June 2019 Building Buzz

BISMARCK-MANDAN HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION JUNE 2019 || WWW.BMHBA.COM

BUILDING Building Buzz is a publication of the Bismarck-Mandan Home Builders Association.

Bismarck-Mandan Home Builders Association 2600 Gateway Ave, Ste 1 Bismarck, ND 58503 Phone: 701.222.2400 Fax: 701.250.9730

www.facebook.com/bmhba PROFESSIONALS BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PROMOTION OF SINCE 1958.

www.twitter.com/bmhba

PRESIDENT Sattler Homes 701-255-7628 jeff@bismarckbuilder.com

Northern Plains Plumbing, Heating & Air 701-222-2155 greg@northernplains.net

VICE PRESIDENT

Choice Bank 701-258-3300 s.franklin@bankwithchoice.com

Verity Homes of Bismarck 701-663-4117 rory@verityhomes.com 2ND VICE PRESIDENT Aspire Homes 701-426-8583 greg@daretoaspire.com TREASURER

5 TRENDS TO MAXIMIZE SPACE K & L Homes 701-258-4584 cmoldenhauer@midconetwork.com

BUILDERS KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK Townsquare Media 701-250-6602 bill.schmid@townsquaremedia.com

Boulder Homes 701-400-5554 boulderhomesnd@gmail.com

Stoneshire Builders 701-471-6935 brian@stoneshirebuilders.com

PAST PRESIDENT Gate City Bank 701-355-7633 lynnklein@gatecity.bank

BNC National Bank 701-250-3050 mmenge@bncbank.com

Triton Homes 701-223-3030 jamie.schmidt@investcore.com

Dot Frank

Tracy Deforest

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www.houzz.com/pro/bmhba

PROPOSED CHANGES TO HOME SHOW

CONSTRUCTION NEEDS TO HIRE WOMEN

DUSKY GOPHER CASE LIVES ON

Representing the diversity of the building industry, the BMHBA consists of building specialists from every section of the construction field and associated industries. Your membership strengthens our voice in Bismarck-Mandan construction sector as well as at a state and national level. Please renew your membership by June 30th, 2019.

Shaun Ahlgren

Doug Keller

Nick Roemmich

Brian Frank

Dan Domagala

Jay Crowley

Arlan Scholl

Heidi Rue

Shirley Johs

Landon Niemiller

Bill Schmid

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06 Hello BMHBA Members, June is here and it looks to be bringing with it some nice weather. Everyone is now running full steam in the building season. Thank you BMHBA staff and committee members who helped knock the Spring Awards Mixer out of the park.

Baseball theme, free beer, peanuts and stats. I would love to see more builders at this event as it is held for you to socialize and network with industry peers.

Thank you to everyone who made it to the Spring Awards Mixer and GMM in May, it was great to see many of you at the event. This event celebrated the Spring Parade of Homes and awarded the winning builders with their awards for each category. Congratulations to Verity Homes, Copper Ridge Design and Builders, Inc., Premier Homes, Huntington Homes, Rick Slavick Construction, Inc., Nelson Builders, Prairie Air Homes, Inc., Big River Builders, J.E. Homes, Pinnacle Homes, and Hallmark Homes.

Thank you to all the members for entering homes in the Parade of Homes. This is an event that the community looks

Regards,

2019 PRESIDENT :: BMHBA

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2019 forward to every spring and fall. This year’s event had 47 homes by 29 builders.

I was selling NDAB PAC pins at the event; thank you to everyone who purchased a pin and anyone that I missed I encourage you to reach out to me or the office and get a pin.

The money goes to support our state and local candidates. I sold 30 pins at this event and will continue to have them throughout the year at events.

June 4-8 is the NAHB Spring Board meeting and LegCon in Washington DC. Our EO Dot will be representing the association. We have time scheduled with all delegates.

Please reach out to the association with comments or concerns for her to voice on The Hill.

Make sure to sign up for these upcoming events:

· PAC Golf Tournament July 11, Prairie West Golf Course Get you sponsorships and registrations secured! · Annual Sporting Clay Shoot August, Capital City Sporting Clays

SINGLE FAMI LY B ISMAR CK P ER MITS

B ISMAR CK ETA

MONTH YEAR 201 5 201 6 201 7 201 8 201 9

MANDAN P ER MITS

201 5 201 6 201 7 201 8 201 9

LINCOLN P ER MITS

201 5 201 6 201 7 201 8 201 9

B UR LEIGH/MOR TON

201 5 201 6 201 7 201 8 201 9

201 5 201 6 201 7 201 8 201 9

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

9

2

2

1

11

6

4

8

2

0

3

0

0

0

9

9

4

2

4

APRIL

52

29

40

27

26

4

3

6

14

12

8

16

11

18

2

4

0

6

14

5

11

11

14

MAY

31

46

29

16

JUNE

31

43

48

24

JULY

40

16

60

22

AUGUST

20

48

16

27

SEPTEMBER

28

44

26

22

OCTOBER

54

14

22

15

NOVEMBER

16

11

9

11

0

1

DECEMBER

1

0

YTD TOTAL

76

64 -16%

60 31 45 -6% -48% 45%

and 2016

0

Data not collected for the ETA in 2015

JANUARY

.

0

310 BUCKSKIN LOOP 312 BUCKSKIN LOOP 4216 SERENITY CT 4228 SERENITY CT

B ISMAR CK SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING DIVERSITY HOMES PRESTIGE HOMES AND DESIGN JOE VETTER CONSTRUCTION PRESTIGE HOMES AND DESIGN SATTLER HOMES SATTLER HOMES J. E. PROPERTIES VERITY HOMES BOULDER HOMES BOULDER HOMES K & L HOMES VANCE VETTER CONSTRUCTION DIVERSITY HOMES J. E. PROPERTIES JER REMODELING STONESHIRE BUILDERS FOERDERER CUSTOM HOME

6

26

13

11

15

17

2

5

5

14

16

7

20

2

21

20

13

13

1

6

3

1

8

11

4

4

3

3

9

13

6

11

0

5

1

5

13

9

4

3

6

1

17

7

13

20

8

2

9

4

8

9

6

8

8

3

16

14

26

11

3

3

4

5

9

9

9

6

4

7

9

29

20

9

17

10

7

5

4

7

3

7

3

0

7

7

7

6

2

5

0

0

3

4

1

0

0

0

0

0

4

0

0 0

B ISMAR CK R OW HOUSE HUNTINGTON ENTERPRISES HUNTINGTON ENTERPRISES VERITY HOMES VERITY HOMES

5 10

2815 DEL RIO DR 6329 DREAM CIR 3921 COGBURN RD 2816 PROMONTORY DR 4911 MALTBY ST 532 BOSTON CIR 5409 GOLD DR 301 HURON DR 5503 GOLD DR 5413 GOLD DR 4092 INTREPID CIR 5300 CORNICE DR 4719 NORMANDY ST 5213 GOLD DR 330 WATERCRESS AVE 4515 GREY HAWK LN 3607 AUGUSTA PL

6

0 5 7 -17% 40%

0 27

20 18 31 13 -26% -10% 72% -58%

INVESTCORE INVESTCORE INVESTCORE RUDNICK CONSTRUCTION SSS CONSTRUCTION E HOMES BIG RIVER BUILDERS SHAUN KESSLER CONS. PRESTIGE HOMES AND DESIGN APEX BUILDERS

1 18

3540 MERIDIAN DR 3642 MERIDIAN DR 3626 MERIDIAN DR 6201 MISTY WATERS DR 5924 SE 66TH ST 710 SCHICK DR 3823 CREST CIR 3836 NEBRASKA DR 3228 LINK DR 5210 JASPER DR

MANDAN SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING LEGENDARY HOMES VERITY HOMES APEX BUILDERS VERITY HOMES J. E. PROPERTIES VERITY HOMES J. E. PROPERTIES PREMIER HOMES DIVERSITY HOMES

2217 34TH AVE SE 2010 34TH AVE SE 702 COBBLESTONE LP SW 704 KEIDEL TRAIL SW 3903 AMARI LOOP 603 CANYON RD SW 3907 AMARI LOOP 3406 GENOA CT SE 1204 PLAINS BEND SE

BURLEIGH COUNTY SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING E HOMES

7 4 3 8 -61% -43% -25% 167%

MATTHEW RAYMOND J. E. PROPERTIES BOULDER HOMES SSS CONSTRUCTION E HOMES MARLYS WILLIAMS

0

0

2

0

24

15 -38%

15 0%

13 -13%

20 54%

7535 STAR LANE 14865 PANIOLO WAY 816 COUNTRY VIEW DR 8336 TOPHILL DR 13800 SADDLEHORN DR 15699 NE 26TH ST

LINCOLN SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING SATTLER HOMES SATTLER HOMES RUSCH HOMES RUSCH HOMES RUSCH HOMES RUSCH HOMES MICHAEL KELLER

26 MCGINNIS WAY 23 MCGINNIS WAY 6910 MAJESTIC PL 6906 MAJESTIC PL 6902 MAJESTIC PL 6904 MAJESTIC PL 4564 RIVERVIEW CIR

MORTON COUNTY SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING VANCE VETTER CONST NATHAN DOLL DAN KROH CONSTRUCTION DIVERSITY HOMES SCHLOMER CONSTRUTION VERITY HOMES

3319 HENLEY PL N 2482 HELEN DR N 4497 34TH ST 1807 SCHAFF DR 2185 CO RD 136 3942 35TH AVE

13905 TRAIL BOSS WAY

BUZZ

BMHBA staff attended last month’s North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s Statewide Housing Conference. The event was hosted over the course of two days at the Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck. Housing leaders from across the state gathered to talk about affordability, appraisals, legislation, rentals and more.

What was clear at this year’s event is the transition from housing as a physical space to housing as one element of a support system. Sessions spoke to the need to provide housing for at risk groups that include seniors, disabled, exconvicts and addicts.

One panel included representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Corrections and the Legislature. They talked about the comprehensiveness of today’s housing problems and the need to work collaboratively across all departments. It was clear that housing is a necessary element for personal and community success.

Another session focused appraisals. Hali Plachecki from MGIC presented “Residential Appraisal Review” training.

She led participants through a standard appraisal report so that readers can identify potential problems and opportunities for corrections if needed.

“Realtor Realities” was a lively presentation that addressed the varying roles and responsibilities of an agent. Although the title was specific to Realtors, the content spoke to the work that anyone selling a home is familiar with.

The conference ended with the Champion of Housing Awards luncheon. As usual, many of the recipients were familiar to the association.

Congratulations to Tanya Pomarleau, Plains Commerce Bank Mortgage Banker, Kirkwood Bank & Trust and First International Bank & Trust.

These members were recipients of 2018 Champion of Housing awards.

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The association is hosting regular lunch and learn events that feature NAHB live webinars, lunch and lively local discussion.

Members turned out last month for three different sessions that included: Cybersecurity, Partnering with Real Estate Brokers and Capturing a Competitive Advantage.

The Cybersecurity course discussed the importance of data protection. The instructor stressed only keeping data that you need and nothing more. She also spoke to the attractiveness of builder businesses for hackers noting that the client list tends to be affluent, builders tend to be lax on security and a mobile work environment can mean easier access.

Current cyber threats include: wire transfer fraud, ransomware, phishing emails, DDoS attacks and W ‐2 scams. Business owners should conduct a data inventory, classify assets and consider access and security. Additionally, cyber insurance may protect a company in the face of a breach.

In the Partnering with Real Estate Brokers seminar, participants learned that 88% of buyers purchased their homes through a real estate agent and that builders aren’t competing against each other, they are competing against existing homes. When selling homes, use “new” to beat “used.” Talk to the year of everything in the home and ask vendors to train you and your sales team on the benefits of their products to further sell your customers on them.

The last class held in May was about Capturing a Competitive Advantage. The presenter talked about the need for businesses to provide a customer experience and said that all employees from the top down need to understand and deliver on an exceptional experience. He said a competitive advantage is doing something that your competition is either unable or unwilling to do.

Read about and register for upcoming lunch and learns online at bmhba.com/events.

’

five trends have emerged to help home buyers maximize the space in their homes — whether it’s 1,000 square feet or 10,000 square feet. Joseph Atalla of Berkeley Building Company and Wayne Visbeen, AIA, IIDA, of Visbeen Architects explained these trends, including examples from their own projects, during their IBS educational session, “Floor Plan Solutions: Minimum Waste & Maximum Space.”

“Right sizing is about giving you the spaces you need and you’ll enjoy living in, without putting money into the things you won’t,” Visbeen explained. That could include shrinking a master bedroom to create a nicer closet, enhancing technology features instead of creating an entire home theater area, or incorporating smaller touchdown spaces in lieu of a dedicated home office.

“Think about how to use fire to add beauty to any area of your design,” Visbeen encouraged. Linear fireplaces allow designers to get more creative with placement — including innovative spots such as the bathroom, garage or even an exercise room — and more flexibility for TV installation.

Fireplaces can also be used to create transitional space between rooms, or enhance a room’s aesthetic with color and texture.

“We all know no matter how big your house is, you never feel like you have enough storage,” Atalla noted.

“When you have a small footprint, you have to be smart about how you can create more of that storage.”

Examples include taking advantage of nooks for customized mudroom benches or shelving, expandable kitchen tables that nest within each other, and unique his-and-hers closet designs, like this 2018 BALA Game Changer.

One space in particular that has gone by the wayside is the formal dining room, in part because people rarely use it. “In 90% of our homes, we’ve taken the dining room out,” Visbeen noted, adding that it’s usually more cost efficient for buyers to Similar to creating touchdown take their friends out to a nice restaurant three or four times a spaces over a home office, flex spaces utilize more space by year (which is how often they’d likely use that dining room). providing additional functionality. This may be a TV roomturned-guestroom, courtesy of a Murphy bed, or a sitting room Outdoor living spaces aren’t just for homes accessible from both the living room and the master bedroom in California, Atalla joked. Instead, there are ways to add as a relaxation space for anyone to use. livable space — often more cost effectively for buyers.

Flex spaces may also allow buyers to plan ahead for future needs. Storage closets, for example, can be stacked to create In Atalla’s Boise, Idaho-based market, for example, covered the framework for an elevator at a later date. patios are a staple design feature, which can be enhanced with materials such as concrete and features such as shades.

To view this presentation and other IBS educational seminars, Sitting walls can create natural seating areas, and operable visit the 2019 IBS Education On-Demand Library. screens can help separate rooms when needed.

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Members celebrated the culmination of the Spring Parade of Homes at a baseball themed mixer hosted at the Baymont in Mandan.

J.E. Homes and Starion Bank; and Bronze Sponsors Brock White, Builders First Source, Knife River and Sattler Homes.

The Annual Spring Parade of Homes Mixer featured baseball foodie favorites including brats, nachos, beer, peanuts, Cracker Jacks, cotton candy and of course Babe Ruth candy bars.

Parade of Homes stats were on display that included the number of entries, spectators and sales stats. Additionally, the award winners from 11 price categories were recognized with a poster unveiling and plaque presentation.

Congratulations Verity Homes, Copper Ridge Design and Builders, Premier Homes, Huntington Homes, Rick Slavik Construction, Nelson Builders, Prairie Aire Homes, Big River Builders, JE Homes, Pinnacle Homes and Hallmark Homes.

The Spring Awards Mixer was possible thanks to the participating parade builders, event sponsors and attendees. Thank you Platinum Sponsors Front Street Millwork & Lumber and D&M Industries; Gold Sponsors House of Color and Kirkwood Bank & Trust; Silver Sponsors Acme Tools, Aeroseal, Bismarck Tribune,

The Economic Development Association of North Dakota is holding its summer conference in Mandan on June 17-19.

Programming beginning the afternoon of June 17 and continuing through noon on June 19 includes training sessions, tours featuring community and economic development successes, and evening networking events.

The conference theme, “Cowboy Up: The Ride to Community Betterment,” plays on Mandan’s resiliency, self-reliance and determination in cleaning up a downtown underground fuel spill and revitalizing Main Street.

Mandan offers many examples of leading with public investment to harness significantly greater private investment in community improvements.

Doug Griffiths will present the keynote “13 Ways to Kill Your

BUZZ

Community” during a June 18 lunch, sharing witty anecdotes of pitfalls to avoid and insights on boosting community growth.

He is a co-author of a book by the same name and a former Canadian legislator. Other program topics include economic development finance, meeting community needs, innovative ideas in workforce attraction and development, and community marketing.

State, county and community leaders and others involved in bettering their own communities are welcome to attend.

Registration options include the full conference, a June 18 halfday option including the keynote lunch presentation, or a lunchonly alternative. Find the full program and registration details at www.ednd.org.

Tracy DeForest attended the Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy and Technical Center’s Student Recognition Ceremony on May 15. The event drew attention to the reach of the trades program that is available to high school students attending all Bismarck and Mandan schools.

The Carpentry Program, led

by Anton Steckler, was acknowledged along with students Scott Barth, Kevin Koester, Connor McGregor,

Preston Wachter, Jeffrey Billings, Mason Love, Jamie Schmidt, Trenton Zainhofsky, Dallas Kastner, Jayden Marchus and Cain Trhlik.

McGregor, student of the year, was awarded a $2,000 scholarship from member Triton Homes.

The Career Academy and Technical Center ushers more than 1,000 students through daily and is celebrating its ninth year.

The Home Show Committee recently met to recap the 2019 event and plan for the 2020 show. The group reviewed survey responses from 94 exhibitors to gain insight into what event aspects work well and what can be enhanced.

Some interesting stats from the 2019 Home Show survey include:

• 80% of exhibitors were members.

• 68% want to see the continuance of Free Friday, which was presented by American Bank Center.

• It’s a 50/50 split on extending free admission to Saturday.

• The Scavenger Hunt seems to have run its course with 42% supporting its continuance.

• However, Toddler Town has 58% suggesting it stay.

Based on those findings and other responses regarding show hours, the committee is recommending a transition away from the Scavenger Hunt toward a gift bag concept. This is to free up time to talk to prospective buyers without kids waiting to have their trinket handed out. Vendors who participated in the prior year hunt will be invited to donate an item for a gift bag that will be assembled and given to children at Toddler Town.

The committee also talked about beer sales at the event. Nearly half of the respondents’ support beer sales, another 28% don’t have strong feelings for or against and 23% don’t support beer sales. Based on those numbers the committee unanimously voted to approve beer sales at the 2020 Home Show.

The committee also directed staff to explore food sales on the exhibit hall floor with local restaurants, and reach out to a youth group to assist with Friday movein.

The committee unanimously approved changing the Saturday show hours to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday (previously 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Registration for the 2020 Home Show will open this month. Priority registration is given to prior year participants and booth spaces are sold on a first come, first served basis. Keep your attention to an email announcing online registration.

BUZZ

May was Home Remodeling Month and if you haven't already it is time to get in with a professional remodler as thier schedules are filling up fast. Your home is too important to entrust to just anyone. Taking the time to find the right remodeler can: ·

• Save you money by doing

your job right the first time.

• Ensure that your dreams are accurately translated into • • • •

reality by offering design services in-house or through an arrangement with a professional architect or designer.

Understand that your comfort during the project and its successful completion depend on effective communication and follow-through.

Maintain a safe and neat job site to prevent damage to your home or injury to household members and pets.

Provide the best possible materials within your budget and assist you in making selections through the vendors they work with.

Ensure that your job meets or exceeds applicable building codes and regulations such as the EPA Lead Paint rule for work on homes built before 1978.

Guarantee the quality of their work with a warranty.

• • Respond promptly to service calls and inquiries.

The ND Association of Builders makes it easy by having a short list of Professional Builders and Professional Associates. This list is composed of members that have made an investment in themselves and their business by participating in continuing education classes, have been a member in good standing of their state, national and local HBA and adhere to the code of ethics of the NDAB. If your a builder or remodler that would like to apply for one of the NDAB Professionals Programs contact Sara Frank at 701-222-2401 or sara@ndbuild.com. You can also find printable forms here.

Hope to see you June 26th at the State Summer Event in Dickinson.

Bob Horab

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•

• · June brings us to visit another important Capitol! NAHB will be holding their mid-year meetings June 4-8 in Washington, DC. These meetings provide opportunities to network with fellow members from across the nation, education and of course tours of our National Capital! During our time in DC, we will schedule meetings with our national delegation. Senator Hoeven, Senator Cramer and Congressman Armstrong are all receiving requests to meet with our membership to discuss various issues impacting our members from across North Dakota. Gathering with fellow members and Executive Officers from across the nation is always a great opportunity for networking, growth and education.

In preparation for our trip to DC, here are some fun facts about our nation’s capital:

• President Herbert Hoover and • • •

President John Quincy Adams had pet alligators in the White House.

President Jimmy Carter holds the record of watching 480 movies in the White House theater.

Washington DC citizens drink more wine per capita than any other US state.

Bring binoculars and check out the National Cathedra. As you are

• • •

•

looking at the many gargoyles you will notice one of them is the sculpted head of Darth Vader!

Along with elevators that are off limits to the general public, there are miles and miles of underground tunnels beneath the Capitol that are meant for Senators and members of the House to move between the buildings.

There’s a crypt under the Capitol building that was made for George Washington, however, he is not buried there. In fact, there is only one US President buried in Washington, DC and that is Woodrow Wilson. President Wilson is entombed at the Washington National Cathedral.

The Capitol building is the dividing center for all the quadrants of the city, so all roads lead there.

Washington, DC on average gets about 2 more inches of rain per year than Seattle.

The oldest Fish Market in the United States in in DC. The Maine Avenue Fish Market opened its doors in 1805 and has been operating ever since.

Washington DC is missing “J” Street.

The city uses letters instead of numbers for their streets, but because DC was planned before the letter J existed.

Keeping June a busy month, NDAB will be hosting our state summer social and third annual corn hole tournament in Dickinson along with our NDAB-PAC and NDAB Board of Directors meeting. These events will be on June 26-27. We are excited for a beautiful new venue and a night of good company! If interested in learning more or if you would like to hear more about our sponsorship opportunities, please call 701-222-2401 or email sara@ndbuild.com Take care, Kim Schneider

There is a lot of buzz in today’s construction industry about who will replace retiring older workers and how to attract younger workers. But what is often overlooked in this conversation is whether the construction industry is making inroads into hiring more women to drive greater gender equality.

Specifically, what is the construction industry doing when it comes to hiring and retaining female workers? Women make up 9% of the construction industry’s workforce, meaning there is only one woman for every 100 employees. By comparison, women comprise 47% of all employees globally, meaning construction only benefits from about 1.25% of the total female workforce.

images depicting women at work in the industry and the stereotypes of male construction workers as being unwelcoming to women.

WOMEN

industries.

Specifically, There is no one-size-fits-all answer for women in the how to attract more women to construction construction work. Likewise, there is no industry From On Center Construction one cause for what is preventing women from seeking these good-paying jobs that make an offer room for advancement. With average average of 95.7% of what a man would make doing wages running as high as $30 an hour, the same job. According to the Bureau of top pay is just one reason for women to Labor Statistics, that’s an 18% pay bump consider a construction trade. compared to other industries. For But this lack of women participating in example, average weekly earnings in the construction sector is not limited to 2017 for women in construction were $873 only the U.S. It’s a global phenomenon. compared to $841 for men. Female For example, women only make up construction managers earn $1,423 One thing is clear: today’s construction around 12.4% of the United Kingdom’s weekly compared to the $1,439 their male industry is experiencing a severe worker construction workforce. In Canada, only counterparts earned. shortage with employers looking to fill an about 11% of women register to start In addition, a recent McKinsey study average of nearly 225,000 jobs monthly, training apprenticeships. Even in showed that companies that ranked in the according to the Bureau of Labor Australia, only 12% of the construction Statistics. Almost 80% of construction workforce are women and they struggle to top quartile of executive-board diversity were 35% more likely to financially businesses report having a hard time retain female workers as they leave the outperform their competition. finding qualified workers. In 2016, the field 39% faster than their male Even though women are still United States employed around 10.3 counterparts. million people in the construction Ironically, even though women represent underrepresented in construction, there are signs that this trend could be industry. Of those 10 million, it is a smaller number of craft workers, more reversing. More companies than ever are estimated that 99% were male. women are moving into construction Now, consider that the construction leadership roles. It would appear it is not hiring and promoting women. Last year, nearly one-third of companies in the field industry is expected to grow by at least only easier for women to get hired in the promoted women to senior positions. Of 3% in 2019 and create almost two million wake of the construction labor shortage, those, a substantial portion of the female new jobs by 2021. In fact, a new but there is also plenty of opportunities executives had been in their roles for at Associated General Contractors of for advancement.

America (AGC) survey notes that 79% of Although men hold most leadership roles least five years.

Through all the obstacles women construction firms are planning to expand in the construction industry, there’s their headcount in 2019. evidence that having women in leadership encounter breaking into the construction roles can have a beneficial impact on any industry and the image of construction as a male-dominated field, it would seem company. Though women own only women have the potential to make great around 13% of construction firms, 9% of strides. In fact, hiring more women may those firms achieve revenues of over just be the key to helping the construction $500,000 or more.

Such statistics prove As noted, less than 9.1% of construction industry resolve its current labor the point that women in leadership roles industry jobs are held by women with shortage. can have a significant impact on the many being on the administrative or Did you know in-demand construction profitability of any construction business. design side, leaving only 1.2% of trade jobs are driving up salaries for all jobs to women. With about one million of workers? For the second year in a row, the 10 million construction jobs filled by construction landed several spots women in the United States, the industry on Indeed’s Top 25 Hot Jobs List. Find has lots of room to grow when it comes to out which jobs made the cut, average attracting female workers.

Interestingly, the construction industry salaries, and more! Don’t miss our “There’s a perception that it’s not an supports gender equality more than most article, Construction Estimators are in industry friendly to women,” says Katrina other industries. For example, women in High Demand to get up to speed on this Kersch, chief operating officer of the the construction industry earn about 95 hot hiring trend.

National Center for Construction cents for every dollar a man earns when Education and Research. Kersch explains compared to the average 80 cents for that this is due to things like scarcity of every dollar a man earns in other

BUZZ

By Paul Emrath In response to NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index (RMI) survey for the 3rd quarter of 2018, roughly 85% of remodelers reported shortages of workers available to perform finished or rough carpentry, and nearly half (48%) classified the shortage of finished carpenters as serious. Although these percentages are down slightly from a year earlier, they remain seriously elevated.

The RMI survey collected information on 16 specific occupations that were either specifically recommended by Home Builders Institute (NAHB’s workforce development arm) or that NAHB found to be particularly significant when tabulating Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a recent article on Young Adults & the Construction Trades. In the 3rd quarter of 2018, over half of the remodelers reported shortages of labor in 12 of the 16 categories. As usual, the reported shortages were most widespread for the three categories of carpenters, but over 60% of remodelers also reported shortages of bricklayers & masons (71%), concrete workers (70%) and drywall installers (65%).

NAHB began asking remodelers about labor shortages in 2013, modeling the questions on similar ones periodically asked of single-family builders in the survey for the NAHB/ Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. For each of the trades tracked consistently since that time, the shortages peaked in 2017, then declined slightly in 2018. The declines ranged from 1% (for electricians) to 8% (for roofers). It is probably not surprising that shortages finally eased slightly in the latter part of 2018, given the way residential construction activity was softening at the time (as residential construction spending declined slightly every month from July through November, and total housing starts declined slightly every month from August through December).

Although the situation improved slightly in 2018, labor shortages in the remodeling industry remain widespread compared to earlier years. In each of the trades covered, the incidence of reported shortages was markedly higher in 2018 than in 2016. The differences ranged from 4% higher (for finished carpenters) to 18% (for bricklayers and masons).

The most common effects of the shortages have been causing remodelers to pay higher wages, forcing them to raise prices to customers, and making it difficult to complete projects on time. These are the same three effects single-family builders cite most often.

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NAHB will join the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to co-host the Department’s inaugural “Innovative Housing Showcase.” The Innovative Housing Showcase will be held on the National Mall June 1-5, 2019, to educate policy makers and the broader public on the new housing innovations and building technologies that are helping address the affordable housing challenges across our country.

“We’re thrilled to have the National Association of Home Builders co-host this Showcase,” said Secretary Ben Carson.

“It’s important we highlight these new building technologies that are answering the call for more affordable, durable housing options for families across America.”

“The housing affordability crisis is affecting both builders and consumers nationwide. We are honored to be cohosting this event with HUD as we work together to find solutions to this growing problem.” said NAHB Chairman Greg Ugalde.

The Showcase will highlight various solutions that could make housing more affordable for American families and more resilient during natural disasters. For more information, please visit hud.gov/ innovative_housing.

When it comes to the top technology features that consumers want in their homes, the “eyes” have it.

well as the share of home buyers who currently have each particular feature.

Nearly half of prospective home buyers – 46% – want a security camera in their home, making this the top technology item on the list.

Closely behind at the No. 2 slot, 45% of those surveyed desire a video doorbell.

The chart reveals that three of the four most-wanted features are security-related: along with a security camera and a video doorbell, a wireless home security system is also desired by at least 40% of home buyers. However, at most just 21% of home buyers currently have any one This data comes from NAHB’s of these technology features recently released report, What Home installed, indicating that there is Buyers Really Want. The report is market growth potential for these based on a survey of recent and items. By contrast, about the same prospective home buyers (people who share of home buyers who want a bought homes in the previous three programmable thermostat (44%) years or are planning to do so in the have one already installed (41%). next three years) about the features they want in a home or community.

NAHB economist Carmel Ford provides more analysis in this Eye The chart below shows the top 10 on Housing blog post. most-wanted technology features as

In a move that will harm housing affordability, the Trump administration has increased tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports — including $10 billion of goods used by the home building industry — from 10% to 25%. The president said he is taking this action in response to China retreating from commitments it made in earlier negotiations.

Even as the higher tariffs go into effect, a Chinese trade delegation remains in Washington seeking to resolve the trade dispute. Officials still have time to find a last-minute resolution because the higher tariffs apply to goods that leave China on or after May 10 – not shipments already in transit and approaching American ports.

Late last year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision that was favorable to NAHB members in Weyerhaeuser Co. v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, better known as the Dusky Gopher Frog case.

The Court found that an area of land is eligible for designation as “critical habitat” under the Endangered Species Act only if it is a habitat for listed species. And any decision not to exclude an area from critical habitat is subject to judicial review.

The Court remanded the case to the Fifth Circuit to define the word “habitat.” The Fifth Circuit then punted to the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and tasked the very agency that lost the case with creating a new definition for “habitat.”

Concerned that a hard-fought victory at the Supreme Court might be upended by the FWS, NAHB proactively filed a coalition comment letter in April recommending a regulatory definition of “habitat.”

Among other things, the letter suggests a definition that specifies that only those areas that are actually habitable at the time of critical habitat designation are “habitat,” an issue that was central to the case.

It is critically important that industry groups like NAHB stay involved in litigation even after cases are seemingly decided. In this case, the responsibility for redefining a litigated word resting with a losing party could undermine a unanimous Supreme Court decision.

For further updates on NAHB litigation activities, read the Spotlight on NAHB Litigation for Spring 2019 online at nahb.org.

Last year, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on these goods, which represents a $1 billion tax increase on residential construction. The tariff jump to 25% is equivalent to a $2.5 billion tax on housing.

NAHB is monitoring the situation closely and continues to urge the administration to resolve this trade dispute quickly in a way that won’t hurt American consumers or businesses.

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EPA released interpretive guidance on April 16 to clarify whether groundwater pollution that eventually reaches federally regulated traditional navigable waters — e.g., seas, rivers, lakes — requires a permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.

EPA stated that discharges to groundwater are not covered by the Clean Water Act (CWA): “… releases of pollutants to groundwater are categorically excluded from the Act’s permitting requirements because Congress explicitly left regulation of discharges to groundwater to the states and EPA has other statutory authorities.”

EPA’s position is consistent with NAHB comments submitted to the Agency last spring.

Under the NPDES program, it is a violation of the CWA to discharge any “pollutant” into a jurisdictional water unless that discharge has been permitted. Currently, many developers and builders install low-impact development or green infrastructure practices as well as septic systems that are designed to infiltrate into groundwater.

EPA’s interpretive statement clarifies that these individual practices that discharge to groundwater do not require NPDES permits. EPA will take comments on the guidance until June 7.

U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh In

The interpretive guidance comes as the U.S. Supreme Court plans to review a 2018 ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Wildlife Fund v. County of Maui. The Court ruled that pollutants released into groundwater, which eventually reach CWA jurisdictional waters, must obtain federal NPDES permits.

NAHB was concerned that the ruling’s expansive definition of “pollutants” could include stormwater runoff and septic systems and negatively impact the residential construction industry by requiring NPDES permits for individual. stormwater practices or septic systems that are designed to infiltrate into groundwater. There are more than 26 million septic systems in the United States, and countless stormwater and green infrastructure practices that are designed to infiltrate stormwater.

NAHB’s earlier comments pointed out that Congress did not intend the federal CWA to apply to discharges into groundwater. As noted by EPA in the interpretive statement, Congress explicitly left the regulation of discharges to groundwater to the states. In fact, many states have laws that specifically protect groundwater.

The Supreme Court is not expected to hear oral arguments in the Maui case before this fall’s session, when it will also consider EPA’s interpretive guidance.

This means a ruling by the Supreme Court is not expected until the end of 2019 or early 2020.

Builder confidence in the single-family 55+ housing market continued to strengthen in the first quarter of 2019 with a reading of 72, up six points from the previous quarter, according to NAHB’s 55+ Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. This is the highest reading since the inception of the index in 2008.

The 55+ HMI measures two segments of the 55+ housing market: single-family homes and multifamily condominiums. Each segment of the 55+ HMI measures builder sentiment based on a survey that asks if current sales, prospective buyer traffic and anticipated sixmonth sales for that market are good, fair or poor (high, average or low for traffic).

“Overall, demand for homes in 55+ communities remain strong as more buyers and renters in that market search for simpler living arrangements,” said Karen Schroeder, chair of NAHB’s 55+ Housing Industry Council and vice president of Mayberry Homes in East Lansing, Mich. “However, there are still headwinds that are impacting the market, such as rising construction costs and a lack of skilled labor.”

All three index components of the 55+ singlefamily HMI posted increases from the previous quarter: Present sales rose four points to 76, expected sales for the next six months increased seven points to 77 and traffic of prospective buyers climbed eight points to 61.

The 55+ multifamily condo HMI posted a gain of 10 points to 57. All three index components posted increases from the previous quarter: Present sales increased seven points to 58, expected sales for the next six months rose 13 points to 62 and traffic of prospective buyers jumped 14 points to 52.

Two of the four components of the 55+ multifamily rental market went up from the fourth quarter: Future expected production increased four points to 58 and future expected demand inched up one point to 63. Present production dropped two points to 58 and present demand for existing units fell six points to 61.

“Favorable demographics and recent declines in mortgage rates have helped support demand for 55+ housing,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “We expect continued growth in the 55+ housing market, provided builders are able to manage the challenges of regulatory, land acquisition and construction costs.”

For the full 55+ HMI tables, please visit nahb.org/55hmi.

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George Burns once said, “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” This has never been truer than it is today. Baby boomers — the eldest of whom are now in their 70s — are redefining what it means to grow old. Seniors no longer want to live out their golden years in a sprawling community in the middle of nowhere; instead, they want to be where the action is and share new experiences with loved ones.

According to NAHB’s “What Home Buyers Really Want” study, 67% of baby boomers prefer to live in the suburbs, and desire community features such as proximity to retail space and walkable communities with walking or jogging trails. They are also starting to move away from more resort-style amenities such as golf courses and tennis courts, with 53% and 45% of baby boomers, respectively, stating they do not want those features.

Canvas Valley Forge in King of Prussia, Pa., mirrors these trends with a new concept for the 55+ demographic that gives residents freedom to enjoy the things they love most, while exploring new and exciting hobbies and adventures.

Instead of resort-style living, the architecture, design, programming and services are focused around an approach of simplified living, striving to streamline and declutter the lives of its residents.

NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz recently provided this housing industry overview in the bi-weekly newsletter Eye on the Economy: Housing has generally underperformed thus far in 2019, despite recent declines in mortgage interest rates. This is all the more concerning given that GDP growth for the first quarter (3.2%) exceeded analysts’ forecasts, including NAHB’s.

Lagging housing construction is clearly connected to housing affordability declines stemming from the combination of interest rate effects and years of home price growth outpacing income growth.

That said, the Federal Reserve’s decision to continue holding the federal funds rate steady at a top rate of 2.5% helps reduce upward pressure on interest rates. The decision is based on the fact that inflation remains anchored below the Fed’s target rate of 2%.

Mirroring the GDP data, April labor market data showed an economy with notable positive momentum. For the economy as a whole, 263,000 jobs were added and the unemployment rate approached a 50-year low at 3.6%.

“Before pen was put to paper for any design, I knew that [developer] Bozzuto’s site was perfect for an age-qualified rental community,” shared Manny Gonzalez, FAIA, LEED AP, principal at KTGY Architecture + Planning —the design firm for the project. “While walking paths and trails are the No. 1 activity for this age group, proximity to shopping, dining and entertainment is the next biggest amenity, and this location certainly had that with the King of Prussia Mall within walking distance.”

However, due to slow housing construction expansion, builders and remodelers added only 600 jobs in April, with the six-month moving average of residential construction job growth falling back to 5,250. Nonetheless, home builders and remodelers have added 92,800 jobs over the last year. And March data indicate the job openings rate continues to rise, with more than 300,000 unfilled positions in the construction industry.

The adjacent King of Prussia Town Center supplies entertainment and amenities to residents, providing the means to a vibrant, active lifestyle without the financial burden of traditional senior living. Four stories of for-rent apartments introduce a clean and modern design. Open floor plans designed with flexibility in mind provide soaring sixfoot windows, designer lighting throughout, and terraces, balconies and decks to bring in the outdoors.

The strong job numbers and ongoing economic expansion would usually point to additional growth in single-family construction. However, as the end of 2018 illustrated, home buyers are reluctant to purchase homes at today’s prices given current income levels. Until affordability conditions improve, housing will continue to hamper overall economic growth.

“Once the design started, I have to give credit to the folks at Bozzuto — Mike Henehan and Julie Smith, among others — for putting together a great team to design the floor plans and amenities that created the ‘canvas’ for the residents of this community to paint their own vibrant picture of how they wanted to enjoy this stage of their life,” Gonzalez added. “If you start with a great location and build a creative team who enjoys a collaborative design process, the result ends up being an award-winning community like Canvas.”

For more, go to the Eye On Housing blog at eyeonhousing.org.

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2600 Gateway Ave, Ste 1 Bismarck, ND 58503