The Digest | October-December 2022

Your Vision Starts Here

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Yo ur exclusive resource

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Everything you need

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materials

construction

millwork solutions

HOUSING FIRST

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what’s

Need to Know

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THE INDUSTRY

in Action

Industry Data

Doubling Down on the Housing Affordability

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BUSINESS TIPS

quality housing

Market

customers

Digital Leads

Directory

Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE BOARD

BOARD CHAIR JAMES JULKOWSKI, Julkowski, Inc.

VICE PRESIDENT JOHN QUINLIVAN, Gordon James

TREASURER ART PRATT, Pratt Homes

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT SUNNY BOWMAN, Dakota County Lumber Company

SECRETARY DALE LOEFFLER, Marvin

IMMEDIATE PAST BOARD CHAIR TODD POLIFKA, Custom One Homes

PAST ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT RYAN RUTZICK, All, Inc.

BOARD + COMMITTEE CHAIRS

ADVOCACY CHAIR TONY WIENER, Cardinal Homebuilders, Inc.

AMBASSADOR CHAIR KRISTIN REINITZ, Admit One Home Systems

ARTISAN HOME TOUR CHAIR JOHN KRAEMER, John Kraemer & Sons, Inc.

LARGE VOLUME BUILDERS CHAIR JAMIE THARP, Pulte Homes of Minnesota, LLC

PARADE OF HOMES CHAIR SARAH DULONG, Ron Clark Construction

PAST PRESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE SHAWN NELSON, New Spaces

REMODELERS CHAIR SAMANTHA GROSE, Oak & Arrow Homes

SMALL VOLUME BUILDERS CHAIR KIRK VAN SLOOTEN, Streeter Custom Builder

MEMBER AT LARGE TIM FOHR, Lennar

MEMBER AT LARGE PETER MARTIN, Pella Windows & Doors

Staff

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JAMES VAGLE

ASSOCIATION STAFF

FOUNDATION EVENTS & ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR MELISSA ANDRISANI

EDUCATION & SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR MARY BETH BLOM

EDITOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER LAURA BURT

MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS COORDINATOR KIM CARTER

VICE PRESIDENT, MEETINGS & EVENTS NICOLE COON

DIGITAL GRAPHIC DESIGNER EMILY DOHENY

VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC AFFAIRS KATIE ELFSTROM

SENIOR DIRECTOR, HOUSING POLICY NICK ERICKSON

VICE PRESIDENT, LEGISLATIVE & POLITICAL AFFAIRS MARK FOSTER

SENIOR DIRECTOR, EDUCATION & SPECIAL INITIATIVES TOM GAVARAS

SENIOR DIRECTOR, FINANCE TAMMI HALL

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR SARAH HINDERMAN

ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP SALES KORI MEEWES & BRAD MEEWES, and more by Kori

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER JANICE MEYER

FOUNDATION PROJECT MANAGER ERIN MILBURN

COMMUNICATIONS & POLICY COORDINATOR KRISTEN OBER

VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & MARKETING DAWNITA PARMELY

CREATIVE SERVICES & TECH COORDINATOR CASEY SCOZZARI

ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP FULFILLMENT COORDINATOR LAURIE SPARTZ

EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR KATE WIGLEY

Your Association for All Seasons

As we move through 2022 and I reflect on my role as your member leader and board chair, it is truly remarkable how much our industry has accomplished while we continue to grow and innovate.

We started the year by driving the homeownership message at the Capitol and successfully defending our industry against harmful legislative impacts. Our leadership is elevating the homeownership discussion in a way that we didn’t think possible just five years ago.

Our Parade of Homes tour had incredible spring and fall events as we showcased the expertise of our industry across the region. Our newly built and remodeled homes are some of the most efficient and high-performing in the country — confirmed by our Minnesota’s Green Path Home Performance Reports, which have grown to be the most respected seal of a well-built home.

We didn’t stop there. Our Artisan Home Tour drew over 50,000 visits over the three weekends this June. Our Foundation’s Gala raised a recordbreaking amount to support the remarkable industry philanthropy undertaken by the Foundation.

We’ve connected on the golf course and in committee meetings, and we look forward to the BIG Night this fall to celebrate our industry and award excellence across many fields. We’ll follow that with a close eye on elections, where the largest cohort of the Housing First PAC’s bipartisan endorsements will compete in elections across the state.

As we execute on our strategic plan to support and defend this industry and its customers, we’ll face new economic and market challenges. It is in this moment where being your association for

all seasons will be put to its highest test and value.

Housing First Minnesota is a proud organization, built upon a legacy of industry leaders who value focus, careful planning, and commitment to our industry. We are clear-eyed and prepared to lead in our role to defend our industry, communicate key information, showcase our industry’s work, and connect our members with each other.

We know there are challenges in front of us, but Housing First Minnesota will be there as our leader for all seasons.

JAMES JULKOWSKI

2022 HOUSING FIRST MINNESOTA BOARD CHAIR

Fall Remodelers Showcase home entry from Julkowski, Inc. in Roseville.

James and Rachel Julkowski supporting the Housing First Minnesota Foundation Gala.

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Events

KickStart + Happy Hour

Join us for our KickStart, an event built to help you make the most out of your membership and network with other industry peers. Meet the Housing First Minnesota membership team, and get your questions answered. Members old and new are welcome to attend.

October 11 & December 13, 2022

BIG Night

Celebrate the industry in a big way! The Building Industry Gala (BIG) Night is an evening to celebrate all the incredible work of the industry and honor our award winners including our Reggie, ROMA, Trillium, and other Housing First Minnesota award recipients.

October 28, 2022

Green Path Building Conference

Discover the latest in green building from top green building experts! This year’s virtual Green Path Conference features Rick Cobbs with The Energy Network WW, Patrick Huelman with the University of Minnesota, Michael Anschel with OA Design+Build, and Dominique Boczek Caldwell with ICF. Designated Green Path Builders receive one free registration.

November 10, 2022

State of the Industry

There is no better way to start the day and kick off a new year than with breakfast with internationally acclaimed speaker and economist Elliot Eisenberg. Welcome the 2023 board of directors for Housing First Minnesota and the Foundation and celebrate our outgoing board members. Don’t miss the opportunity for some networking as well!

December 6, 2022

Builders & Remodelers Show

BRS is back! It’s different. It’s better. For nearly 50 years, Housing First Minnesota has brought together networks of industry professionals at the Builders & Remodelers Show. This year we’re bringing BRS back with a bang. Our 2023 event is reimagined and redesigned to maximize the power of industry connections and bring you the latest cutting-edge products and services from dynamic industry partners.

February 16, 2023

Housing Day at the Capitol

Legislators need to hear from you on the challenges of inventory and affordability. Housing Day at the Capitol has always played a meaningful role in connecting our message with the voices and faces of the housing industry who can add a personal story to each issue.

March 2023

FIND THE ENTIRE 2022 EVENT CALENDAR & REGISTER ONLINE AT HOUSINGFIRSTMN.ORG/EVENTS

REGISTER AT HousingFirstMN.org/ Events

FIND DETAILS & REGISTER AT BIGnightMN.org

REGISTER AT MNgreenpath.org

REGISTER AT HousingFirstMN.org/ Events

REGISTER AT BRSmn.org

SAVE THE DATE

HousingFirstMN.org/ Events

AM -

& Update on Minnesota’s Green Path

8:45 AM -

on Xcel Energy & CenterPoint Energy Utility Rebates Dominique Boczek Caldwell, Program Manager, ICF/High Efficiency New Homes Program

9:00 AM - Get Ready for Changes to the 45L Tax Credit*

Rick Cobbs, Director of Production Services, The Energy Network WW

10:00 AM - The Awesome

Wall: A Better Way to Build Michael Anschel, Owner, OA Design + Build

11:00 AM - The Road to Net-Zero Energy Homes

Patrick Huelman,

Professor, University

Need to Know

Spring Parade of Homes & Remodelers Showcase Deadlines

Get your work entered in the best marketing event of the spring! The Spring Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase entry process opens early November.

Spring Entries Close: Early January 2023

Parade of Homes: March 4-April 2, 2023

Remodelers Showcase: March 31-April 2, 2023

Spring Award Deadlines

Your hard work deserves recognition!

Enter the Housing First Minnesota awards program that recognizes excellence in several areas — from quality and value of construction to business ethics. Enter so we can celebrate the fine work you do!

Spring Reggie Entry:

Early January 2023

Spring Trillium Opens: February 3, 2023

Spring Trillium Entry Due: March 10, 2023

Spring Reggie Photos Due: March 31, 2023

Online Contractor University Classes

Earn your continuing education credits through Contractor University’s online courses. With more than 20 courses available, you’ll find specialized classes that provide useful and practical knowledge to apply to your business.

Ravasy

Need to Know

Association Health Plan

Are you a small business in the residential construction market looking to provide insurance for your employees? Check out our Association Health Plan, which is fully insured by Blue Cross Blue Shield, managed by North Risk Partners. Participating companies have an average savings of 7-10%.

*Eligibility restrictions apply.

HousingFirstMN.org/AssociationHealthPlan

Give to the Max Day + Homelessness Awareness Month

November 17 is Give to the Max Day, Minnesota’s big giving holiday! Your generous donation to the Housing First Minnesota Foundation on this annual day of giving will go directly to build safe and dignified housing for Minnesotans experiencing homelessness.

LEARN MORE AT GiveMN.org/Organization/ HousingFirstMNFoundation

Update Your Member Info

Is your membership directory information accurate? Make sure your basic company information is right at the fingertips of members and homeowners!

MANAGE YOUR DIRECTORY LISTING AT HousingFirstMN.org

2023 Artisan Home Tour

We are pleased to announce that due to requests from builders and remodelers, there will be two Artisan Home Tours starting next year. In addition to the summer tour, a second tour will be launched in October 2023. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting announcement!

JUNE 9-25, 2023 | OCTOBER 6-22, 2023 HousingFirstMN.org/ ArtisanHomeTour

Contracts Available

Housing First Minnesota provides our members with contracts so you’re able to focus on your businesses. From lien waivers to purchase agreements to minimum performance guidelines and more, review these contracts online and use them as resources in your toolkit.

ACCESS CONTRACTS AT HousingFirstMN.org/ Contracts

Advocating for Housing on All Fronts

With a very critical election day ahead, the housing market and affordability making headlines, and numerous regulatory policies up for review, Housing First Minnesota continues to advocate for housing on all fronts. Here are a few key updates on our work to protect housing and homeownership.

Regulatory Affairs

Construction Stormwater Permit Changes

Housing First Minnesota members participated in a stakeholder meeting with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in July. Members provided subject matter expert commentary on items the agency is considering changing in the 2023 Minnesota Construction Stormwater General Permit (2023 General Permit). Comments on the proposed changes to the 2023 General Permit have been submitted to the MPCA. Housing First Minnesota will remain active in the development of the 2023 General Permit, which is set to take effect on Aug. 1, 2023.

Construction Stormwater Permit Fee Increases

In addition to the 2023 General Permit, MPCA is proposing significant fee increases. Housing First Minnesota submitted comments to the MPCA, expressing its concern over the creation of a new $100 subdivision fee. Most important are concerns over the fee increases of up to 525% and the lack of information on how the MPCA calculated these significant fee increases.

2021 Model Residential Energy Code

In August, a Minnesota administrative law judge held a hearing on the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) considers whether to change Chapter 1322, the state’s residential energy code. Housing First Minnesota staff attended the hearing and provided comments on the 2021 IECC. In 2020, Housing First Minnesota secured a landmark win for the industry by successfully advocating for DLI to keep the state’s energy code intact.

2023 National Electrical Code

The Minnesota Board of Electricity will begin the technical review of the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC). In July, Housing First Minnesota requested the Board of Electricity undertake a more rigorous review of the model electrical code and appoint industry stakeholders to its technical review. Housing First Minnesota will be deeply engaged in the technical review of the 2022 NEC and will be engaging legislators in conversations around reforming the Board of Electricity’s rulemaking powers.

Housing in the Headlines

The turbulent economy and housing slowdown has pushed housing into local and national headlines. As the leading voice for the housing industry in Minnesota, Housing First Minnesota continues to work on behalf of our industry to share our insight in the market and to best represent our industry with the media and thought leaders.

2022 Elections Supporting Pro-Housing Candidates

The decisions that elected officials make at every level of government impact you and your business. With worsening housing affordability, it is clear that it is time for lawmakers to take action and create real solutions to fix our growing housing crisis in Minnesota. That is why your trade association is encouraging you to vote for candidates up and down the ballot that will prioritize homeownership opportunities and advance ways to increase housing inventory and lower the costs of housing for more Minnesotans.

For our state to move ahead and tackle the disparities in our communities, we must be able to build starter homes and get back to the housing market basics that made our state a leader in homeownership.

There is no simple one-step solution to fix our broken housing market. Rather we need policy changes at all levels of government. But perhaps one of the most impactful would be at the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul. All 134 seats in the Minnesota House and all 67 seats in the Minnesota Senate are on the ballot this year. This is in addition to all the constitutional offices that include governor, lieutenant governor, state auditor, secretary of state, and the attorney general.

“Voting comes naturally to Minnesotans. We typically rank among the highest turnout states in the country,” said Mark Foster, vice president of legislative and political affairs. “With homeownership continuing to become a top-tier issue, we must prioritize a candidate’s housing policy position and voting record when considering who to vote for.”

Housing First Minnesota’s Political Action Committee (PAC) endorsed a record 72 candidates for election and re-election to

the Minnesota legislature. Housing First Minnesota’s PAC endorsement reflects each candidate’s demonstrated commitment to a vibrant housing market that ties together the communities of our great state. These leaders share our goals of providing the opportunity of homeownership for everyone, everywhere.

“Homeownership opportunities and housing affordability continue to be top-of-mind issues for more and more Minnesotans,” said James Vagle, CEO of Housing First Minnesota. “As voters consider their options at the polls, these legislative candidates stand out as leaders willing to address the complex issues that are unnecessarily driving up the cost of housing. We look forward to working with these housing champions during the 2023 legislative session.”

TO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF LEGISLATIVE ENDORSEMENTS, VISIT blog.housingfirstmn.org

With homeownership continuing to become a top-tier issue, we must prioritize a candidate’s housing policy position and voting record when considering who to vote for.”

MARK FOSTER VICE PRESIDENT OF LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS, HOUSING FIRST MINNESOTA

Minnesota’s Housing Market Continues to Tighten

A shrinking inventory of homes for sale in Minnesota and the U.S. remains a challenge to potential homebuyers.

According to the Minnesota Realtors®, home listings across the state shrunk 14.2% in July 2022. Listings in the Twin Cities metro dipped 17%, according to the latest data from the Minneapolis Area REALTORS®.

With a lower inventory of available homes listed on the market, there is a need for new homes to fill the void. However, construction of new homes has slowed.

Concerns over rising interest rates, delays in project

timelines, labor shortages, and other factors have led to a deceleration from the allout frenzied pace of the last two years. According to the U.S. Census, there were 2,495 housing units authorized in Minnesota in July. This is a 7.8% decline from the previous year. Consequently, home prices remain at record-high prices in many areas of the state.

With the inventory of homes for sale continuing to tighten across the state, buyers are left facing higher prices. The median home sale prices for July in Minnesota and the Twin Cities were $339,900 and $375,000, respectively.

more Market data?

More satisfied customers and higher rebates for you

According to a National Association of Home Builders survey, Minnesota builders reported a nearly 80% likelihood that prospective buyers wanted their new home plumbed for natural gas water heating 1. Builders participating in CenterPoint Energy’s High Efficiency Homes

in rebates if they install natural gas water heating. Without gas water heating, they are limited to

(HEH) program can receive up to $5,000

Doubling Down on the Housing Affordability Institute

As Minnesota’s housing affordability and inventory challenges have worsened in the past four years, the need for a quality housing policy discussion is greater than ever before. To meet the moment, the Housing Affordability Institute will be redoubling its efforts.

In 2018, Housing First Minnesota founded Housing Affordability Institute, a housing policy think tank, to help in educating others in how government policies can have an adverse impact on our industry here in Minnesota.

Its first research effort, Priced Out, led to the creation of the Legislative Commission on Housing Affordability in 2019. Housing Affordability Institute’s work on building permit fee research has been the subject of legislative hearings and generated immense interest from the media. Both papers published by the Institute have been instrumental in

charting the course of the housing policy discussion in Minnesota in the past three years.

“Housing Affordability Institute has had an important role in allowing Housing First Minnesota to elevate housing as a top issue in Minnesota,” said James Julkowski, 2022 Housing First Minnesota board chair. “We’re excited about the Institute taking on a more proactive role in the housing policy space.”

Check out Housing Affordability Institute’s new website and look for new research and content coming soon. HousingAffordabilityInstitute.org

twitter.com/HousingInst linkedin.com/company/housing-affordability-institute

CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS

HELP YOUR CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE IN THIS CURRENT HOUSING MARKET

After two years of a red-hot housing market with low interest rates and pent-up housing demand, the market slowdown from higher interest rates and an overall economic slowdown has many wondering: what’s ahead for housing?

Consumers and homebuyers are now surrounded by negative headlines about the current housing market, high interest rates, and the economy. As an industry, it is important to stay on top of the data and keep the market in perspective both for our businesses and our customers.

We spoke with two market experts to get their takes on our current housing market and what they feel consumers and industry professionals should keep in perspective.

David Arbit

MINNEAPOLIS AREA REALTORS, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND ECONOMICS

Elliot Eisenberg

FORMER

Q: WHERE DOES OUR CURRENT HOUSING MARKET STAND?

Arbit: Up until late last year, we really hadn’t seen a market like what we had seen over the last few years. Never on record have homes sold more quickly, and never on record have sellers gotten stronger offers. As of August, home prices are still rising, but at half the pace of a year ago (7% versus 14%). Inventory is also on the rise, but slowly and up from historic lows. The biggest change is sales down in light of rising interest rates and deteriorating affordability.

Eisenberg: Housing is not in any shape, way, or form overextended. As a matter of fact, it really never got on track after the crash in 2008, where builders could make up for

the undersupplied housing market. Housing was never able to fully take advantage of the low rates we had in 2020 through 2021. Homebuilding activity increased, but it couldn’t make up for the undersupplied market because you couldn’t get land, you couldn’t get labor, and you couldn’t get parts – like everybody else during the pandemic.

For people who were 35-40, looking to buy a house and only knowing low interest rates for the last 10 years or so, these seem high. But for people who are 50 or 60 and have been through a couple of cycles before, they’re still saying, wow, it’s a pretty good rate.

Q: WHAT SHOULD CONSUMERS KNOW RIGHT NOW?

Eisenberg: This is the best time to buy a house that there has been in a long time. The conditions are becoming increasingly favorable to buyers. Acknowledge this, be aware of this, and behave accordingly. This is not the market as recently as three or four months ago when buyers had to forego inspections and say ‘here’s my money.’ Now, it’s different — buyers can take their time and be a little bit pickier.

Arbit: Sellers are still getting over 101% of asking price, but not quite the 103% they had last year around this time. It is still a good time to sell a home, but you might expect to get 1-2% over list price from a few offers versus 1020% over list price from 30 offers a year ago. This is normal; the market from 2020-2021 was not normal.

Q: WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IN THE HOUSING MARKET AHEAD?

Arbit: Housing has been persistently underbuilt for around 15 years, and we have a dramatic inventory shortage. But supply buildups are typically associated with bubbles, and we simply don’t have that. Bubbles are propped up by easy money. We currently have cheap money, but not easy money. Owners are sitting on a mountain of equity, so even if home prices were to soften by 5-10%, relatively few owners would be underwater. Today’s buyers are extraordinarily highly qualified borrowers, especially compared to 2006-2007.

Eisenberg: I’m afraid inflation may linger around for a while. And as a result of that, the Fed keeps raising rates. The more they raise rates, the higher the probability of recession. So that’s short term, and that will cause fewer homes to be sold. Long term, the demographics look good for the next 5 to 10 years. The number of these younger millennials, the 29- to 33-year-old cohort, are the largest cohort in U.S. history — bigger than any baby boomer cohort — so there’ll be a lot of home demand for this group.

DRIVING DIGITAL LEADS

IN THE DIGITAL WORLD WE LIVE IN, MARKETING ONLINE CAN BE A HUGE LEAD DRIVER FOR YOUR BUSINESS. KNOWING WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW TO BEST UTILIZE ONLINE TOOLS CAN SPARK QUALITY INTEREST IN YOUR BUSINESS. BUT, HOW DO YOU ATTRACT CUSTOMERS AND TURN STRANGERS INTO LEADS?

STEP 1: ATTRACT

First, you have to make people care about your business and the solutions you provide.

Creating content is the perfect way to establish credibility as an expert in your field and provide relevant knowledge to your target audience. Blog posts, white papers, infographics, podcasts, and videos with your name or logo attached to it are highly effective marketing methods.

But remember, great content won’t make a difference if people can’t find it. Posting consistency is key. Stay relevant and top of mind for your followers with a regular content posting schedule. A smart content strategy will help you effectively promote content, repurpose it for multiple channels, and reach your goals.

Don’t get lost in your followers’ feeds or Google searches. Social media algorithms and search engines prioritize content with specific and relevant keywords. Dig into content on search engine optimization (SEO) to optimize your website so it ranks higher in results pages. Use hashtags and location tags in social posts to ensure your content dominates users’ feeds. If you do both of those things effectively, you’ll increase the amount of organic (aka free) traffic to your website.

If you are looking to expand beyond organic content, try paid social ads or Google AdWords. Invest a little time and money into creating an enticing campaign. Facebook and Instagram ads are a great place to start — plus, there are a wide variety of campaign types to fit every goal or budget.

STEP 2: CONVERT

Once you’ve gained a customer’s attention, it’s time to turn them into a lead. This is where clear, concise call-to-actions (CTAs) come in. You can include CTAs anywhere — in your email header, at the bottom of a blog post, a button on an Instagram story, at the top of your website, etc. Make sure your CTAs are compelling and eye-catching to grab attention and that they always compel someone to take a step forward.

Landing pages are an excellent destination to direct interested leads. You can tailor the content to your target audience’s specific interests. What challenges can you provide solutions for? How can you fulfill a desire for them? Why is your company a good fit? Sell your business and provide the user with detailed information on next steps. Whatever your desired outcome, make your CTA extremely obvious and intuitive for the viewer. Maybe it’s clicking a button, filling out a form, commenting a question, or calling your sales team directly. This is an essential step in establishing a relationship with your lead and gathering the information to convert them to a customer.

Speaking of collecting the right information, data is extremely important. Wherever you’re directing traffic, be sure to gather contact information like email addresses or phone numbers so you have a way to follow up. If you are serious about knowing your traffic, there are a lot of CRM tools, like ActiveCampaign, that will help make this process even easier.

STEP 3: TRACK & REPEAT

You can’t improve if you don’t measure your progress. Set goals, analyze metrics, and identify which methods are performing well. Discover which users were most engaged or what pages on your website are generating the most traffic — then do more of that. Making small adjustments and learning from your results is the best way to improve your digital lead generation strategies.

Nearly 40 Online On-Demand Courses

BUILDER & REMODELER CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES

Courses Approved for Energy Training

(at least one hour required)

• Amendments to the 2020 Minnesota Residential Building Code

• Blower Door Testing and Common Air Sealing Issues

• Building a Better Basement

• Code Administration, Framing, and Finish Applications of the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code

• Exterior Envelope Energy Provisions of the Minnesota Residential Energy Code

• Foam Plastic Insulation Provisions of the Minnesota Residential Code

• From Control Layers to HighPerformance Enclosures

• Insulation: Why – Where – What

• New Home Construction: From Permit Application to Final Inspection

• So, Tell Me About Your Problem House

• The Awesome Wall: A Better Way to Build

• The How and Why of Exterior Insulation

• The Keys to a Net Zero Energy Home

• The Exterior Wall Envelope: Cavity Wall Insulation

Courses Approved for Business Management Strategies Training

(at least one hour required)

• Building Blocks of Business Management

• Customer Contracts: Protection or Sales Tool?

• Cyber Security for Builders: What You Need to Know About Cyber Security Threats and Social Media Attacks

• How to Deal with a Crazed Homeowner: Responding to a Homeowner’s Aggressive Threats and Tactics

• Legally Running Your Construction Business While Limiting Personal Liability

• Success or Failure: Depends on Your Plan

• The Nuts and Bolts of Business Management

• The Top 5 Misconceptions About Use of Electronic Logging Devices for Businesses

• Transparency – Estimating in the Modern Era

• Understanding Construction Defect Claims

• Wage Theft Prevention Act. Are You at Risk?

• Winning Construction Contract Terms to Stay Out of Court and Invisible to DOLI

• Winning with Mechanics’ Liens

Additional Courses Available

• Administrative Provisions of the Minnesota Residential Code

• Aluminum Exterior Components with Wood-Grain Look Designed for High Performance

• Building Barrier-Free Bathrooms

• Building Planning Provisions of the Minnesota Residential Code

• Exterior Water-Resistive Provisions of the Minnesota Residential Code

• Footings and Foundation Provisions of the Minnesota Residential Code

• Framing Provisions for Floors, Walls, and Roofs of the Minnesota Residential Code

• Navigating the Permit Process

• Permanent Wood Foundations: A Tested Solution for New Code Changes

• Prevent – Construction Building Safety

• The Basics of Premanufactured Wall Panels

TESTIMONIALS

“This was by far the best online class I’ve done. Better than courses offered by other online providers.”

- Josef Leimer, Leimer Construction, LLC

“I am impressed. Your training is first class in every regard. I like the range of subjects available with your online courses. The ability to pick and choose the topics rather than the decades of the annual building contractor training I have taken, with most of the same topics covered year after year, this will be my first choice going forward.”

- Jon Buyck, Buyck Construction Services, LLC “First time using Contractor University. I much appreciate that the material was presented by a knowledgeable individual, not someone reading a script.”

- Andrew Richtsmeier, Little Lodges, LLC

Live Webinar

Courses

COURSES CAN BE TAKEN FROM HOME, YOUR BUSINESS, OR ANYWHERE ELSE

Pick and choose the courses you want or register for a full day of education. Visit the website for full course details. Each day features seven credits including energy and business.

Find complete course descriptions, instructor bios, outlines, and learner outcomes at:

CONTRACTORU.COM

January 17 & February 14, 2023

(same courses offered on both dates)

• The Statutory Warranty: Facts and Fictions (1 credit/Business)

• A Comprehensive Look at the Framing Provisions of the Minnesota Residential Code and Best Practices - A Building Inspector’s Perspective (6 credits/Energy)

January 18 & February 15, 2023

(same courses offered on both dates)

• Solving Code-Related Challenges with Engineered Wood Product (1 credit)

• Below the Sill (3 credits)

• You’re Being Sued: Now What? (1 credit/Business)

• Building a DOE Zero-Energy-Ready Home (2 credits/Energy)

Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist Courses

March 21, 2023

• CAPS I: Marketing & Communicating with the Aging-In-Place Client (8 credits)

March 22, 2023

• CAPS II: Design Concepts for Livable Homes and Aging-In-Place (8 credits)

March 23, 2023

• CAPS III: Details and Solutions for Livable Homes and Aging-In-Place (8 credits)

CONTRACTOR

Pre-License Exam Prep Online Course

According to the MN Department of Labor & Industry, 40% of those who take the MN Contractor License Exam fail. One reason? They didn’t take a pre-license training course. If you know of someone wanting to become a licensed Minnesota contractor, tell them about Contractor University’s Minnesota contractor pre-license online course.

CONTRACTORU.COM

| All courses approved for Minnesota Contractor and Remodeler credits.

| Many courses are approved for Minnesota Building Offi cial credits.

| Select live webinar courses are approved for Minnesota Realtor® credits.

| Select courses are approved for Wisconsin contractor credits.

| All online/ondemand courses are approved for continuing education credits. Select live webinar courses are pending approval.

TESTIMONIALS

“Very informative. I’ve been in business for over 40 years and I still learned a ton from this course. Selfishly don’t want my competitors to know about this wonderful course. I took a ton of notes.

- Michael Knutson, Knutson Custom Remodelers, LLC

“This was one of the most informative classes I have taken in recent years.”

- Raymond Moe, Raymond Moe Construction, Inc.

“I have taken several courses through Contractor University. I find the courses and instructors very knowledgeable. I highly recommend them.”

- Chad Lidtke, Arcxis

“The instructors and content for the courses far exceeded other experiences with online courses.”

- Spencer Goetzman, Goetzman Contracting

UPDATE YOUR MEMBER DIRECTORY

HOW TO EDIT YOUR COMPANY INFORMATION

1. Log in at HousingFirstMN.org using your company’s main contact username and password. (If you don’t know the login credentials for the main contact, give us a call or use the forgotten password prompt to reset it.)

2. Once you log in, you’ll land on the page to edit your profile – you’re in the right spot if you see the “profile completeness” bar.

3. Verify your company details are correct in the following sections: Account Information, Primary Contact Information, and Company Information.

4. Scroll to the Membership Directory section – there you can select your directory categories if you are an associate member and add or modify your company description.

5. Scroll to Terms of Use below the Membership Directory section, click on “I Accept the Terms of Use” (membership agreement).

6. Once you’ve made your changes, save your changes at the bottom of the page.

7. You can click on the “My Profile” tab at the top near the Housing First Minnesota logo to preview what your B2B online directory listing will look like, view your activity, upload photos, and view what employees are connected to your company profile.

8. While logged in you can make connections with other members and send or receive messages in the messaging area.

ENHANCE YOUR LISTING

We are excited to offer advertising options for both our printed and online directory. Want to get stand out to members as they’re actively looking for companies to do business with? Contact Kori Meewes (Kori@HousingFirstMN.org) or Brad Meewes (Brad@HousingFirstMN.org) to find out which advertising options are right for you!

The countdown is on to publish the 2023 Housing First Minnesota Membership Directory. Make sure your company information is right at the fingertips of Housing First Minnesota members by updating your profile for our print and online membership directory!

Ask the Advertising and Sponsorship Expert

with Dawnita Parmely, Vice President of Sales & Marketing Housing First Minnesota

Q. Why should my marketing plan include advertising and sponsorships with Housing First Minnesota?

If you are looking to strengthen your brand, grow your business, introduce new products, or show your support for programs that your customers love and use to grow their businesses, you should plan to include our specialty advertising and sponsorship products in your marketing plan.

And, because you are a member of Housing First Minnesota, you have access to a niché audience that is filled with builders and remodelers who

are actively building and looking for suppliers you can’t find anywhere else.

Q. How do I decide which opportunities will help me best reach new customers?

Who are you trying to reach? What would you like to tell them? Are you looking for brand exposure or wanting to communicate a special offer? We have B2B and B2C advertising and sponsorship opportunities. The easiest way to find the perfect opportunity for you would be to allow our talented sales team to visit with you, discover your goals, and build a custom package for you.

Q. What are some things I should consider when creating my sponsorship and advertising plan for the year?

Audience, engagement, messaging, timing, creative, and video – just to name a few. Let’s dig into a few of these.

Audience: If you are looking to strengthen your brand, support your customers marketing events, or sell products to the homebuying public, consider aligning your brand with our well-established consumer brands like the Parade of Homes, Artisan Home Tour, and Remodelers Showcase. Each home tour offers print, digital, and

People First.

Providing exceptional customer service involves many people. People like Gracie! Gracie joined Lyman last year as an intern, but we couldn’t let her get away! Her supervisor, Nick, shared, “Gracie was a key contributor to our team from day one. She’s proactive, organized, a great communicator, and has excellent project management skills.”

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, she joined us full-time as an account coordinator in our sales department. Gracie is a key contributor to ensuring we provide our customers with stellar service.

Thank you, Gracie, for ensuring everyone around you achieves success!

WANT TO JOIN THE TEAM?

social advertising options, as well as advertorial and sponsorship programs.

Do you have a product or service that is more specific to your fellow members or the housing industry? Then add our B2B publications and channels to your marketing plan to reach builders, contractors, and remodelers in one spot. The Housing Industry News is an affordable way to reach over 17,000 people in the housing industry. The publication is being super-charged with a new website and a weekly newsletter to deliver even more industry news. We also have the Digest, our quarterly member magazine; the Voice, our weekly member email; and we are bringing back the annual membership directory.

Engagement: As you are formulating your strategy think about what you want to get out of your buy. Do you want to meet and network with builders, remodelers, or associate members? If so, then an interactive sponsorship would be a great fit. Look at the events like the BIG Night, Golf, Clay Shoot, BRS, Contractor University, Foundation Golf, Foundation Gala, Bash, and Artisan Home Tour event sponsorships. These all have an element of engagement getting you in front of new customers.

emails, or a sponsored social post or advertorial.

With a B2C audience focus, choose an Instagram story takeover, sponsored social post, consumer email display ad, or partnered content for an affordable option. Check out opportunities on the ParadeofHomes.org website or get into print with the Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase guidebook ads.

To ease the process of trying to figure out where to invest, contact our sales team and they can propose a tailored plan perfect for you.

Q. What are some new and exciting opportunities coming in 2023?

Our popular Housing Industry News is expanding digitally. A new website is rolling out along with a weekly email. The news in the housing industry space is ever-changing and this publication will deliver what members and the industry need to know. Both the website and the email will feature advertising opportunities.

Contractor University has grown. We have the most diverse course offerings of any online class provider in our market. The brand and website are also getting a refresh. Contractor U sponsorships get exposure all year long and are currently available.

perfect resource to do business with a member. The Membership Directory with its perfect handheld size, will offer a lot of opportunity for you to stand out.

If your audience is B2B, consider an event sponsorship, advertising in our membership publications, our digital options on HousingFirstMN.org, our

Learn More

We have social and blog advertising opportunities for our Parade of Homes channels. With over 40,000 home-loving fans, we want to share your message and help you grow your social channels.

The B2B Membership Directory is coming back. We are bringing back the

If you’re not an expert writer, no need to fret. Our team can assist in writing your sponsored articles and will use you as our main source to make sure we get all the details just right. We’re happy to guide your content, but when you book an advertorial, you’ll always have a final look at the content to ensure the focus of the article is what you intended.

If you need design assistance on an ad, we also have a team of freelance designers we can refer you to so you message comes across just the way you want it.

Q. I’ve never advertised with or sponsored an event at Housing First Minnesota. How do I get started?

Two simple steps to getting started:

1. Contact Kori Meewes (Kori@ HousingFirstMN.org) or Brad Meewes (Brad@HousingFirstMN.org) to set up a one-on-one conversation.

2. Review the opportunities available using our media kit found at HousingFirstMN.org.

Brad Meewes

Q. Where should I focus my investment if I don’t have a huge budget to work with?

Q. I’m interested in advertorial features in print and on the blog, but I’m not an experienced writer. What kind of support is available to help produce this creative?

The Value of Giving End-of-Year Charitable

Help us end homelessness in Minnesota!

Your support of the Housing First Minnesota Foundation will go right to work, building brick and mortar housing for individuals and families in need of a safe place to call home. Our projects impact the lives of multiple people, over multiple years.

Building a stronger community together builds a stronger society.

Our collective impact is so much greater than what any of us can do alone, and it shows the community that the construction industry cares.

Our donors, build partners, contractors, suppliers, and sponsors are amazing — they use their time,

talents, and resources to give back to the community. And while there are many organizations and causes worthy of your financial support, here are three reasons why your end of year charitable donation should be to our Foundation.

1. Your gift helps provide shelter to those that do not have a place to call home

2. Your gift stays local in the community

3. Your gift represents the construction industry

Funds in Action

This year, our Foundation continued its great work by beginning construction on four Housing for Heroes units accompanied by four accessory dwelling units (ADUs) for Minnesota veterans experiencing homelessness — our biggest investment of community builds in one year, ever. These homes will deliver impactful results and providing 20 more beds. Since our first Housing for Heroes project in 2017, our Foundation, along with build partner Lennar and the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), will have a total of nearly 50 beds for homeless veterans transitioning to a more stable living environment.

The Foundation also has plans to renovate two Avivo units in a 1900s Minneapolis apartment in dire need of repair. The units are designated for mothers who are working to overcome addiction to be able to live with their children while in recovery. One remodeled unit can house at least 64 mothers and their children over 20 years.

Your financial support is essential to our success and our ability to support local service organizations in the communities where we work and live.

On the Green Path

Housing First Minnesota’s Designated Green Path Builder program highlights local builders committed to constructing eco-friendly, energy-efficient homes.

by Taylor Hugo

John Sharkey had already been in the construction industry for nearly two decades when he first heard the term “net-zero ready home.” As CEO of the luxury custom builder Sharkey Design Build, ultra-energyefficient homes weren’t his focus at the time, but it piqued his interest.

Sharkey spent the next two years researching and developing a business plan, figuring out how to construct eco-friendly homes and which products to use. In 2018, GreenHalo Builds was founded with the goal of building 2,000-square-foot homes with excellent Home Energy Rating System (HERS) scores at an attainable price point. The business concept took off.

“A couple years ago, we were building 95% Sharkey homes and 5% GreenHalo. Now it’s the complete opposite,” says Sharkey, noting that his clientele are mostly health-conscious, active empty-nesters looking to downsize for lower energy costs and well-thoughtout, multi-use spaces. “There’s a need for ‘healthy homes,’ as I call them.”

A COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT

In a recent National Association of Home Builders “What Home Buyers Really Want” report, 78% said they were concerned about the impact building their home had on the environment. Sharkey isn’t the only local builder responding to this trend. He’s one of 45 builders who’ve met the qualifications and joined the Designated Green Path Builder program, a title awarded by Green Path, Minnesota’s leading energyefficient and green building program for the residential construction industry created by Housing First Minnesota in 2011.

With this designation, “you’re communicating to the public and the consumer that you’ve made a commitment to the environment,” explains Carole Griffith, executive vice president of McDonald Construction and chair of the Green Path Committee since its inception. “With issues like global warming and gas prices top-of-mind right now, customers are calling on a regular basis looking for a builder who is ecoconscious.”

Green Path connects homeowners to those builders, who must commit to energy testing on 75% of their new single-family homes and attend

annual training on green building at the Green Path Conference to obtain the designation.

“It’s another level of quality and being responsible,” says Mike Roebuck, founder and owner of Ron Clark Construction, which has been involved with energysavings programs since the early 2000s. When Green Path was created, joining the program, which aligned with the company’s values, just made sense.

“Being a Designated Green Path Builder is the best stamp you can get,” adds Sharkey, who last year was the recipient of Green Path’s Leadership Award for GreenHalo Builds’ vision to create “ecovillages” and homes for families seeking sustainable and environmentally conscious housing.

MAKING AN IMPACT

In addition to serving as a directory for some of Minnesota’s greenest builders, the Green Path program also helps homeowners understand the energy efficiency of their home by generating HERS reports, of which Green Path has created 36,000 on new builds to date. Minnesota’s average HERS rating hovers around 50 — the lower on a scale of 0 to 150, the better — the best in the country among states that energy-test more than 1,000 homes.

A lower HERS score translates to energy savings for homeowners — one of the biggest benefits of building green. According to the “What Home Buyers Really Want” report, more than half of homeowners will pay more for a home that leads to annual savings in utility costs.

“We are building a better home for the long-term,” says Griffith.

“The products used to make the home are sustainable and energyefficient.”

Of course, this presents some challenges for builders committed to going green, such as learning how to construct non-traditionally built homes with different materials, like structural insulated panels, and relaying that information and training to subcontractors. Communicating green building practices and options with clients can also be a hurdle, with many builders relying on Instagram and Facebook to reach and educate potential and current clients.

“Social media is a great vehicle to communicate green building practices with clients,” says Griffith.

Sharkey consistently challenges the misconception that energyefficient homes are expensive and unattainable in conversations with his clients. “There’s a lot of

different ways you can have a green home, from the health side to the energy side,” he says. “We’re not here beating a green drum. We have options to go green — you can go really healthy and not energy-efficient; you can add energy efficiency later. If your budget doesn’t allow for solar right now, you can do solar later. You can get a green home without breaking the bank.”

THE FUTURE IS GREEN

As environmental threats, building material costs, and inflation all increase, builders and homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their footprint and save money — priming the construction industry for a boom in ecofriendly living.

“There’s no sense in building a house that’s inefficient

these days,” says Nick Zawadski, construction manager for Zawadski Homes. “If you think about electricity usage and gas usage in the United States, we already know that our grid is going to be stressed out at some point. If our houses aren’t a component of that, hopefully it will benefit the whole system.”

In order to get there, though, more builders need to shift their focus to green building practices, which Griffith believes will be a boon to business for those who commit. “The more awareness we can get out there, the better,” she says. “The housing market is slowing down and we aren’t seeing the activity we were before. If a builder can set themselves apart with a Green Path designation, why wouldn’t they?”

2022 DESIGNATED GREEN PATH BUILDERS

Amba Property Development, LLC

Berger Built Construction Co., Inc.

Brandl Anderson Homes, Inc.

Charles Cudd Co., LLC

Christian Builders & Remodelers

City Homes, LLC

Country Joe Homes

Custom One Homes

D.R. Horton, Inc.Minnesota

David Weekley Homes

Dingman Custom Homes

Donnay Homes, Inc.

Fieldstone Family Homes, Inc.

Fitzke Construction, LLC

Gonyea Custom Homes

Gordon James

Gorham Custom Homes, LLC

GreenHalo Builds

Hagstrom Builder, Inc. Hanson Builders, Inc.

JP Brooks Builders

KEY LAND HOMES

Kootenia Homes

Lang Builders, Inc.

LDK Builders, Inc.

Lennar

Mark D. Williams

Custom Homes, Inc.

McDonald Design | Build | Renovate

Michael Lee Homes

NIH Homes, LLC

OneTenTen Homes, LLC

Ovation Homes, LLC

Paltrin, LLC

Parent Builders, Inc.

Pulte Homes of Minnesota, LLC

Radiant Design Build

Robert Thomas Homes, Inc.

Ron Clark Construction

RT Urban Homes, Inc.

Style & Structure

Sustainable 9 Design + Build

TC Homes, Inc.

TJB Homes, Inc.

Zawadski Homes, Inc.

Ziegler Custom Homes, Inc.

Benefit: Home Performance Report

Join the Green Movement

The 2022 Minnesota Green Path Conference will take place virtually on November 10 from 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Minnesota residential

contractors, remodelers, and Realtors can earn three hours of continuing education credits. The cost to attend is $49 for Housing First Minnesota members and $59 for non-members.

Designated Green Path Builders receive one complimentary registration.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT MNGreenPath.org

A high-performance home from GreenHalo Builds featured on a previous Parade of Homes tour.

Parade of Homes First-Time Homebuyer $10K Giveaway Makes Homeownership a Reality

Like many young Minnesotans, Wyatt and Sarah dreamed of someday owning a home. After a year of renting following Wyatt’s return home from the Army, they decided to start house hunting. With the market as competitive as it is, they were nervous how long it would take to get an offer accepted and if they would be able to find a home in their price range.

“We wanted to have our space with a little land to live the American dream — to have something that we can truly

call our home and make it our own,” said Wyatt.

While out touring Parade of Homes models in the 2022 spring event, Sarah heard about the Parade of Homes First-Time Homebuyer $10K Giveaway and encouraged Wyatt to enter.

“I thought it was a bad idea because we would just get a bunch of emails and we would never win. Turns out it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made,” said Wyatt.

With this extra money it helped us have a competitive offer which helped sway the sellers into accepting our offer.”

Wyatt and Sarah got the call in April that they were one of the random winners of the $10K Giveaway. Soon after hearing this exciting news, they got more exciting news: their offer was accepted on their first home, a 1960s rambler on a quiet street in White Bear Lake.

“It was a crazy market – we saw a lot of crazy bids that were over asking. With this extra money it helped us have a competitive offer which helped sway the sellers into accepting our offer,” said Wyatt.

“It’s just amazing how everything worked out with timing,” said Sarah.

Wyatt and Sarah credit the Parade of Homes FirstTime Homebuyer $10K Giveaway with giving them the boost they needed to purchase their home

“I cannot say how much it’s helped. In no way are we financially set, so just coming up with the money to close on a house was a lot. We used a VA loan, so we didn’t have to put money down, so having this money to cover the closing costs was so impactful,” said Wyatt. “It’s just tremendous how much it can help somebody and set us up for a better future.”

Wyatt and Sarah are excited to settle into their new home and do what they’ve always dreamed of: make it their own.

“We’re excited to add some fresh paint, clean up the yard a bit, and then relax and enjoy,” said Wyatt.

Four more $10K Giveaways will be given out this fall to potential first-time homebuyers who enter during the fall tour.

The Parade of Homes First-Time Homebuyer $10K Giveaway was made possible through several donations from Housing First Minnesota members.

Interested in helping?

You can make a difference in the lives of everyday Minnesotans by contributing one or more down payments. Each commitment of $11,500 will result in a down payment of $10,000 to a first-time homebuyer.

Contact Janice Meyer at Janice@HousingFirstMN.org to learn more.

Thank You to Our Generous Donors

I cannot say how much it’s helped. In no way are we financially set, so just coming up with the money to close on a house was a lot.”

FLEXIBLE AND SIMPLE

A Construction Loan for Builders & Buyers

With a

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SCAN TO LEARN MORE

Steve Dobin

Mark Gregg

Mortgage Sales Manager, SVP

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612-656-3443

763-204-7251

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Dillon Borowicz

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612-656-3778

Dillon.Borowicz@oldnational.com

Brews + Business

Members gathered at

to

make valuable

next

Selling

How

Minnesota United FC Game

Housing First Minnesota took on Allianz Field to cheer on the Loons this summer. There’s nothing better than getting together for a high-energy event while catching up with industry peers!

Serving the Professional Contractor

Mike

Housing First Minnesota Golf Open

The annual Golf Open at Majestic Oaks Golf Club was a funfilled day with great prizes, delicious food, and exceptional company. Thank you to all our golfers and sponsors who made it a fantastic day on the green!

STAFFED HOLE SPONSORS

ABC Supply Co., Inc.

Allstar Construction

Andersen Windows

ARCXIS

Black Hawk Garage Door CenterPoint Energy Cosentino CenterMinneapolis FocalPoint Flooring, Cabinets & Design Hirshfield’s

In-Focus Systems

Kolbe Gallery Twin Cities

Lampert Lumber

Lelch Audio Video

Lyman Lumber Co.

Martha O’Hara Interiors

Marvin Minnesota Construction Law Services, PLLC

Muska Lighting

North Risk Partners

Pella Windows & Doors

Renovation Systems

Robinson Lighting Rockwool

Schwieters

Companies, Inc.

Synergy Products

Trade Direct Twin Cities Closet Company

Water Doctors Water Treatment Co.

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Wings Financial Credit Union

BRAT SPONSORS

All, Inc.

Ferguson Enterprises

Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters

Scherer Bros. Lumber Co.

BEER SPONSORS

Alerus

Krech Exteriors

Schluter Systems

PUTTING GREEN SPONSOR

MJ’s Contract Appliance, Inc.

CONTEST SPONSORS

Bayer Built Woodworks, Inc.

Brush Masters, Inc.

JL Schwieters Building Supply

LP Building Solutions

Marvin

Xcel Energy, MN Gas Business Dev.

Building Futures Golf Classic

Members teed off at the Foundation’s annual golf event to work on their swing, network, and help support the community build projects that are changing lives.

PRESENTING

Teeing Off

Housing Data

Article Feature

Kick-starting Membership

Every day, ABC Supply associates from over 800 locations nationwide dedicate themselves to making your job easier. It starts with

access to pricing and order placement with ABC Connect and ends with accurate deliveries, complete and on time, every time.

On the Job

Queblo, Inc. showcases its crew hard at work, and Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, Inc. gives a sneak peek of its Parade Home progress.

Art Ransom

They came. They bid. They burned! Artist John Gerber donated a painting for an auction to support our Housing First Minnesota Foundation at the District Edina. The auction piece was sold to the highest bidder and was saved from the flames! However, they did like the idea of setting something on fire, so they delighted the crowd by burning an art canvas from a discount store in the parking lot.

Housing Leadership Awards

Housing First Minnesota named 23 Minnesota state legislators as recipients of the 2022 Housing Leadership Award, which were featured throughout the press. This honor recognizes legislators who worked to promote housing affordability and homeownership during the 2022 legislative session.

Fall Parade of Homes Kicks Off

Guidebooks, tour signs, home details, and more were shared by members as we kicked off the fall tours!

@quebloinc

@markdwilliams_customhomes

Sens. López Franzen, Dziedzic honored for work to grow homeownership

Draheim honored with Housing Leadership Award

@regalwoodcabinetsllc

Member& News

Welcome to Member News, the place to learn about what’s happening in the lives of Housing First Minnesota members. We feature awards, marriages, condolences, promotions, and all sorts of other milestones.

Awards

John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. Wins Two Awards

Congratulations to John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. for being named Lake Minnetonka’s Best Builder & Remodeler as well as Edina’s Best Builder & Remodeler by the readers of Lake Minnetonka Magazine and Edina Magazine!

Condolences

Remembering Steve Ach

Our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Steve Ach, who passed away suddenly on July 28. He was a man of respect, sincerity, commitment, and loyalty. Steve was going on his 11th year at Lennar as the director of land acquisitions and truly enjoyed working within the real estate industry the past 25 years. Steve’s infectious laugh, smile, sense of humor and relentless positive energy will never be forgotten.

New

Advanced Home

Blair Guyer

advancedhome.biz | 651-731-3900

American Classic Homes

Jason Kruell 612-490-5219

Anton’s

Floorcovering, LLC

Anton Korotchuk antonsfloors.com | 952-270-5197

BJL Custom Homes, LLC

Shari Hensley 715-243-0001

Deutsch Construction, Inc.

Marvin Deutsch deutschconstruction.net 952-758-3969

Ensconced Woods, LLC

Paul Reiland ensconcedwoods.com 952-292-5999

Glen - Gery

Alex Tuuri

glengery.com | 952-888-9239

Greiner Construction

Kristina Mahler

greinerconstruction.com 612-306-1222

Homes and Such, LLC

Jyoti Ghugale homesandsuch.com | 812-371-4239

My City Mortgage

Thomas Jussila mycity.mortgage/advisors/ minnesota | 612-750-8665

NVR Surfaces, LLC

Brad Norris nvrsurfaces.com | 763-477-5223

Prairie Homes, LLC

Cait Slator prairiehomes-llc.com 651-587-3339

Pristine Custom

Homes, LLC

Garrett Pahl pristinecustomhomesmn.com 651-402-2266

Rascher and Co., LLC

Tim Rascher rascherandco.com | 612-867-6777

SaveOn

April Bengston saveon.com | 651-242-5566

Simek Property Group

Marcus Curtis simekpg.com | 651-289-1552

Stainbrook Communications

Erin Ogilvie 763-205-4666

Stotko Signature

Homes, LLC

Cris Gerster 612-554-6627

ViCa3 Ventures, Inc.

Jon Pues ecosmartstud.com | 612-670-3472

Waconia Homes, Inc.

Jim Winkles waconiahomes.com | 952-412-0094

Recruitment

The Champions Club

The Champions Club is a way to recognize those members that are passionate about the association and share the good news of membership. There will be year-end prizes for top individuals and top committee teams. Start referring today!

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO EARN POINTS!

• Send membership a referral

• Communicate with a referral about Housing First Minnesota membership (email or phone call)

• Send emails to your vendor/ partner list

• Supply your vendor/partner list to the membership team

• Your referral joins the association

HOW WE MAKE IT EASY:

• Complete a form for each individual referral (scan the QR code)

• Email Membership@ HousingFirstMN.org with each individual referral or attach trade/partner list

• If sending a bulk email, blind carbon copy (BCC) Membership@ HousingFirstMN.org. Before you do, email Membership@ HousingFirstMN.org and we’ll set up incentives for the new member because of their valued relationship with your company

• Staff will track points and update the leaderboard

BRS Is Back.

Attendees

Helping you succeed is our calling.

You will save money, sleep better knowing your business and industry are protected from government regulations, make unparalleled connections that help your business grow and feel great about being part of a cause that helps Minnesota.

Your

Need help navigating all the benefits and resources of your membership? Contact the membership team today: 651-697-1954 | Membership@HousingFirstMN.org

HousingFirstMN.org

Target Your Customers

How do you get your story in front of the right audience to drive business growth? We can help. Our world-class marketing opportunities allow your business to reach the audience that makes most sense to you, whether it’s consumers or industry members.

Connect With Peers

As a Housing First Minnesota member, you gain credibility and industry insights that aren’t possible anywhere else. With nearly 1,000 member firms, you’ll be in the company of virtually every residential builder and professional remodeler in the region, alongside our exceptional associate members.

Protect Your Industry

Our task is to protect and advance the business environment so your business can grow. We address city councils, mayors, legislators, regulators, and other policymakers to keep homebuilding and remodeling affordable so Minnesotans can continue to achieve the American dream of homeownership. All of that means greater success for our industry.

Member Discounts

Housing First Minnesota has brought together an array of members-only benefits that positively impact your bottom line. Check them all out online at housingfirstmn.org/ MemberBenefits.

Tool Kit

Housing First Minnesota has put together a suite of products and services to elevate your business, valued at over $5,000. Companies like yours gain a powerful business advantage with industry updates and resources for effective marketing campaigns.

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