for longer issues, and there is unlimited space when ABN is electronic. The e-ABN will look similar to the print magazine and have all the same columns and sections of content, will be more timely than the print version and will have advertising opportunities that complement the print version. Because this mix of print and electronic distribution is new, it’s hard to tell what the impact on members will be. ABN is a very important communication tool and membership beneﬁt, so HBA staff will have an annual review to determine if and when ABN returns to a monthly printed publication. We want your opinion of the e-ABN and the quarterly print magazine. Members will receive their ﬁrst issue of e-ABN next month, so please take the time to review it any share any thoughts or comments you may have. There will be a link in the e-ABN for commenting. Comments regarding the print magazine can be sent to comm@atlantahomebuilders.com or by calling 678-775-1429. The seasons change this month; let’s hope that as winter’s freeze gives way to spring’s thaw, the economy begins to thaw too, so we can all get back to the business of building our neighborhoods and communities.

MARCH 2009

ATLANTA BUILDING NEWS

Bill Boyajan Lawson Calhoun Brian Canady Al Capogrossi Steve Goodsell

Kenny King Mark King Chris Knight Ben Lively Gary Lockman

Sammy Baker Micah Beatty Bob Chapin

Eugene James John O’Driscoll Ro Preisinger

Alicia MacPhee Rob Myers Roy Wendt John Willis

Associates Gary Sanchez Ron Sprinkle

CHAPTER PRESIDENTS Cherokee: Mike Shina Cobb: Jim Hughes DeKalb: John Cooper Forsyth: Bob Gorrie Gwinnett: Alex Tetterton Inner Atlanta: Jim Brown Metro South: TBD North Fulton: Bobby Webb Rockdale: Joel Gregory South Fulton: Sean Doughtie

COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL CHAIRMEN Associates Council: Heather Bounds Atlanta 50+ Housing Council: Lane Tharp Builder/Developer/Lender Council: Steve Goodsell Government Affairs Committee: Neal Davis Membership: Glenn Rodney Remodelers Council: Rocco Sinisgalli Sales and Marketing Council: Cindy Huber

SUBSIDIARIES EarthCraft House: Dennis Creech HomeAid Atlanta: DuVall Brumby The Housing Institute: Mike Smith

GENERAL COUNSEL Frank O. Brown, Jr.

LIFE DIRECTORS Lyall Angevine Dave Boccolucci Millard Bowen Tom Bradbury Jeff Bramlett Steve Brock Barry Burney Charles Bussey Ken Butera F. Coin Campbell, Jr. Kay Cantrell J.D. Caswell

Bob Chaney David Clough Doug Cotter John Cowart Harold Cunliffe Chuck Edwards W.D. Farmer Chris Garner Jim Givan Tom Godfrey Howard Gross Pete Halter

Tim Jones Marilyn Kelly Mike Kilgallon Mort Laning George McClure Dennis McConnell Terry Morris Dan O’Dwyer John Pelton Tony Perry Rick Porter Ray Redden

Allen Richardson Carl Riden Pam Sessions Bill Shean Charles Sheron David Smith Steve Smith Doug Spohn Jim Stansberry Mike Turner Dean Welch Chris Willis

ATLANTA BUILDING NEWS Publisher: David Ellis Managing Editor: Nancy Meeks Associate Editors: Christopher Burke, Ann Carey, Kim H. Jones and Marylee Putnam NAYLOR, LLC Publisher: Christopher Hodges Editor: Colleen Raccioppi Project Manager: Jason White Advertising Sales Leader: SaraCatherine Sedberry Advertising Sales: Amanda Blanchard, Millard Lowry, John O’Neil, Marjorie Pedrick, Mark Tumarkin, Paul Walley, John Warren, Jason Zawada Layout & Design: Catharine Snell Advertising Art: Glenn Domingo ATLANTA BUILDING NEWS, The Voice of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, P.O. Box 450749, Atlanta, GA 31145. Tel: (770) 938-9900. March 2009. Published monthly by Naylor, LLC, 5950 NW 1st Place, Gainesville, FL 32607. Direct all advertising, circulation and editorial inquiries to (800) 369-6220. Acceptance of advertising in Atlanta Building News does not imply the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s endorsement or approval of the product or service advertised. All information herein has been checked for accuracy to the best of the publisher’s ability. No responsibility is accepted for deletions, omissions, errors and/or inaccuracies. Unless a special placement within the magazine is specifically purchased, publisher reserves the right to place any ad on a first-come, first-served basis. No materials contained herein may be reproduced without the exclusive written permission of the publisher. ©2009 by Naylor, LLC. All rights reserved. PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2009/GAH-M0309/8265

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C L A S S E S A N D E V E N T S C A L E N DA R

MARCH

APRIL 1

10 ✔ Booth Behavior Basics: How to Make Profitable Contacts at Trade Shows, 8:30 a.m. ✔ Effective Lead Marketing Lunch and Learn, noon

11-12

✔ Residential Contractor Licensing Exam Prep Course (two days), 8:30 a.m. ✔ Web Site Design and Development, 8:30 a.m. ✔ Homeowner Handbook Orientation, 9 a.m.

✔ Builder Licensing Exam Prep Course: Codes (two days), 8 a.m.

✔ Certified Professional Home Builder Opportunity Breakfast, 8 a.m. ✔ Atlanta 50+ Housing Council Meeting, 8 a.m.

11 ✔ Certified Professional Home Builder Opportunity Breakfast, 8 a.m. ✔ Business Accounting and Job Cost, 8:30 a.m.

14 ✔ Builder Licensing Exam Prep 4-Week Course Begins (Tuesdays and Thursdays), 8 a.m. ✔ Developing a Safety Manual: Compliance-Based Lunch and Learn, noon

12 ✔ Building Codes, Standards and Guidelines, 8:30 a.m. ✔ Sales and Marketing Council Meeting, 6 p.m., Villa Christina

15 ✔ Builder/Developer/Lender Council Meeting, 8 a.m.

HomeAid Atlanta Board Meeting, 11 a.m.

Membership Committee/Associates Council Meeting, 11:30 a.m.

✔ Level 1-A: Fundamentals of Erosion and Sediment Control, 8:30 a.m.

21-22

18-19

✔ IRM-II: Marketing Strategies, Plans and Budgets (two days), 8 a.m.

✔ Green Building for Building Professionals Course (two days), 8:30 a.m.

✔ Certified Professional Home Builder Opportunity Breakfast, 8 a.m. ✔ Cherokee/Cobb Chapter Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Marietta Country Club

✔ Builder/Developer/Lender Council Meeting, 8 a.m. HomeAid Atlanta Board Meeting, 11 a.m.

24-26 ✔ Builder Licensing Exam Prep Course: Commercial Supplement (three days), 8 a.m.

24 ✔ EarthCraft House Building, 8:30 a.m.

✔ CPHB Leadership Series: Performing a Community Audit in Today’s Market Using the 4PApproach to Marketing, 9 a.m.

✔ Sales and Marketing Council Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Maggiano’s Perimeter

28 ✔ HBA Board Meeting, 3:30 p.m. ✔ HBA Spring General Membership Meeting, 5 p.m.

25 ✔ Certified Professional Home Builder Opportunity Breakfast, 8 a.m. ✔ Inner Atlanta Chapter Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Maggiano’s Buckhead

29 ✔ Basics of Building, 8:30 a.m. ✔ Level 1-A: Fundamentals of Erosion and Sediment Control Re-Certification, 8:30 a.m. ✔ Inner Atlanta/DeKalb Chapter Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Maggiano’s Buckhead ✔ Level AW: Subcontractors Awareness Seminar, 1 p.m.

26 ✔ Green Building Boot Camp: Intro to Green Building, 9 a.m.

31 ✔ Remodelers Council Meeting, 11:30 a.m.

National Membership Day is May 19 With extraordinary powers and an outstanding network, there is nothing a superhero can’t do! Is there a hero in you? This year’s HBA Membership Drive needs the superhero in all of us to come out! Current

Calendar Key to Events: ✔ This course is approved for CPHB program continuing education credits.

MARCH 2009

members like you are needed to help recruit new members. Please get involved and make a difference in our industry. Call 678-775-1474 or e-mail membership@atlantahomebuilders.com for more information.

■ Environmental Issues ■ Education ■ Social Events ■ Membership Meetings

ATLANTA BUILDING NEWS

All meetings will be held at HBA’s Housing Center unless otherwise noted. The Housing Center is located at 1484 Brockett Road in Tucker at the corner of Brockett and Cooledge roads next to Highway 78.

Editor’s Note: Changes in the dates and location of events listed on our calendar occur. Please call the HBA at (770) 938-9900 or check t h e l a t e s t c a l e n d a r o nlin e a t www.atlantahomebuilders.com.

F E AT U R E

State of the

Economy Reasons for Fear, Cause for Hope Simply put, national economic projections in early 2009 were not good. Coming off an acute downturn on single-family construction in 2008, industry leaders are forecasting that residential construction activity will continue to decrease in 2009. National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) data released in late December told the story. The NAHB Housing Index remained at an alltime low; housing starts and permits were at their lowest levels since World War II, according to NAHB analysts; foreclosures were at an all-time high with a new wave anticipated for spring 2009, and consumer conﬁdence was shattered. To NAHB President and CEO Jerry Howard, price ﬂuctuations around the country were especially frustrating because the demand was there. “And you have potential home buyers that are shell-shocked and standing on the sidelines,” he said. ATLANTA MARKET

HBA Vice President and Treasurer Les Stumpff described local conditions. “With 140,000 or more vacant lots and nearly 90,000 FMLS-listed homes, we have a long way to go before the market is healthy.” Stumpff admitted that 2008 was one of the worst years on record and

By Jesse Hettig

that the low building activity was only appropriate. He expected sales in 2009 to fall even farther due to the liquidation of spec homes in 2008. He didn’t expect steady sales until 2010. More than 900 executives of construction and equipment distribution companies from around the country surveyed in the 2009 Wells Fargo Construction Industry Forecast agreed. Seventy three percent of contractors and 63 percent of equipment distributors surveyed anticipate a turnaround in 12, 18 or 24 months; 28 percent of distributors and 22 percent of contractors predicted that improvement will come in the next 12 months. Eugene James, Atlanta regional director of Metrostudy, echoed these observations. “We’re close to the bottom. We’ll hit bottom in the ﬁrst quarter of 2009 and drag along the bottom for the remainder of 2009.” James believes the state of the local inventory was the only good news. “We are absorbing inventory at a fair pace because every time we sell a house, we are not replacing it with another new house.” Dan Forsman, president and CEO of Prudential Georgia Realty, sees current conditions as an anomaly and is conﬁdent in the local market’s longterm health. “Atlanta is still projected to add 2 million people to the population

www.atlantahomebuilders.com

over the next 10 to 15 years. So with the demographics of continued growth [and] no natural boundaries, I think you’ll see transactions in the market, as we look back on 2008 and 2009, as being the lowest that you’ll ever see.” With the slowdown, many national builders left the metro Atlanta area. Small builders simply closed their doors. KB Homes, Choice Homes and Comstock Homebuilding all chose to halt operations and wait for the bounce back. More of the market share was left to the local crews. Without more small builders entering the market though, James sees this as troublesome. “The less competition, the more we will see future home prices increase. Competition has kept Atlanta home prices down low.” Stumpff, on the other hand, saw the withdrawal of large builders as a positive, provided the market demand was being satisﬁed. “It’s simply less competition, and it doesn’t result in less work for the suppliers, contractors, and related industry service providers.” SIGNS OF AN UPSWING

Debate among experts is healthy, but what has to happen to get things moving in the right direction, and more importantly, how will we know when the turnaround is coming? Stumpff is looking for an increase in state and local tax collections. An upswing in sales taxes, payroll taxes and income taxes would validate reports of job growth and build consumer conﬁdence. He also believes there are steps the city could take. “Atlanta is projected to be among the ﬁrst and strongest housing markets to recover. Job growth is key. When Atlanta solves its transportation issues, it will become one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.” At the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Research Economist and Assistant Policy Adviser Kris Gerardi focused on real estate owned (REO)sales as well as traditional sales. “An increase in REO sales could signify that valuations of investors are consistent with those of sellers, and

Fix Housing First A coalition of more than 600 housing industry-related organizations, led by the National Association of Home Builders, has formed to campaign for a government stimulus plan, titled Fix Housing First, to stem foreclosures by the FDIC, to create real home-buyer tax credits and to lower interest rates. The plan would extend the tax credit from first-time buyers to all buyers of an owner-occupied, principle residence in the year 2009. It would not be “recapturable” by the federal government. It proposes changing the $7,500 credit to a sliding scale determined by market prices in an area, $12,000 to $22,000 depending on the location. The tax program currently in place is essentially an interest-free loan. Fix Housing First proposes that people be given a true credit against their taxes. The plan also calls for lower interest rates. 4.5 percent is considered not nearly aggressive enough. The coalition would like to see 2.9 percent for the calendar year. The Fix Housing First plan is unique because it does not ask for a direct cash infusion from the government. “We are not asking for any direct relief for any homebuilding companies. Entrepreneurs only want the markets to be put in order. They’ll make the money on their own,” said NAHB President and CEO Jerry Howard. If enacted, the Fix Housing First initiative would stabilize prices “almost overnight.” The economy would grow, from housing’s lift to the ancillary, financial and manufacturing industries. For more information about this initiative and to urge your representatives in Congress to take action on this critical issue, visit www.fi xhousingfirst.com.

thus, the market clearing price has been reached,” said Gerardi. Since markets usually are characterized by price rigidity, the volume of sales would pick up before prices started to rise. BEYOND 2009

Although the immediate future seems bleak, there are some positive trends on the horizon. With many Americans looking for work, a shortage of skilled labor likely will be of less concern this year. According to the Construction and Industry Forecast, only 12 percent of contractors cited a lack of a quality workforce as their chief worry, down from 29 percent last year. Seventy percent of contractors surveyed said high fuel costs have had a negative impact on their proﬁtability

to a “great extent,” but the decrease in gas prices during the first quarter of 2009 bodes well for this year. Fifty one percent said they expect materials costs to increase, but more contractors plan to buy used, rather than new, equipment this year, and more companies are buying and selling equipment online. Equipment rental rates are expected to hold steady, and contractors expect to rent equipment slightly more often. Builders are focused on staying profitable, and survey respondents considered financing programs to be the best way to increase sales. Surely conditions are as bad as any in recent memory. Fortunately, the homebuilding industry is cyclical; experts agree that housing got us into this recession, and it’s uniquely positioned to get us out.

“Atlanta is projected to be among the first and strongest housing markets to recover. Job growth is key.” 10

MARCH 2009

ATLANTA BUILDING NEWS

THE HOUSING INSTITUTE

CPHB Advanced Leadership Series Addresses Builders’ Needs The current economic state is

program to the media and continually assisted builders any way the program was able. CPHB Program Executive Director Kim Jones created the Advanced Leadership Series (ALS), featuring classes about pertinent, topical information, as well as the monthly builder opportunity breakfasts, which provide a relaxed atmosphere for builders to meet among peers to discuss strategies, ideas, stress management and hope for the future. The 2009 ALS line-up of classes

affecting all Americans, particularly home builders. With the rapid downtown of the housing market last year, the Certified Professional Home Builder program (CPHB) began focusing on promoting its builders and assisting them through the tough times. To aid builders, program staff attended more than 10 home shows, allowing builders to volunteer and provide marketing materials about their houses, held Home Buyer Academies, promoted the CPHB

By Jerene L. Cruse

includes How to Restart Your Business, Survival Through Partnerships, Performing a Community Audit in Today’s Market Using the 4P Approach to Marketing, Guerilla Marketing and Green Tax Credit. Additional classes will be held at the Southern Building Show in June. To register to attend ALS classes, visit the Classes and Events page of www.atlantahomebuilders.com. Please call 678-775-1469 or e-mail education@atlantahomebuilders.com with any questions.

Perseverance: The difference between a successful person and others is not the lack of strength, lack of knowledge, lack of money, but rather the lack of will. —Vince Lombardi

Upcoming 2009 ALS Classes

• Residential - above ground and underground tanks • Builder Packages Available • Commercial & Forklift Fuel • Dependable Automatic Delivery • 24 Hour Emergency Service • Trained Experienced Technicians

Free to all Certiﬁed Professional Home Builders. April 23 – Performing a Community Audit in Today’s Market Using the 4P Approach to Marketing July 23 – Guerilla Marketing Sept. 24 – Green Tax Credit

Ralph Poole Cherokee • Cobb • N. Fulton • Douglas 404.433.6641

Charles Sims Gwinnet • Metro Atlanta • Henry • Rockdale 770.861.8499

Kelli Stauts Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

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North Georgia Mountains 770.265.5357

www.atlantahomebuilders.com 5/8/07

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E A RT H C R A F T H O U S E

2009 Tax Credits Available for High-Performance Home Building By Roxanne Greeson

While the housing market has certainly seen better days, one thing is clear: home buyers are being more discriminating than ever and want to get the most bang for their buck. One of the few bright spots in the building industry is high-performance and green building. Buyers want homes that will save them money on utility bills, require less money to maintain and have better indoor air quality. Thanks to federal and state tax credits, there has never been a better time to build a new home or remodel an existing home to high energy efﬁciency standards. Knowing these tax breaks allows for more informed budgetary decisions. HOME BUILDERS

Home builders can apply for a $2,000 federal tax credit for each energy-efﬁcient home completed after 2005 and sold in 2009 that reduces its energy consumption for heating and cooling by 50 percent when compared to the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). To qualify for the tax credit, building envelope improvements in areas such as insulation, exterior doors and pigmented metal roofs must account for 1/5 of the energy savings in each new home. Home builders must document the energy savings by using a third-party Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET)accredited inspector to certify and model the home with software approved by the IRS and RESNET. EarthCraft House performs both of these services and can provide a tax credit recommendation report to assist builders in achieving the desired savings. HOME OWNERS

Home owners can receive federal tax credits for improving an existing home’s building envelope, which includes insulation materials, exterior doors, windows, skylights, pigmented metal roofs, asphalt roofs and systems designed to reduce heat loss or gain. The combined total of these credits may not exceed 10 percent of the costs or $500, with less than $200 dedicated to windows. Improvements should last a minimum of ﬁve years and must meet 2000 IECC criteria. Credits cannot compensate for installation costs. Home owners can apply for federal tax credits for highperformance heating and cooling systems installed in new or existing homes, as well as federal and Georgia tax credits for clean energy resources. To collect credits for any heating, cooling or water heating equipment, home owners must make purchases during 2009 and meet the performance standards set for each technology. Home owners can collect credits totaling the entirety of any expenditure, without exceeding the following caps: • Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters – $300 • Electric Heat Pumps – $300 • Geothermal Heat Pumps – $2,000 • Central Air Conditioners – $300

MARCH 2009

ATLANTA BUILDING NEWS

• Natural Gas, Propane or Oil Water Heaters – $300 • Natural Gas, Propane or Oil Furnace or Hot Water Boilers – $150 • Advanced Main Air Circulating Fans – $50 • Biomass Stoves – $300 Although clean energy resources vary by system, federal tax credits can cover up to 30 percent of installed costs, and Georgia tax credits can return up to 35 percent of costs. Both federal and state tax credits are subject to caps. To claim state tax credits, a clean energy system must be placed in service between 2009 and 2012 and be operational or able to function as intended prior to proceeding with both the preapplication and application processes. For more information, visit www.dsireusa.org for a detailed list of speciﬁcation and performance requirements for all eligible products and systems. Remember to keep clear and accurate records (including receipts, modeling reports and work details) to properly ﬁle for tax credits. For more information about EarthCraft House, visit www.earthcrafthouse.com.

B O O K S TO R E

Pay It Forward: Donate Your Used Licensing Exam Books to Help Other Builders and Remodelers Have you already taken your builder licensing exam and have no clue what to do with all those books? Donate them to someone else. Getting your builder license is an expensive process, and we want to help. The HBA Bookstore is currently collecting gently used builder licensing exam titles to provide to other members. There will be no cost to anyone receiving these books—just a donation from one person to the next! Titles to donate: • Building Component: The Guide to Good Practice for Handling, Installing, Restraining and Bracing of Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses • Business and Project Management for Contractors • Carpentry and Building Construction • Gypsum Construction Handbook

• Handling and Erection of Steel Joists and Joist Girders • Modern Masonry: Brick, Block, Stone • Pipe & Excavation Contracting • SDI Manual of Construction with Steel Deck • The Contractor’s Guide to Quality Concrete Construction • 29 CFR Part 1926 Selections • 2006 International Building Code Book • 2006 International Residential Code Book • 2006 International Energy Conservation Code Donated books will be given to Greater Atlanta HBA members only. If you are interested in donating or receiving books, please e-mail bookstore@atlantahomebuilders.com or call 678-775-1469 for more information.

E D U C AT I O N

Erosion and Sediment Control Recertification By Marylee Putnam, Director of Operations and Education

Do you need to continue your erosion and sediment control certification? In 2003, HB285 amended the Georgia Erosion and Sediment Control Act of 1975, which requires a mandatory certification for all individuals involved in land-disturbing activities in Georgia. These individuals include contractors, builders, site superintendents, grading and utility contractors, developers and monitoring consultants. This certification must be renewed every three years. Each certified individual is required to attend and participate in at least four hours of approved continuingeducation courses, as established by the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. The Commission, in consultation with the Stakeholder Advisory Board, has established the recertification requirements, and the Greater Atlanta HBA offers classes that meet the recertification guidelines. The sessions are half-day workshops; no examination is required for recertification. For more information on this class and other education opportunities at the HBA and to register to attend classes, visit the Education and Development section of www.atlantahomebuilders.com.

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H O M E A I D AT L A N TA

2009 HomeAid Atlanta Individual and Corporate Sponsors

Newly Renovated Winn House Continues to Provide Hope

Diamond HomeAid Atlanta recently completed renovations at The Winn

Platinum

Marketing Partners

Previsite America, Inc. Gold Atlanta Sales and Marketing Council Sakrete White Rock Drywall Silver AEW Capital/Northpark Town Center Bank of America Peachtree Residential Properties Bronze Anonymous Atlanta Falcons/John Willis Homes Lafarge North America, Inc. Waterford Homes Friend A. J. Thomas The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Bill Shean Bobby and Elizabeth Dulin Charles Anderson Homes, Inc. Copper Electric, Inc. Curb Appeal Mailboxes, LLC Dan DeJiacomo Custom Homes D’Anna Homes, Inc. Ferguson McManamy/Asset Strategies Function Design, Inc. Georgia Power Image Doors Joan McDonald Oneida Builders Parksite, Inc.

MARCH 2009

House in Decatur. The home, owned by neighboring North Decatur Presbyterian Church, has been operated by Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM) since 1983 to house homeless families in the Decatur/DeKalb area. The rehabilitation of The Winn House allows the home to continue providing a dignified place where local homeless families can rebuild their lives. The Winn House has accommodated homeless families continuously for 25 years, but major renovations were needed before it could once again house families. HomeAid Atlanta stepped in to lead the renovation effort, which included rebuilding the entire bathroom and kitchen, replacing damaged windows and siding, treating mold in the crawl space, replacing/refinishing flooring materials and replacing the heating and air system. Energy-efficient appliances were also installed. This project marked the third partnership between HomeAid Atlanta and DCM, who originally worked together in 2004 to renovate two other transitional homes for homeless families in South DeKalb. Immediately following the home’s completed renovation, which was just before Christmas, a homeless mother and her three young daughters were able to move in, providing them a warm and safe place to call home. Through DCM’s Family Transitional Housing Program, this family will be able to live in the home for up to two years while participating in personal growth and development opportunities such as financial management education, computer training and support groups, in preparation for the eventual transition back into permanent housing. Special thanks to the following companies that partnered with HomeAid Atlanta to complete renovations at The Winn House: A-1 Waste Disposal; Advanced Remediation

ATLANTA BUILDING NEWS

Solutions; ALH Heating & Air; AtlantaMold LLC; Better Blown of GA, Inc.; BR Brothers; Builder Specialties; King Kan; Marathon Electric; Overhead Door Company of Atlanta; ProBuild; Progress Lighting; Ramos Construction; Randal Lowe Enterprises; Robert Bowden, Inc.; Sherwin-Williams; SouthRidge Painting; Strathmore FloorsDesign-Cabinets; Weslock, Inc.; White Rock Drywall; and Wilson Insulation. In addition, many thanks to the HBA’s Associates Council. A group of volunteers from the Associates Council participated in a HomeAid Care Day at The Winn House, helping to move furniture into the home in preparation for the incoming family.

The grateful new resident of The Winn House, center, proudly stands in front of her new home with Beth Vann, executive director for DCM, left, and Christy Oraelosi, program manager for DCM.

AT L A N TA 5 0 + H O U S I N G C O U N C I L

Positive Trends Continue Today’s real estate news increasingly focuses on the negative aspects of the overall market. Despite the news headlines, the 50+ market segment is still seeing moderate growth and positive traffic indicators. Our target demographics seem to be taking more time to decide and

Photo courtesy Jim Chapman Communities

visiting more properties than previous years. They enjoy the buying process and realize that they have more product choices. E-media advertising opportunities have contributed to the product variety that is now available. Whether the buyer prefers urban or suburban communities, there is something for everyone. Market awareness selling has a lot to do with the projected trends that are being realized this year. Current trends tell us that active-adult buyers demand much more out of their communities. They also tell us that this buyer group has the ability and desire to purchase more than one home. Today’s 50+ developers and home builders have a renewed commitment to research and analysis, to meet the needs of this ever-evolving buyer group. To learn more about this select group of home buyers, join us at our upcoming events:

• Feb. 12 – Joint meeting with Sales and Marketing Council at Villa Christina • April 8 – Educational symposium at The Housing Center • May 13 – Site tour, Somerset by Windsong For more information on these council meetings and to register to attend, visit the Classes and Events page of www.atlantahomebuilders.com.

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SALES AND MARKE TING COUNCIL

Surviving and Thriving in 2009

Boldly charge into the New Year with the Atlanta SMC! The council is offering outstanding events and exciting new ideas that will help you Survive and Thrive in 2009! “Survive and Thrive in 2009” is the Atlanta SMC’s membership theme for the year unveiled at the February meeting. The committee is planning a fun-ﬁlled year with a major focus on

retention and gaining new members. Look for new council member orientations and enhanced networking at monthly meetings as we Survive and Thrive in 2009. Mark your calendars for these upcoming council events: • March 12 – Charles Clark presents “Building Buyer Conﬁdence,” 6 p.m., Villa Christina • April 23 – Customer Service/ Dealing with Warranty Issues, 11:30 a.m., Maggiano’s, Perimeter Mall • May 14 – Do Business with a Member/Networking Event, Cocktails and Appetizers, 10 Terminus • June 4 – Super Sales Rally of the Southeast, Southern Building Show, Cobb Galleria Centre

SMC Education Update The SMC Education Committee held a seminar in February called “International Builders’ Show: What Did You Miss?” It reviewed some of the top Web site marketing strategies that were presented at January’s show in Las Vegas. The Education Committee also is working with the Institute of Residential Marketing to conduct a MIRM course in Atlanta in late 2009. And, congratulations to Joseph B. Colletti of Colletti & Associates, LLC, for receiving his MIRM designation at the IBS.

By Julie Slappey, SMC Communications Chair

For more information on these council meetings and to register to attend, visit the Classes and Events page of www.atlantahomebuilders.com.

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