April 2019 Building Buzz

Bismarck-Mandan Home Builders Association

BUILDING

Buzz

April 2019

SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY WORKS FOR WATER LEAKS, TOO page 5

MANDAN CITY WIDE CLEAN UP

page 7

FED ACTION BODES WELL FOR MORTGAGE RATES

page 10

SUPPORT CLEANWATER AND CLEAR REGULATIONS

page 12

BUILDING

Buzz

Building Buzz is a publication of the Bismarck-Mandan Home Builders Association 2600 Gateway Ave., Suite 1 Bismarck, ND 58503 Phone: 701.222.2400 Fax: 701.250.9730

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Publisher/Editor: Dot Frank Layout Editor: Stephanie Drietz - Drietz Designs Contributor: Tracy DeForest

Your membership is three-in-one: BMHBA, NDAB and NAHB

Professionals building our community through promotion of home ownership, education and legislation since 1958.

2019 Board of Directors PRESIDENT

New Members & Anniversaries New Members Heritage Exteriors by Leingang Brandon Leingang

Mattress Firm Jason Sellers

Time to Renew!

Members with April Anniversaries. Renew by April 30, 2019.

Kramer Agency

Montana Dakota Utilities Co

J.E. Homes

Kramer Agency

Caves, LLC

Knife River-North Central

Dakota Timber Company

Integrity Landscapes, LLC

Platinum Plumbing, Inc.

House of Color, Inc.

Trademark Realty

Gate City Bank

E Homes, Inc.

First Class Finishes, Inc.

Go Gettem Construction

Dakota Awards, Inc.

TK Homes, Inc.

Builders Supply Co.

Puklich Chevrolet

BSC Carpentry

Zimmerman's Furniture

Advanced Mechanical, Inc

Vance Vetter Homes

tcf home loans

SPS Companies, Inc.

Shine Electric

Sparling Construction, Inc.

Kojin Construction

North Dakota Manufactured Housing

Trademark Realty

Assoc.

Hofland Homes

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Building Buzz | April 2019

Jeff Sattler Sattler Homes Phone: (701)255-7628 jeff@bismarckbuilder.com

PAST PRESIDENT

Lynn Klein Gate City Bank Phone: (701) 355-7633 lynn.klein@gatecitybank.com

1ST VICE PRESIDENT

SECRETARY/TREASURER

2ND VICE PRESIDENT

Susie Franklin Choice Financial Phone: (701) 751-7282

Rory Anderson Verity Homes of Bismarck Phone:(701) 354-2846 rory@verityhomes.com

Greg Meidinger Aspire Homes (701) 426-8583 greg@daretoaspirend.com Chad Moldenhauer K&L Homes Inc. Phone: (701) 258-4584 chad@k-lhomes.com Bill Schmid Townsquare Media Phone: (701) 250-6602

bill.schmid@townsquaremedia.com

Brian Eiseman Stoneshire Builders Phone: (701) 471-6935 brian@stoneshirebuilders.com

Joe Hillerson Boulder Homes (701) 400-5554 boulderhomesnd@gmail.com

s.franklin@choicefinancialgroup.com

Marc Menge BNC National Bank Phone:(701) 250-3000 mmenge@bncbank.com

Jamie Schmidt Triton Homes Phone: (701) 223-3030 jamie.schmidt@investcore.com Greg Zenker Northern Plains Plumbing, Heating & Air Phone: (701) 222-2155 greg@northernplains.net

BIANCO REALTY SALES AWARDS Bianco Realty has announced their top 6 "REALTORSÂŽ OF THE MONTH" for March: Shirley Thomas, Amber Sandness, Darcy Fettig, Judy Maslowski, Phyllis Rittenbach and Amy Asche. These six REALTORSÂŽ had the highest sales totals at Bianco Realty in March 2019.

Shirley Thomas

Amber Sandness

Darcy Fettig

Judy Maslowski

Phyllis Rittenbach

Amy Asche

February 2019 Building Permits Data not collected for the ETA in 2015 and 2016.

SINGLE FAMILY BISMARCK PERMITS BISMARCK ETA MANDAN PERMITS LINCOLN PERMITS BURLEIGH/MORTON MONTH YEAR 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 JANUARY 0 9 1 0 10 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 FEBRUARY 3 4 5 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 6 5 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 MARCH 21 22 14 2 2 2 11 6 4 8 0 3 0 0 9 9 4 2 APRIL 52 29 40 27 4 3 14 12 8 16 18 2 4 0 14 5 11 11 MAY 31 46 29 16 5 6 26 13 11 15 17 2 5 5 14 16 7 20 JUNE 31 43 48 24 10 2 21 20 13 13 1 6 3 1 8 11 4 4 JULY 40 16 60 22 3 3 9 13 6 11 0 5 1 5 13 9 4 3 AUGUST 20 48 16 27 6 1 17 7 13 20 8 2 9 4 8 9 6 8 SEPTEMBER 28 44 26 22 8 3 16 14 26 11 3 3 4 5 9 9 9 6 OCTOBER 54 14 22 15 4 7 9 29 20 9 17 10 7 5 4 7 3 7 NOVEMBER 16 11 9 11 3 0 7 7 7 6 2 5 0 0 3 4 1 0 DECEMBER 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 2 0 TOTAL 0 9 1 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 80 51 61 2

BISMARCK SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

K & L HOMES............................................................. 5716 CRESTED BUTTE RD K & L HOMES............................................................. 1118 COMMUNITY LOOP J.E. PROPERTIES....................................................... 4107 HERD PL K & L HOMES............................................................. 1026 RESERVE LN K & L HOMES.............................................................5816 CRESTED BUTTE RD DIVERSITY HOMES..................................................907 VOYAGER PL K & L HOMES.............................................................1011 RESERVE LN ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPTS.............................. 3212 ASPEN LN

BISMARCK ETA SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

BURLEIGH CTY SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

K & L HOMES............................................................. 8325 STAR LANE

MANDAN SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

NYAZI VENTURES......................................................4605 CROWN POINT RD

MORTON CTY SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

GOLDEN OAK HOMES..........................................2475 LABRADOR DR DAVID TERNES CONST..........................................2152 CO RD 138A VERITY HOMES.......................................................2467 LABRADOR DR

GRENDAHL DESIGN CO......................................... 6814 SELLAND LOOP

April 2019 | Building Buzz

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President’s Letter

A

pril is here and Spring has sprung! Our construction season is about to be in full swing. I have seen a few excavators moving around town, all the frost should be out of the ground in next week or so. As I am writing this, we are having our first April morning shower.

The Home Show is over, and I hope everyone got a chance to meet with potential clients or show some of your new products to the public. The BMHBA is always hard at work trying to have a great show for the Home Show. If any vendors have input, we ask you to fill out the survey that you should have received so we can continue making the show a great experience for both vendors and spectators.

With the Spring Parade of Homes April 25-28 fast approaching, I am hoping for good weather so everyone can get their homes fully completed. This year we have 47 houses by 29 contractors in the parade making it one of the largest Parade of Homes that we have ever had.

Jeff Sattler

Board President

We as an HBA continue to work on your behalf with City staff and the adoption process of the 2018 IRC. On April 18 we are hosting a building codes roundtable to discuss the 2018 IRC and vet changes and amendments to the code that must be submitted by May 30.

Finally, I encourage all of our members to recruit other people in the industry to join our association. We are only as strong as our members. The larger our association gets the more influence we have on local, state and national issues.

Make sure to sign up for these upcoming events: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Building Officials Roundtable, April 18 - Learn about the 2018 code that the state of ND is going to be adopting.

- Vet possible changes with our local building officials.

Spring Parade of Home, April 25-28

Spring Awards Mixer & GMM, May 16 PAC Golf Tournament, July 11

Annual Sporting Clay Shoot, Aug. 1

Regards,

Jeff Sattler, President

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Building Buzz | April 2019

Smart Home Technology Works for Water Leaks, Too Did you know that 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day? According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program, minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of wasted water each year, which is equal to the annual household water use in 11 million homes.

Plus, a survey by HomeAdvisor found that water damage in a home can cost between $1,000 to $4,000, with an average cost of more than $2,500, to clean up and repair.

As part of a smart home tech package, builders or home owners can install leak detectors where water damage could start: the laundry room, water heater closet, bathroom, and under a kitchen sink. Many leak detectors use metal sensors to detect increased conductivity when they come into contact with water. Sensors may use probes, cables with multi-point leads, that can be run along a perimeter of a room, such as a basement, or the entire sensor may sit on the floor to detect the presence of water.

10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.

EPA’s annual Fix a Leak Week, March 18-24, aims to raise awareness about water leaks in the home and provide solutions to save money and water.

Many sources can contribute to water damage, including water heater failure, a burst pipe, a broken supply line under the sink, a clogged toilet or even a split hose connected to a washing machine.

So how can home owners prevent these types of incidents from occurring? Smart home technology can help.

Most people think of smart home technology to control thermostats and lights, lock doors or monitor front door traffic through a phone app. But there is also technology to sense weak points in plumbing systems, detect leaks within the walls and in rooms, and even turn off a water main automatically if a problem is detected.

Other sensors use different technology, such as pressure wave analysis, to pick up on system fluctuations, and discover hidden drips and leaks within the walls. Some products can go beyond leak detection by automatically turning off the water to the home when a leak or failure is detected or providing notification and remote access to water shutoff through the home owner’s phone app.

Home owners can also perform maintenance to replace worn toilet flappers, fix dripping faucets and leaking showerheads, as well as monitor and repair in-ground irrigation systems and garden hoses to stop water leaks.

For more on how to check for and fix water leaks, visit EPA WaterSense’s Fix a Leak Week webpage at https://www.epa.gov/ watersense/fix-leak-week.

April 2019 | Building Buzz

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CITY & COUNTY BANK ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BEARS

Each year the brave men and women who protect our cities, counties and states find themselves needing to comfort a child who is experiencing a frightening situation. One of the simplest ways to accomplish this has been for police or service members to carry a teddy bear or stuffed animal.

Since 2017, Gate City Bank has distributed 5,369 teddy bears to local law enforcement through the Teddy Bear Posse. This year, they have a goal of collecting 2,000 teddy bears to distribute.

From now until May 14, Gate City Bank is asking customers and community members to consider donating a new teddy bear or stuffed animal. Donations can be dropped off at any Gate City Bank location.

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES MAY HIT THE STREETS SOON

At the Dec. 18, 2018, City Commission meeting, staff was directed to draft an OffHighway Vehicle (“OHV”) ordinance. The draft that was vetted through the City Attorney and City Police Departments allows OHVs within city limits but does provide for regulations for their operation.

The first reading and introduction of Ordinance 6375 and call for a public hearing was made at the March 26 commission meeting.

Mandan recently passed a similar ordinance that permits OHVs to operate on streets within city limits.

Some of the proposed requirements of OHVs to operate on street include turn signals, side mirrors, horn, speedometer, headlights and more.From now until May 14, Gate City Bank is asking customers and community members to consider donating a new teddy bear or stuffed animal. Donations can be dropped off at any Gate City Bank location.

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Building Buzz | April 2019

COUNTDOWN TO THE 2020 CENSUS

The City of Bismarck Community Development Department is working with the U.S. Census Bureau to form a Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census.

At the Nov. 27, 2018 meeting of the Board of City Commissioners, a proclamation was made that the City of Bismarck will partner with the U.S. Census Bureau to help ensure a full and accurate count. It recognized the importance of the Census for informing local, state and federal decisions and that an estimated $1,910 per person in Federal funds is dispersed annually to North Dakota based on census population counts.

A Complete Count Committee is intended to be a team of community leaders appointed for the purpose of developing and implementing a 2020 Census awareness campaign. The goals of the committee will be to motivate the community to self-respond, educate the public about the importance of the Census to the local community, inform the community about Census activities and timelines, involve the community in activities to build awareness of the upcoming Census, and increase the response rate.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION CREATED

At the Jan. 8, 2019 meeting of the Board of City Commissioners an ordinance was adopted to create an Historic Preservation Commission. The commission will consist of a total of seven members, one of which is a City Commissioner.

The Historic Preservation Commission’s main responsibilities will be to advise on matters related to nominations to the National Register of Historic Places and work to promote and educate about the city’s history, heritage, historic properties and past citizens. The Historic Preservation Commission will also provide a resource for citizens and the City to seek local historic expertise as needed.

Those selected to serve on the commission include: Blake Dinkins, Architecture; Beth Nodland, Archeology/History; Tory Jackson, History; Walter Bailey, History/Architecture History; Calvin Grinnell, History; Amy Sakariassen, History/Architecture History.

Term limits for all other Historic Preservation Commission members will be for a three-year period following the initial term length.

STRAT PLAN PICKS UP STEAM

The City of Bismarck Strategic Plan project team and the consultant, Jason Gray with the JDGray Group, LLC continue to collectively work toward a draft strategic plan. The collective efforts of the project team and the consultant have resulted in an effort to initiate implementation of the Strategic Plan Strategic Focus Areas through a community-wide Call for Projects.

The Call for Projects provides an opportunity for the City of Bismarck to engage with the community, stakeholders and other government organizations through a process that encourages the public to submit projects intended to support goals and objectives identified in the Strategic Plan.

The Call for Projects will help identify opportunities that will transform the community through positive, community-supported initiatives intended on improving the quality of life and vibrancy of Bismarck.

Five Strategic Focus Areas (SFAs) were generated from the more than 1,100 survey responses and discussions that took place during the fall of 2018. The SFAs represent the broad areas the City will be focusing its time, attention, energy and resources over the next three to five years.

Find details about the strategic plan online at bismarckstrategy.com.

CITY & COUNTY MANDAN CITY WIDE CLEAN UP Spring Clean-Up Week in Mandan will take place April 27 through May 4. The week kicks off with the Community Clean-Up day on April 27 where volunteers will pick up litter along routes throughout the city.

The City landfill will be open on Sat., April 27 and Mon., April 29 through Sat., May 4 from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Dumping at the landfill is free of charge to all Mandan residents during Spring Clean-Up week.

Place items on boulevard curb. During the week, residents may place bulky items for special waste collection pick-up on their boulevard curb only. Items must be placed on the boulevard by 5 a.m. on your normally scheduled garbage collection day. Items may be placed curbside no more than 24 hours in advance of collection. Only items placed in front of resident’s houses on the boulevards will be picked up by Spring Clean-Up crews.

Appliances & furniture. Items such as appliances and furniture that can be lifted by two

people and placed on the boulevard will be picked up by City crews. Appliances should be free of food and other items.

Keep items separate from household garbage. Spring Clean-Up items need to be separate from household garbage and items you do not want picked up. Please mark items such as old garbage cans, crates or boxes that you want to get rid of to ensure these items will be picked up.

Mobile home parks & apartments. Clean-up crews will not enter private streets or property, including apartment complexes. Residents in mobile home parks need to contact their park manager for Spring Clean-Up details for specific mobile home parks. Apartment complex residents need to have items along the city curb on City maintained streets. Items should be placed as far away as possible from dumpsters, garbage and recycling totes.

BIS PARKS NEEDS SEEKS INPUT Bismarck Parks & Rec is conducting a Facilities Master Plan to assess the condition and uses of its facilities. The study focuses on the BSC Aquatic Center, Capital Racquet Center, the VFW Sports Center, and the Wachter Aquatic Complex, but will look at all existing facilities. The survey is expected to take five to seven minutes. Bismarck residents are encouraged to participate in the survey online at

https://survey.rrcresearch.com/s3/ BPRDFacilitiesMasterPlan?src=6

KNOW A VET WHO NEEDS A HOME…FOR FREE?

Items not eligible. City crews will not pick up the following items: Deer hides, bones or wild game; Building or construction material such as doors; Carpet; Tires; Sod, rocks, dirt and sawdust; Oil; Liquids; Hazardous waste like pesticides, cleaning supplies, paint and oils; Grass, leaves or lawn clippings; and Branches, twigs, or Christmas trees.

The Military Warriors Support Foundation will be giving a home in Lincoln to a deserving veteran. The organization is looking to donate a mortgage-free home to a combat wounded veteran or unmarried gold star spouse. An application and more information can be found online at https:// militarywarriors.org/h4wh/.

MANDAN MAINTAINS MIDDLE POSITION

CITY CHANGES WEED/ GRASS CLIPPING PROCESS

For more information please visit www.cityofmandan.com/cleanup or call the Public Works Department at 667-3240.

A North Dakota League of Cities report indicates Mandan’s consolidated mill levy, at 265 mills, ranks the fifth lowest among the state’s 12 largest cities. Mandan’s levy for 2018 is 1.33% of value on a commercial property and 1.19% for residential property.

Last year, Mandan came in fourth lowest but that comparison included Valley City. This year, Watford City surpassed Valley City in population. This bumped Mandan up to the fifth lowest compared to the 12 largest North Dakota cities.

The City of Bismarck is proposing a change to Ordinance 13-03- 05 regarding Weed Control-Costs Assessed Against Property.

Unlike the snow removal and sidewalk repair, current ordinance requires the city to send the property owner a statement of costs prior to cutting the weeds and grass.

The revision will remove that requirement.

The public hearing was held March 18 and the final reading and potential adoption is expected in early April.

Factors behind differences in mill levies include sales tax base and whether a city or county benefits from natural resources such as oil, gas and coal. Market values also vary by city.

April 2019 | Building Buzz

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BMHBA NEWS HIGH NUMBER OF HOUSES IN SPRING PARADE

The 2019 Spring Parade of Homes is already a record-setter. There are 47 homes in the April 25-28 event, which tops off the previous high of 45 in the spring of 2009.

“Spectators are going to have to strategize to see all of the homes this year,” said Parade of Homes Chairwoman Heidi Rue of Superior Insurance. “Luckily, we have tech tools that will help. Namely the BMHBA Parade of Homes app that is free from your app store.”

Homes are spread out across the Bismarck-Mandan community; however, there are some development clusters that came up including Hawktree, Whispering Bay, Lakewood, Boulder Ridge, Heritage Park, Keidel’s, Eagle Crest, Promontory Point and South Bay. “If you haven’t attended a Parade of Homes in the past, this year is a great year to start,” says Rue. “In addition to the diversity of developments, we have 29 builders, each of whom has a unique style of construction.”

Tickets are available in advance online at seizethedeal.com/cities/bismarck at a discounted rate. They also are available at each home during parade days and hours for $10 each. Children 18 and under are free.

Parade details are posted online at BisManParade.com. Be sure to download the mobile app by searching “BMHBA” in your app store.

FREE FAIR HOUSING WORKSHOP

The High Plains Fair Housing Center is hosting a day of guest speakers, film, and breakout sessions on Tuesday, April 23 at the North Dakota Heritage Center. The event is free but registration is recommended as space is limited.

The fair housing workshop is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with registration at 8:15 a.m.

The agenda includes: • 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. Fair Housing in North Dakota • 10:15 - 11:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions

• 11:45 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch (on your own)

• 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Sexual Harassment in Housing • 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions

• 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Fair Housing Films and Panel Discussion

Sign up at eventbrite.com/e/fair-housing-in-north-dakota-workshop-tickets-58593124613

Let’s Build Together.

When it comes to building a home, there are a lot of decisions to be made.

But when it comes to your closing, we’ve got you covered.

701.223.6835 TheTitleTeam.com Montana | North Dakota | Minnesota

8

Building Buzz | April 2019

TREE PROGRAM SEEKS DONATIONS The City of Mandan boulevard tree-planting program encourages residents or property owners to plant boulevard trees by offering partial reimbursement.

Donations of all amounts toward the program are appreciated. Donors are recognized in the Mandan Messenger, on the City website and social media pages. Businesses donating $500 or more by June 1 will receive a plaque. Donors of $1,000 or more will have their names displayed on a permanent plaque in the Ed “Bosh” Froehlich meeting room at City Hall.

Funds are usually available for the entire planting season from April through October.

How the program works. Participants are asked to contact the Forestry Department before planting boulevard trees to verify use of an acceptable species and planted appropriately. The resident or property-owner is responsible for the purchase and planting of the tree(s). Once planted, the city arborist will inspect the site and the resident or property-owner may be reimbursed for up to $50 a tree, with a maximum of $300 per property. A copy of the original sales receipt must be mailed to the Forestry Department, 411 6th Ave SW, to be eligible for reimbursement.

For more program information, visit www. cityofmandan.com/trees or call the city arborist at 701-751-7894. Mandan is proud to be a Tree City USA for 42 years!

EVENT WILL PRESENT BUILDING CODES Members are invited to attend a building officials round table to discuss the 2018 IRC. The April 18 event at the Elks will feature the major revisions to the code and afford builders the change to talk about amendments they want pitched to the North Dakota Codes Council for adoption. Register online at bmhba.com/events.

HOME SHOW KICK STARTS SPRING CONSTRUCTION SEASON Thousands of spectators stopped by the 42nd Annual BMHBA Home Show on March 15 and 16 to meet builders, discover new design ideas and explore exhibits.

The event, which featured Free Friday by American Bank Center, welcomed nearly 4300 adults at the Bismarck Event Center over the course of just two days.

“While total adult admissions fell roughly 16% fewer that year prior, the Home Show continues to produce a large collection of consumers for exhibitors to meet, greet and hopefully make sales connections with,” said Ron Stotz, chairman of the 2019 show.

There were 194 exhibits at the event that filled all four sections of the exhibit hall totaling 100,000 square feet.

Toddler Town and the Kids Scavenger Hunt were back and bigger thanks to sponsors that included: Bismarck Heating & Air, Interiors by France, 4T Ranch Developers, Mandan Sporting Goods, Corral Sales, Capital Credit Union, Cappuccino on Collins, Kupper Chevrolet, Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC, Northland Insurance Agency, Inc., Century 21 Morrison Realty, Advanced Mechanical, Coldspring, Starion Bank, Northland Concrete & Excavation, Rivers Edge Plumbing and Heating, Inc., Bismarck Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., BEK Communications, The Door Guys LLC, Proximal50 Life Center, Backyard Escapes by Kerner Pools & Spas, Bobcat of Mandan, Bisman Remodel Pros, LLC, Gietzen Construction and House of Color.

Additionally, Northwest Contracting took care of exhibitors by sponsoring a VIP Lounge that offered complimentary snacks and beverages. Tote sponsor First International Bank & Trust treated each guest to a bag at the door to carry takeaways.

“I’m very grateful for the committee, members and non-member exhibitors who helped us make this show happen,” said Stotz. “We all look forward to bringing the show to consumers in 2020 and will make sure to incorporate feedback from the exhibitor survey to always improve.”

Find photos from the event online at www.facebook.com/bmhba and watch for 2020 show details online at www.BisManHomeShow.com.

EVENTS 2019 Calendar of Events April 25-28

Spring Parade of Homes

Save the date so you remember to get your home(s) ready for the Spring Parade. Details at BisManParade.com.

May 16

Spring Awards Mixer & GMM 5:00 - 8:00 P.M. Baymont Inn, Mandan

• Presentation of the Spring Parade of Homes Awards • Remarks from BMHBA President & Executive Officer • Hot Appetizers and Open Bar

July 11

PAC Fundraiser Golf Tournament Prairie West Golf Club

August 1

Sporting Clay Shoot 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. Capital City Sporting Clays

For the Best Prices on a Complete Insulation Package or Material, Contact …

CULLEN INSULATION “Commitment to Excellence”

PROUD TO BE A

2325 Skylark Ave • Bismarck, ND 58503 701-751-7066 THE PINK PANTHER™ & © 1964–2017 MGM.

April 2019 | Building Buzz

9

NATIONAL NEWS

NATIONAL NEWS

NATIONAL NEWS

CONSUMERS WEIGH IN ON KITCHEN PREFERENCES

A UNIQUE APPROACH TO THRIVING IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY The speed of today’s technological advances can cause even the most successful entrepreneur to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, disconnected and questioning the future.

Data continues to flow in much faster than we can possibly handle it, and the gap between the speed of technology and our ability to comprehend it is increasing every moment.

The truth is we are living in a highly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world —a VUCA world — an era of exponential change that is overwhelming and disconcerting.

So how can you succeed in this new era? By disrupting how you think, act, live and work.

Cutting-edge breakthroughs in psychology, behavioral sciences, brain research and technology can help you co-create in the digital economy.

When it comes to countertop material and appliance color, consumers have a clear preference.

Findings from NAHB’s recently released report, What Home Buyers Really Want, reveal that more than half of home buyers (57%) want granite or natural stone countertops. Quartz/ engineered stone comes in at a distant second place, preferred by 21% of buyers. Solid surface received a thumbs up from 12% of those surveyed, while just 8% opted for laminate.

In terms of appliance color, the report also showed there was no contest. Two-thirds of home buyers, or 67%, want a stainless steel kitchen appliance, while just 15% each prefer white or black, respectively. The remaining 3% of home buyers cited a preference for some “other” color.

There appears to be no clear-cut favorite when it comes to finish and color preferences of kitchen cabinets. About the same share of home buyers give traditional and contemporary cabinets the same desirability rating: 62% and 58%, respectively. Almost a third of home buyers (32%) want white cabinets — not much higher than the 26% who prefer a medium brown cabinet color. Significantly smaller shares of home buyers want dark brown cabinets (13%), gray (10%), beige (8%) or black cabinets (5%).

View the Eye on Housing blog post to find the 10 most wanted kitchen features online at https://bit.ly/2HQIYTB.

More facts about the materials and colors that home buyers want in their kitchen and in other rooms are available at BuilderBooks.com, where the latest edition of What Home Buyers Really Want can be downloaded at a member discount.

A first step in this disruption is discovering your 4 Dimensional Digital Quotient (4DQ). Think of it as your digital DNA, a unique way to identify strengths and target areas of potential improvement. You will discover the tools you need to better navigate the digital economy.

“We at Shaw Floors are continually seeking ways to share the latest industry trends with our customers. As we look to continue to add value beyond just the business, we are finding the 4DQ is a great place to begin a discovery of our digital well-being that impacts everything we do in our daily life,” said Christine Slaughter, Director of Design and Marketing for Shaw’s Builder business.

The 4DQ is designed to empower you to cut through the chaos by providing a map of each of the Four Dimensions and detail the ways they work together. Once you understand where you’re starting from within the framework, you can equip yourself with the tools to chart your own path of growth and development.

You can access the free assessment and free supporting guide at www.4dquotient. com. You can also get more information on how our science-based accelerator programs and workshops can help teams and individuals leverage their 4DQ in everything from sales and marketing to cultural competency and cognitive flexibility, by sending an email to info@culturecrossing.net.

Michael Landers was a keynote speaker at the 2019 International Builders Show – Production Builder Executive Club thanks to a generous sponsorship by Shaw Floors, one of the world’s leading flooring manufacturers. Visit shawbuilderflooring.com for more information on achieving solutions for your flooring needs.

Landers is the founder and president of Culture Crossing, Inc., a global consulting company dedicated to finding innovative solutions for groups and individuals working in the multicultural marketplace. Over the past 20 years, Landers has worked with global executives, leaders and teams from leading organizations to build essential skills in arenas such as: global leadership, coaching, cross-cultural communication, sales and customer service excellence, sustained employee engagement and cultural diversity and inclusion.

FED ACTION BODES WELL FOR MORTGAGE RATES The Federal Reserve’s decision to hold short-term interest rates steady, along with two other key announcements by the central bank, should reduce upward pressure on mortgage interest rates for the foreseeable future.

In signs that the Fed is adopting a more dovish monetary stance, it said that it envisions no rate increases in 2019 and just a single rate hike in 2020.

As NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz observed in this Eye on Housing blog post, “this is a remarkable downward revision for the Fed’s outlook, as the December 2018 projections called for the fed funds rate to be roughly 50 basis points higher than the current outlook over the course of 2019 to 2021.”

The second signal was an announcement that the Fed will slow the process of balance sheet reduction or quantitative tightening. The combined announcements mean that the Fed is moving toward a less aggressive stance due to slowing global growth and a somewhat weaker outlook for the U.S. economy.

10

Building Buzz | April 2019

As we enter the crucial spring home buying season, these actions should bode well for housing demand.

View more analysis from Dietz at https://bit.ly/2UjLl71.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes held steady at 62 in March, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today.

“Builders report the market is stabilizing following the slowdown at the end of 2018, and they anticipate a solid spring home buying season,” said NAHB Chairman Greg Ugalde.

“In a healthy sign for the housing market, more builders are saying that lower price points are selling well, and this was reflected in the government’s new home sales report released last week,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “Increased inventory of affordably priced homes — in markets where government policies support such construction — will enable more entry-level buyers to enter the market.”

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 30 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current singlefamily home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores for each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.

The HMI component charting sales expectations in the next six months rose three points to 71, the index gauging current sales conditions increased two points to 68, and the component measuring traffic of prospective buyers fell four points to 44.

Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the Northeast posted a five-point gain to 48, the South was up three points to 66, and West increased two points to 69. The Midwest posted a one-point decline to 51.

More than four out of five builders expect to face serious challenges regarding the cost and availability of labor in 2019, according to a recent survey of members that ran in the monthly NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.

The questions asked builders about the problems they confronted in 2018 and expect to face in 2019. Topping the list is the cost and availability of labor, a significant issue for 82% of builders in 2018, which ranked as the No. 2 concern behind building material prices. An identical 82% expect labor shortages will be their No. 1 issue in 2019, while material prices fell to the second slot at 69%.

A chronic labor shortage in the housing industry is a problem that has been steadily gaining steam over the past few years. To put it into perspective, just 13% of builders cited labor issues as an important concern in 2011, with the rate steadily rising over the ensuing years and peaking at 82% in each of the last three years (2017-2019).

NAHB economist Ashok Chaluvadi provides more analysis on the labor shortages and the rest of the top 10 list in a recent Eye on Housing blog post available at https://bit.ly/2HYtCLH.

HMI tables can be found at nahb.org/hmi. More information on housing statistics is also available at housingeconomics.com

NATIONAL NEWS

Builders report the market is stabilizing following the slowdown at the end of 2018, and they anticipate a solid spring home buying season.

NATIONAL NEWS

However, affordability still remains a key concern for builders. The skilled worker shortage, lack of buildable lots and stiff zoning restrictions in many major metro markets are among the challenges builders face as they strive to construct homes that can sell at affordable price points.

BUILDERS REPORT LABOR SHORTAGES AS TOP CHALLENGE IN 2019

NATIONAL NEWS

BUILDER CONFIDENCE HOLDS STEADY IN MARCH

www.bncbank.com

Member FDIC

April 2019 | Building Buzz

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NATIONAL NEWS

SUPPORT CLEAN WATER AND CLEAR REGULATIONS The proposed new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule is an important victory for our members, but we need your help now.

We need every builder, affiliate and associate to take action by contacting The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today and tell them NAHB supports this new rule. This revised rule will save time and money for home builders that rely on a predictable permitting process time. It will also protect our nation's waterways.

Please send individual comments of support before April 15 and let regulators know that you support the new 2018 proposed definition on Waters of the U.S. Visit nahb.org/wotus for additional information on Waters of the U.S. Questions?

INAUGURAL SAFETY ZONE AT IBS A HUGE SUCCESS FOR ATTENDEES AND EXHIBITORS The first ever Jobsite Safety Zone at the International Builders’ Show held last month in Las Vegas was a tremendous success for exhibitors, attendees and NAHB alike. Plans are in the works to bring back, and even expand, the Safety Zone in 2020.

“The Safety Zone was a great idea,” noted C. Todd Himle, national account manager at Super Anchor Safety, a Zone exhibitor. “Everyone we spoke with had specifically sought out the Safety Zone to learn everything they could about working safely and in compliance.”

The IBS Jobsite Safety Zone began as a partnership between NAHB’s official safety sponsor, Builders Mutual Insurance Company, and the Job-Site Safety Institute (JSI) to showcase the latest workplace safety solutions with daily microlearning presentations and exhibitors specializing in cutting-edge construction safety products.

“We are so pleased with the overwhelming response JSI received during this year’s International Builders’ Show,” said Mike Gerber, president of JSI. “There was a constant flow of people in the booth, and engaging demonstrations and discussions reinforcing the importance of safety in the industry.”

NATIONAL NEWS

Once the plans for the Safety Zone began to come together, existing and new exhibitors expressed interest in purchasing booths in or near what was rapidly becoming a large physical presence on the show floor. A dozen safety-focused exhibitors made up the freshman class of Safety Zone partners.

The result was a 2,000-square-foot area in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center dedicated to safety in the home building industry. The Zone saw a ton of traffic in the three days of IBS and became a destination for many attending the show.

“We really enjoyed participating in the inaugural Jobsite Safety Zone,” Brad Hammock of Littler. “Gathering safety-focused vendors all in one area helped to enhance the interest of attendees in our safety-related services. Plus, there was just a lot of positive energy in the entire area. We plan to participate again in 2020.”

That universal desire to return is, in part, what drove NAHB’s decision to bring back the Safety Zone in 2020, the true mark of success for any first-time endeavor. There are even talks about expanding the Zone’s presence next year.

“The Jobsite Safety Zone really brought quality people to our booth,” said Dave Francis, national safety director at Little Giant Ladder Systems. “We’ll be back next year.”

The IBS Jobsite Safety Zone is an extension of the Safety 365 campaign to provide information and resources to help keep construction workers safe, and eliminate preventable accidents and citations.

NATIONAL NEWS

For more information on the Jobsite Safety Zone, please contact Rob Matuga.

UC TS D O R R P UPPORT U O Y OT E ND S PROM RVICES A UILDING E! B IM SE AND E HOME E SAME T TH AT TH STRY U com D N I hba. @bm t. rac y -2400 t t c a g spo C o n t o r 2 2 2 ve r t i s i n ad this m i a to c l

IBS attendees gather at the Jobsite Safety Zone for a reception.

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Building Buzz | April 2019

SBA TO HOLD THREE ROUNDTABLES ON NEW OVERTIME RULE PROPOSAL

Labor shortages are the most widespread challenge builders expect to face in 2019, according to the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index analysis.

The U.S. Small Business Administration will be hosting three roundtables in April to discuss the Department of Labor’s new proposed overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. NAHB members and other small businesses are encouraged to participate to express their views on the proposal.

Finding the solutions to this ongoing concern was a topic of much discussion during the 2019 International Builders’ Show.

“A long-term solution to the workforce development problem is getting younger people into the profession,” said Ed Brady, CEO of Home Builders Institute, during an IBS workshop in the NAHB Professional Women in Building (PWB) headquarters moderated

by Judy Dinelle, 2018 NAHB PWB Chair and Building Ambassador of 84 Lumber. Brady recommended that trade professions be reintroduced in schools as a viable career path.

He noted that although national building industry campaigns are helpful in increasing public awareness about careers in construction, “the industry has to advocate for itself at the local level.”

Erin Brennan, industry relations manager of skills at Cengage, recommended partnering with local businesses and organizations such as the Boy and Girl Scouts to spread the word about careers available in construction.

A long-term solution to the workforce development problem is getting younger people into the profession.

The goal of the roundtables is to allow SBA to hear directly from small businesses about the impact of the proposed rule, which will help inform its comments on the rule. NAHB plans to participate in the roundtable being held in Washington, D.C.

If you are interested in attending any of the roundtables listed below, please RSVP to Janis.

Reyes@sba.gov.

• Tampa, Florida Thursday April 4, 2019 – 2-4 p.m. (EDT) Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida Port Tampa Bay Building 1101 Channelside Dr., Suite 210 Tampa, Florida 33602

• Washington, D.C. Thursday April 11, 2019 – 2-4 p.m. (EDT) SBA Headquarters, Eisenhower Room B 409 Third Street SW Washington, D.C. 20416 (Call-in option available)

For more information, contact Felicia Watson at 202-266-8229 or Rob Matuga at 202-2668507.

April 2019 | Building Buzz

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NATIONAL NEWS

• Mobile, Alabama Tuesday April 30, 2019 – 9-11 a.m. (CDT) Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce 451 Government St. Mobile, Alabama 36602

NATIONAL NEWS

Reaching out to local educators and parents can help steer interest in careers in construction, said Stacey Kolegraff, assistant professor at the Department of Construction Management at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Although women make up 50% of the U.S. population, they represent only 9% of construction workers.

Kolegraff encouraged women in construction to be more visible in their communities to help eliminate the stigma that women do not belong in the industry.

DOL proposed a new rule this month that increases the minimum salary for the “white collar” overtime exemption from $23,660 annually to $35,308 annually. This means that workers making under $35,308 annually would be eligible for overtime pay. Learn more about the DOL rule at https://www.dol.gov/whd/ overtime_pay.htm.

NATIONAL NEWS

LOCAL OUTREACH KEY TO ADDRESSING LABOR SHORTAGE

Greetings!

NDAB President’s Column

We’re all anticipating warmer weather and longer daylight but this year it’s been slow to see the welcoming signs of spring. Despite the cold, local HBA’s have had outstanding attendance at home shows across the state showcasing all there is to offer in building and remodeling to help you make decisions for quality and the latest trends in building and design. Along with updates to your home and because we faced extreme winter elements this year, it makes basic home maintenance even more important. Here’s a short list to help you this spring.

• Walk around the entire perimeter of your home and check the condition of any glazing compound, caulk, and exterior paint.

Replace or touch up wherever needed.

• Inspect your deck. Replace any popped nails and re-secure loose boards. Check for boards that are decaying and need to be updated. Sweep and gently clean the decking material. If your deck is made of wood, you may need to reseal it. To determine if your deck needs to be resealed, try sprinkling the surface with water and let it stand. If the water soaks in, it is time to reseal to protect the wood from future rain and humidity.

• Wipe down or hose off your outdoor furniture. Check cushions to see if they need cleaning, repair or replacement.

• Reinvigorate your yard. Seed and feed the lawn, plant annuals and cut back any perennials that need pre-growth pruning.

• Check your roof for any signs of winter damage from heavy snowfall or debris. Consider cleaning out your gutters even if you already did it in the fall in preparation for early spring rainfall.

In addition to maintenance on your home, one area which is frequently overlooked is the concrete around our homes. Concrete is a porous material which absorbs water and deicers which are used by home owners as well as municipalities. Concrete sealers are your best protection against the freeze/thaw cycles. Further information can be provided by your contractor or ready-mix producers.

Until next month,

Bob Horab

2019 NDAB President

Around the State FARGO • The Home Builders Care of F-M Foundation Fish Dinner Fundraiser was last month. This event benefits the HBA of F-M's charity and features silent and live auctions, meat, money and prize raffles as well as kids' activities.

• The Spring Parade of Homes will feature over 75 homes across the F-M metro area May 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19.

• The City of Fargo and HBA of F-M are partnering to host an open house April 11. Members are invited to see the new city hall building, learn about code changes and new online systems.

GRAND FORKS

• Timber & Ash Designs, a NEW Forx Builders Association member, will be hosting Builders After Hours on April 11.

• May 21 is our annual Sporting Clay Shoot. This is always a well attended event with dinner provided and giveaways!

DICKINSON

• The 2019 Home Show is just days away! Join us Saturday, April 6 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 from 12-5 p.m. There is something for the whole family, including a Treasure Hunt for the first 200 kids through the door.

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Building Buzz | April 2019

• Get your teams together and register early for the DABA Annual Golf Scramble, Aug. 8 at the Heart River Golf Course.

• Mark your calendar for the 4th Annual Parade of Homes, Sept. 14-15.

MINOT

• The 2019 Home and Garden Show finished strong with attendance up over 6% from 2018. This spike in attendance was contributed to the show continuing to become more family friendly and a cold North Dakota winter!

• April is “I Like Spike!” Month at the Minot Association of Builders. The MAB will work in teams to recruit more members into the association. More details will be released soon!

• The Homes and Hops Bar Crawl will take place on May 17. Stay tuned for more information!

• Save the Date for the MAB's summer and fall events! o July 29 - Birdie with the Builders

o Aug. 27 - Guns 'n' Roses Shootout o Sept. 14 - Parade of Homes

WILLISTON

• 2019 Home and Garden Show planning has begun! We are looking to add more “Kids” items at the event. Kids will get the parents in the door!

Spring is in The Air A big thank you goes out to all who joined us in Bismarck in frigid cold February for the Legendary

We are hoping to be able to get outside and enjoy the Spring weather soon! I am sure many of you are feeling cooped up as well. For us, seeing the outside of the Capitol will be a nice sight. Session is nearing the end with the 80-day limit coming up on May 2.

It’s been a very busy session and we hope you are following along with the updates from our Communications and Government Affairs Director, Sara Frank. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Sara yet, I encourage you to reach out and introduce yourself. Sara has jumped feet first into this position and into this session. She has quickly become acclimated with the legislature, the process and the ups and downs to session.

We still invite our members to join us anytime and we encourage you to continue to reach out to your representatives and have conversations with them. You do not always have to be making an ask of them to reach out to them. Sometimes, providing them with updates of what is happening with your business, with your local issues, etc. is just as important of a bridge builder than it is always reaching out for an ask.

Planning is in full swing for our Summer Event in Dickinson this year. We are very excited about the new ideas and locations available this year. Our office is working closely with Dickinson Area Builders Association to put this signature event together. If you are interested is sponsoring the Summer Social in Dickinson please contact our office and Sara would be happy to help you navigate the options available.

The Social will be held June 26 following the NDAB-PAC meeting and the NDAB Board of Directors will meet the following morning. This event is always a great opportunity for the members from across the state to get together in a casual atmosphere to discuss things effecting our industry, talk business or just enjoy themselves at the annual Corn-hole Tournament. Last year’s winners were Dawn Cruff of Fargo-Moorhead HBA and Matt Milroy of NAHB. I encourage all of the local offices to host your own mini PAC Corn-hole Tournament as it is a great way to raise some additional funds as well as discover some hidden talent within your association. Please watch for the official invite going out later this month with more details and to RSVP to this annual event.

Take care,

Kim Schneider

www.C21Morrison.com

CENTURY 21 Morrison Realty Call us today at 701.223.6654

NDAB Chief Executive Officer

April 2019 | Building Buzz

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