January 2021 Building Buzz

Page 1

BISMARCK-MANDAN HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION JANUARY 2021 || WWW.BMHBA.COM


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

PROFESSIONALS BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH

PROMOTION OF

SINCE 1958.

Aspire Homes 3313 Bayshore Bend SE Mandan, ND 58554 (701) 426-8583 greg@daretoaspirend.com

Hallmark Homes 3200 Rock Island Place, Suite 4 Bismarck, ND 58504-7717 (701) 471-8796 hallmarkhomes@outlook.com

Triton Homes 1601 N 12th St Suite 605 Bismarck, ND 58501 (701) 223-3030 jamie.schmidt@investcore.com

Townsquare Media 1830 N 11th St Bismarck, ND 58501 (701) 250-6602 bill.schmid@townsquaremedia.com

Boulder Homes PO Box 1421 Bismarck, ND 58502 (701) 400-5554 boulderhomesnd@gmail.com Apex Builders PO Box 652 Mandan, ND 58554 (701) 527-7899 amy@apexbuildersnd.com Sattler Homes PO Box 7218 Bismarck, ND 58507 (701) 255-7628 jeff@bismarckbuilder.com Dakota OutdoorScapes 8351 Hwy 1804 N Bismarck, ND 58503 (701) 595-0890 mckenzie@ndscapes.com

Dawn Watson dawn@bmhba.com Office: 701-222-2400 Cell: 701-390-5049

Stoneshire Builders 3208 Daytona Dr Bismarck, ND 58503 (701) 471-6935 brian@stoneshirebuilders.com Joe Vetter Construction 2523 Powder Ridge Circle Bismarck, ND 58503 (701) 258-9394 joevetterjvc@gmail.com Northern Plains Plumbing, Heating & Air 2510 Vermont Ave Bismarck, ND 58504 (701) 222-2155 lori@northernplains.net CAVES 1365 Tacoma Ave, Suite 1 Bismarck, ND 58504 (701) 751-1162 rons@cavesnd.com

Brittney Roehrich brittney@bmhba.com Office: 701-222-2400 Cell: 701-240-3540

Elysha Head

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 www.instagram.com/bismanbuilders www.twitter.com/bmhba www.bmhba.com

PAGE 5

PAGE 9

PAGE 11

PAGE 13

PAGE 14


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 January 31, 2021.

Cole Anderson

Beth Brenny

Lisa Weisz

Bill Heim

Joe Hillerson

Jamie Wickline

Kent Hildebrand

Donna Hager

Shelly Lockard

Mark Stumpf

Jeremy Kukowski

Tena Liudahl

Mary Maier

Dana Schlomer

Jesse Peterson

David Buchholtz

Brian Fettig

Cy Fix

NEW MEMBERS Please welcome our new members from 2020 to the association! INTERIOR FINISH & REMODEL LLC Builder Membership (701) 955-8670 interiorfinishandremodel@gmail.com http://interiorfinishandremodel.com D&B HOMES Builder Membership (701) 391-3380 https://dbhomesnd.com/ ENG LENDING NOW Associate Membership (701) 456-LOAN (5626) wandlergroup@englending.com http://456loan.com SUMMIT HOMES Builder Membership (701) 527-7479 contact@summithomesnd.com http://www.summithomesnd.com EDWARD JONES Associate Membership (701) 751-2732 https://www.edwardjones.com SKEELS ELECTRIC Associate Membership (701) 223-5440 drew@skeelselectric.com www.skeelselectric.com JOSHUA OLSON ENTERPRISES Associate Membership (701) 527-4000 LEA O’CONNELL Affiliate Membership BIANCO REALTY (701) 955-8817 leamoconnell@gmail.com https://www.biancorealty.com/? aios_agent=lea-oconnell PLAIN VIEW DESIGN + BUILD Builder Membership (701) 426-0895 info@plainviewnd.com http://plainviewnd.com KELLY FRY Affiliate Membership CENTURY 21 MORRISON REALTY (701) 226-4085 kellyf@c21morrison.com http://homevestc21.com KAYLA HAUGEN Affiliate Membership CENTURY 21 MORRISON REALTY (701) 303-0595 kayla@c21morrison.com http://homevestc21.com

YOU COULD BE THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE BMHBA! CONTACT US AT 701-222-2400 OR INFO@BMHBA.COM


2021 Happy New Year! I hope the holiday season found everyone happy, healthy, and even allowed for a little extra relaxation. I think we all deserved it. For those of you whom I have not had the chance to meet or speak with, I am Greg Meidinger with Aspire Homes and will be the BMHBA President for 2021. This of course is my first message to the membership, and I wanted to make sure I came up with meaningful content. As I started thinking about the message, I realized there is more to write about than I anticipated. Not sure how much of it is meaningful, but I will give it a shot. First, I must sincerely thank our outgoing President, Jeff Sattler. As many of you know Jeff’s term was supposed to end at the end of 2019. Our next in line relocated to Fargo and that meant I could have stepped into the role in 2020. After discussion with Jeff and our Board of Directors, my request to wait until 2021 to serve was approved. Jeff was selfless enough to step up and continue as President for an additional year. Jeff, again, I thank you for allowing me an extra year. Your leadership through the transition to a new EO and all that 2020 brought to each of our businesses and the Association is much appreciated. I look forward to working with Jeff and each one of our Directors during the upcoming year. In December, our Association elected two new Associate Directors to the Board. We had three candidates running for two open positions. It is pleasing to see interest and having more candidates than open positions. Voting was done a bit differently this year. Dawn and Brittney utilized Survey Monkey to hold the

Regards,

Greg Meidinger 2021 PRESIDENT :: BMHBA

election which went very well. After all votes were counted Lori Willson from Northern Plains Plumbing, Heating and Air, and Ron Stotz from Caves were elected to serve. Neither Lori nor Ron are strangers to our Association. Lori served as BMHBA President in 2004, NDAB President in 2007, and continues to be actively involved on a local, state, and national level. Ron serves as our Chair for the Home Show Committee and is actively involved in all things Home Show. Congratulations Lori and Ron. Our Board looks forward to sharing the meeting table with you. Home Show booth sales continue to grow. As of mid-December, 60 companies had signed up representing 140 booth spaces sold. If your company has not signed up for the Home Show, I would encourage you to consider participating. It is a great event where our members can gather in one place to showcase our products, services, and get our faces in front of the public eye. Furthermore, the Home Show is a great way to support our association and our mission to continue being an advocate for our industry. I would like to thank our Board of Directors and the Association for allowing me the opportunity to serve in the upcoming year. I have learned firsthand that involvement is the quickest, most direct way to become involved not only with our Association, but with our industry. I look forward to a productive 2021 and to working with each one of you.


MONTH

YEAR

JANUARY

MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

‘16

‘17

‘18

‘19 ‘20

‘15 ‘16 ‘17

‘18

‘19 ‘20

‘15 ‘16 ‘17

‘18

‘19 ‘20

‘15 ‘16 ‘17

‘18

‘19 ‘20

‘15 ‘16 ‘17

‘18

‘19

‘20

0

9

1

0

10

2

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

2

0

0

0

2

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

2

1

3

4

5

2

0

10

0

0

0

1

1

2

6

5

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

2

1

1

0

0

0

3

21

22

14

2

9

32

2

2

1

4

11

6

4

8

2

8

0

3

0

0

0

1

9

9

4

2

4

12

52

29

40

27

26 23

4

3

6

8

14 12

8

16

11

5

18

2

4

0

6

3

14

5

11

11

14

4

31

46

29

16

28 23

5

6

4

9

26 13 11

15

11

4

17

2

5

5

0

2

14 16

7

20

10

5

31

43

48

24

18 40

10

2

2

3

21 20 13

13

4

6

1

6

3

1

1

1

8

11

4

4

6

8

3

3

2

7

9

13

6

11

12

14

0

5

1

5

1

6

13

9

4

3

11

1

6

1

7

2

17

7

13

20

10

16

8

2

9

4

5

3

8

9

6

8

5

5

8

3

10

9

16 14 26

11

10

22

3

3

4

5

2

4

9

9

9

6

5

10

4

7

3

10

9

29 20

9

9

7

17 10

7

5

3

8

4

7

3

7

1

5

3

0

1

0

7

7

7

6

2

6

2

5

0

0

0

2

3

4

1

0

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

4

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

45

27

36

53

132 123 114

116

71

88

67

40

37

28

20

32

83 80

51

61

60

55

45

27

36

53

132 123 114

116

71

88

67

40

37

28

20

32

83

51

61

60

55

40

16

60

22

17 34

20

48

16

27

19 29

28

44

26

22

23 43

54

14

22

15

36 43

16

11

9

11

14 12

1

0

0

1

1

TOTAL

297 286 270 169 201 291

YTD TOTAL

297 286 270 169 201 291

BISMARCK SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING Big River Builders Copper Ridge Design Copper Ridge Design D & B Homes D & B Homes Diversity Homes Diversity Homes J & D Construction LG Homes Sattler Homes Stoneshire Builders Verity Homes

0

0

.

2608 Whisper Dr 3302 Knudsen Ave 3204 Texas Loop 5618 Yukon Dr 5616 Yukon Dr 3833 Posiedon Loop 3806 Endeavor Pl 5209 Onyx Dr 5424 Hendrickson Dr 3515 Doubleday Dr 4030 Cogburn Rd 5420 Titanium Dr

SEE YOUR AD HERE! Call the BMHBA office (701-222-2400) for more information.

Data not collected for the ETA in 2015 and 2016.

FEBRUARY

‘15

80

MANDAN SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING Diversity Homes J.E. Homes J.E. Homes J.E. Homes JSJ Construction Verity Homes

1117 Shires Dr SE 3826 Amari Loop NW 3832 Amari Loop NW 3820 Amari Loop NW 404 Mia Ct SE 2113 34th Ave SE

Verity Homes Verity Homes

127 Marshall Loop 113 Marshall Loop

Cardinal Home Improvements

8028 Willow Rd N

LINCOLN SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

MORTON COUNTY SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING


2021 BMHBA ANNUAL BANQUET January 21, 2021 Ramada 1400 E Interchange Ave Bismarck, ND 58501

DUE TO COVID-19 ALL EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS FOR UPDATES.

JANUARY 21

FEBRUARY 9-11

MARCH 26-27

APRIL 22-25

MAY

JULY

JULY 13

AUGUST 19

SEPTEMBER 23-26

OCTOBER 21

NOVEMBER


We are excited to present the 2021 Home Show, which will be held March 26-27, 2021 at the Bismarck Event Center. Booth spaces are sold on a first come first served basis and the only way to guarantee placement is to submit payment with registration. We hope you find our online reservation system easy-to-use. Please go to www.bismanhomeshow.com for all details.

Our booth space will sell out quickly and we want you to be able to claim your spot! You can register by typing this

link into your web browser: https://shows.mapdynamics.com/bmhba2021/?register Please pay particular attention to where the electricity boxes are located and where access to power and water are available. Thank you for your past participation and if you have questions or need assistance with booking, please give Dawn Watson a call at (701) 390-5049 or dawn@bmhba.com.


ADVERTISING RATE AGREEMENT Building Buzz is the monthly newsletter of the Bismarck-Mandan Home Builders Association. It is published the first week of each month and mailed to members and community stakeholders. Digital copies are posted to social media and the association’s website. Rack copies are available at the BMHBA office. Building Buzz highlights upcoming events, building news, and spotlights our members. Target your advertising to fellow BMHBA members and build your business! Full color ad placements are available throughout the newsletter.

AD SIZE

MONTHLY PAYMENT

Single

$21.00

2.5” x 1.6”

N/A

$240

Double

$42.00

5.25” x 1.6”

2.5” x 3.2”

$478

Triple

$64.00

8” x 1.6”

2.5” x 5.23”

$730

Quad

$88.00

5.25” x 3.2”

N/A

$980

Six Space

$126.00

5.25” x 5”

N/A

$1436

Back Cover

$158.00

8” x 3.2”

N/A

$1800

Insert*

$158.00

11” x 8.5”

8.5” x 11”

$1800

DETAILS Ads have to be designed and completed by your business. Updates and revision requests are not allowed. Submit all ads in the exact dimensions that match the ad size desired. Adobe InDesign/Photoshop, pdf, png, or jpg files are accepted.

Submit FINISHED Ads to Brittney Roehrich at brittney@bmhba.com by the 20th of the month prior to the publication. Inserts must be supplied by the advertiser and delivered to the BMHBA office.

HORIZONTAL DIMENSIONS VERTICAL DIMENSIONS

ANNUAL PREPAYMENT - SAVE 5%

CONTACT INFORMATION AND ADVERTISING AGREEMENT Company:

MORE INFO:

Contact Person: Phone: Email:

Circle One: Bill Me Monthly

Ad Size

Prepaid 12 Month Ad

I have read and understand the contract terms below.

Signature

Date

Contract Terms: Payment in full is due at signing in order to receive the 5% prepayment discount. Contract is a oneyear commitment (12 ads). Contract cannot be canceled and refund will not be given for ads that don’t publish due to advertiser’s failure to submit copy by the 20th of the month prior to publication. All ads are subject to cancellation if payment is not made by the end of each month.


JAY IS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING. HE PLAYED FOOTBALL AT UND AND WAS CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM IN 1993. JAY IS MARRIED TO JENN AND TOGETHER THEY HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS (JAYLI, JENNA, JORJA) AND ONE SON (JACK). HE GREW UP IN DICKINSON AND WORKED AT HIS PARENT’S RESTAURANT, JACK’S FAMILY RESTAURANT, WHICH IS FAMOUS FOR THEIR BORSCHT AND KNOEPHLA SOUP. JAY ENJOYS GOING TO HIS KIDS SPORTING EVENTS WHETHER IT’S HOCKEY, SOFTBALL, BASKETBALL, OR SOCCER. HE LOVES BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND SPONSORING NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS. JAY IS A MORTGAGE PLANNER WITH ENG LENDING AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH HIS CLIENTS TO FIND THE BEST PROGRAM THAT WORK FOR HIS CLIENT’S NEEDS. HE ESPECIALLY ENJOYS WORKING WITH VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE JUST LIKE THEY’VE DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY. ENG LENDING HAS OFFICES IN BISMARCK-MANDAN, DICKINSON, AND SPEARFISH, SD.

WHAT IS AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW? Since ENG Lending is a division of Bank of England (NMLS 418481, 199566) and is a federally chartered bank, I am able to do home loans in all 50 states. This allows me to work with anyone locally, if they want to buy a second home out of state, or if there is any life changes and they need to move out of State I can always work with them. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE JUST ENTERING THIS INDUSTRY? Be passionate about the mortgage industry! it is very competitive, and you must understand the needs of the client to make sure you are putting them in the best program that fits his client’s needs. WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU? My favorite part of the day is taking my kids to school. The conversations I have with them are special to me. Their great attitude is like a breath of fresh air and it sets the tone for the rest of my day. Once I get into the office my team gives me a Top 5 list of what needs to get done and I stay busy throughout the day. IF I WEREN’T A MORGAGE PLANNER, I’D BE… I would either be an Accountant or Insurance Agent. WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE ENG LENDING ACCOMPLISH IN THE COMING YEARS? I want to establish ourselves in the Bismarck-Mandan area as the number 1 choice for home loans and keep building long term relationships with our clients. I have a hard time calling anyone I work with “clients” because I build a friendship with all of them. I would also like to grow our business into the Fargo and Sioux Falls markets. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO ENTER THIS INDUSTRY? I’ve always loved numbers and working with people. It is such a perfect fit for me. I truly enjoy each day I come to the office. WHAT MAKES YOUR BUSINESS UNIQUE FROM OTHER MORTGAGE LENDERS IN THE AREA? We specialize in home loans and we’re able to do a large volume because of the relationship we build. We have office hours, but we are flexible and give our clients time after hours and on weekends. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? Visiting with people and having the opportunity to make a difference. WHAT IS YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION FOR 2021? To do better at time management and spend more time with my wife and kids. Jay Wandler, Mortgage Planner, NMLS#199566. Bank of England is not affiliated with any government agency. ENG Lending is a division of Bank of England. NMLS 418481. Member FDIC.

www.facebook.com/456Loan

https://456loan.com


Students walking to class at the Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy might come across a huge array of solar panels that just went in behind the building where a number of high schoolers study energy each semester. “When it comes to solar energy, kids look at you like a deer in headlights,” said Dale Hoerauf, career and technical education director. “They don’t have a good understanding of it. That’s what’s exciting about this project, is we’re going to have a better understanding when we can see what it’s producing.”

Schumacher said he too is getting up to speed on the technology. He spent time earlier this month asking questions of Ryan Roe, owner of Missouri-based Green Leaf Solar, as Roe worked on the inverter. The company installed the solar array, which was funded by a $92,000 federal grant administered through the North Dakota Department of Commerce’s state energy program.

The panels extend 142 feet in length and are stacked about 16 feet high. They face south toward the sun as it moves from east to west throughout the day. The array is tilted 30 degrees below horizontal to better harness the North Dakota is essentially dead last in the country for sun’s power given the site’s northern latitude and to solar installations, according to various rankings, though the accommodate North Dakota winters. industry is beginning to grow in the state. Several arrays went up last year near Cannon Ball on the Standing Rock “After a big snow, hopefully what’ll happen is the snow Sioux Reservation, which straddles North and South Dakota, slides down,” Roe said. and United Tribes Technical College has installed panels on The panels end a foot or so above ground, giving any some of its facilities in Bismarck. snow that falls a bit of space to pile up once it slides to the The 115 panels at the Career Academy were installed in bottom. late October, and an inverter recently went in to convert the The 46-kilowatt system is enough to power about seven electricity generated by the panels from direct current to homes, Roe said. alternating current so it can power the building. Hoerauf The panels will help power the building, but they also are hopes to eventually have a monitor inside displaying the hooked up to Montana-Dakota Utilities’ distribution system. latest generation and consumption stats. Engineering and Technical Education Instructor Jeff Schumacher plans to start incorporating the panels into his lessons for the energy and power technology class he teaches to about 15 high school students who learn about fossil fuels and renewables throughout the semester, The Bismarck Tribune reported.

On the weekends when the building is consuming little electricity, the system will produce more power than the facility needs. “It just starts feeding the grid,” Roe said.

Installing the solar panels falls in line with other decisions made in construction of the Career Academy, “We want them to know about the different types of jobs which uses geothermal heat and exposes various that are out there,” he said. components of that system -- such as pipes -- for students to use in their lessons, Hoerauf said. Previous classes have included solar energy in the curriculum, but the panels will take the learning up a notch, “We just haven’t done a lot with solar,” he said. “I think it’s Schumacher said. At some point, he hopes to have a former the next frontier.” student who has worked in solar come in to talk to students. Builders FirstSource is your first source for great customer service and high quality building materials.

BUILDING MATERIALS

1513 39TH AVE SE, MANDAN | 701-663-9861 | WWW.BLDR.COM


Happy New Year and welcome 2021! All of us at the North Dakota Association of Builders are excited to welcome a new year, new possibilities, new journeys, new challenges, and new friends. A new year is the first day to 365 days of unwritten pages to make of them what you want! We wish you all the best with your health, with your families and with your businesses. It is our honor to get to introduce you to our newest board members that join in representing your best interest at the NDAB Board of Directors meetings: 2021 NDAB PRESIDENT PHIL RISBRUDT

Incoming Board Members: § HBA of Fargo-Moorhead: Robert Leslie § Forx Builders Association: Jeff Vonasek § Bismarck-Mandan HBA: Jamie Schmidt § Western Area BA: Ken Callahan

NDAB CEO · KIM SCHNEIDER

January is also the month to renew your sponsorships or sign up for one! Your company can be an annual sponsor or maybe you are interested in just one of our statewide events. We have many great options and opportunities to display your logo be provided recognition. If interested in learning more, please contact our office at 701-222-2401 or visit our website for details. January 5th is the first official day of the 67th Legislative Assembly. The ND Legislature is made up of two chambers. Two representatives and one senator are elected from each district. The House of Representatives has 94 members, and the Senate has a total of 47. North Dakota is unique in that the legislature meets bi-annually in odd numbered years and are restricted to being able to meet a total of 80 days once gaveled in which means this session will end by April 28th, 2021. Please be watching your emails for Call to Action requests where you will be asked to reach out to your local representatives and senators regarding bills that impact our industry. Your voice is important to the legislators and make a big impact to their final vote. If you plan to make a special trip to the ND Capitol, please let our office know. We always welcome guests and enjoy having the opportunity to show you around the capitol building, introduce you to the legislators and share with you the various committee hearings that might interest you to sit in on. Also be watching for legislative updates so you are always in the know of what is happening regarding bills impacting the building industry. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask. Kim Schneider and Sara Frank will proudly be representing NDAB as registered lobbyists once again and will be involved with the daily committee hearings and floor votes. In ND, we are extremely fortunate to have great accessibility to our Legislators and be active in the legislative process. Cheers to a New Year, we look forward to an exciting year ahead!

Make this year a year of finding, of fulfillment, of joy, peace, and purpose! Take care, Phil Risbrudt, 2021 NDAB President Kim Schneider, NDAB CEO

Knife River is a full service aggregate-based construction company, providing ready-mix concrete aggregate sales and delivery and concrete construction services. We provide services throughout North Dakota for public, private and commercial construction projects.

701-580-4527

Bismarck-Mandan | Washburn | Beulah

Mark Roningen - Business Development


The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued two final rules related to qualified mortgage (QM) loans. The General QM Final Rule replaces the current requirement for General QM loans that the consumer’s debt-to-income ratio (DTI) not exceed 43%, with a limit based on the loan’s pricing. The second rule creates a new category for QMs, Seasoned QMs.

“Through this General QM Final Rule, we are working to create an appropriate, more flexible General QM loan definition,” said CFPB Director Kathleen L. Kraninger. “Our final rule’s pricebased approach strikes the best balance between assessing consumers’ ability to repay and promoting access to responsible, affordable mortgage credit.”

In adopting a price-based approach to replace the specific DTI limit for General QM loans, the CFPB determined that a loan’s price is a strong indicator of a consumer’s ability to repay and is a more holistic and flexible measure of a consumer’s ability to repay than DTI alone. A loan meets the general QM definition if its annual percentage rate exceeds the average prime offer rate (APOR) for a comparable transaction by less than 2.25 percentage points.

CFPB also is encouraging innovation in the mortgage origination market through the issuance of the Seasoned QM Final Rule. The rule creates a new category of Seasoned QMs for first-lien, fixed-rate covered transactions that have met certain performance requirements, are held in portfolio by the originating creditor or first purchaser for a 36-month period, comply with general restrictions on product features and points and fees, and meet certain underwriting requirements.

In addition, the General QM Final Rule:

The two rules will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, with a mandatory compliance date for the General QM Final Rule of July 21, 2021. However, lenders can use the new rule during the optional compliance period between the effective date and July 21.

Provides higher pricing thresholds for loans with smaller loan amounts, for certain manufactured housing loans, and for subordinate-lien transactions. Retains the General QM loan definition’s existing product-feature and underwriting requirements and limits on points and fees. Requires lenders to consider a consumer’s DTI ratio or residual income, income or assets other than the value of the dwelling, and debts and removes appendix Q and provides more flexible options for creditors to verify the consumer’s income or assets other than the value of the dwelling and the consumer’s debts for QM loans.

The CFPB had previously extended the “GovernmentSponsored Enterprise (GSE) Patch” that allows mortgage loans that are eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to receive a safe harbor granted to qualified mortgages QMs. The Patch will expire on the General QM Final Rule’s mandatory compliance date or if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac exit conservatorship. For more information, contact Curtis Milton at 800-3685242 x8597.


Washington-based Marnella Homes’ Greenwich Condos, located in Portland, Ore., was the first building to be NGBS Green Certified under the 2020 National Green Building Standard (NGBS). The building earned the highest level of certification available — Emerald — and was the first to earn the new NGBS Green+ WELLNESS badge, which recognizes buildings that are higher performing across a suite of NGBS practices that are influential to human health. The builders of the nine-unit condo building focused on residents’ health, comfort and energy efficiency. The building is located in a walkable community (Walk Score 84 and Bike Score 100) with easy access to public transit.

Features include: Fresh air exchange via a whole-home fan; • High efficiency ducted mini-splits; • Above-code insulation to improve both acoustics and energy efficiency; • South-facing windows for passive lighting; • Private outdoor space for each homeowner; • Advanced framing; and • Rooftop solar panels providing 1.95 kW for each home (which offsets approximately 30% of the each unit’s power needs). •

The project was also designed and constructed to provide these features at an attainable price for the target market: singles and young couples. “I wanted these to be healthy, comfortable, energy efficient and provide features that our buyers aren’t seeing at this price range,” noted Tony Marnella, NAHB member and owner of Marnella Homes. Marnella also shared details about the project and healthier homes in general with Michelle Foster of Home

Innovation Research Labs in Episode 3 of Housing Innovation Alliance’s podcast. Read more about Greenwich Condos, its high-performance strategies and wellness features in this case study. The ICC700 National Green Building Standard® — the first residential green building rating system approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) — has been used by building professionals for more than a decade. The standard provides practices for the design and construction of all types of green residential buildings, renovations and land developments. It provides architects, builders and developers the flexibility needed to design and construct homes and mixed-use buildings that are sustainable, cost-effective and appropriate for a home’s geographic location. The 2020 NGBS offers builders and developers additional compliance paths for certification, including full certification of mixed-use buildings (with at least 50% residential space) and an entry-level certified path for single-family builders. Nearly 400 projects have already been registered since the standard was published in April 2020. Visit nahb.org/ngbs for more information on how to certify a project to the NGBS, purchase a hard copy or download a free pdf of the reference standard. For more details about NAHB’s sustainable and green building programs, contact Sustainability and Green Building Program Manager Michelle Diller. To stay current on the high-performance residential building sector, follow NAHB’s Sustainability and Green Building team on Twitter.


The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has announced its loan limits for 2021. The nationwide rise in median home prices indicates most buyers across the country will see increases. The Federal Housing Finance Agency increased annual loan limits by 7.42% in 2021 based on changes to the national median home prices.

cost and high-cost areas: PROPERTY SIZE

LOW-COST AREA “FLOOR”

HIGH-COST AREA “CEILING”

One-Unit

$356,362

$822,375

Two-Units

$456,275

$1,053,000

Three-Units

$551,500

$1,272,750

Four-Units

$685,400

$1,581,750

Therefore, the FHA floor will increase from $331,760 to $356,362 for single-family home loans. The FHA national low The 2021 FHA loan limits by Metropolitan Statistical Area -cost area mortgage limit of $356,362 is set at 65% of the (MSA) or county can be reviewed on FHA’s loan limits national conforming limit of $548,250. The base limit applies webpage. to areas where 115% of the area median home price is less FHA also increased the loan limits for its Home Equity than $356,362. Conversion Mortgage (HECM), or reverse mortgage The FHA high-cost ceiling is 150% of the national program, from $765,600 to $822,375. FHA HECM program conforming loan limit and will increase from $765,600 to regulations do not allow loan limits to vary by MSA or $822,375 for single-family home loans. High-cost areas are county, so this limit applies to all mortgages regardless of those where 115% of the median home price is greater than location. the floor ($356,362). In these areas, the limit equals 115% of For more information, contact Curtis Milton at 800-368the median home price up to the FHA ceiling ($822,375). 5242 x8597. The following table lists the 2021 FHA loan limits for low-

Winter can be an especially tricky time for safety personnel on home building jobsites. But the pandemic of 2020 adds another dimension to jobsite safety plans during the cold weather months. Home builders should continue to require their workers and trades partners to follow the NAHB Jobsite Safety Guidance for Coronavirus. Although there is light at the end of the tunnel for the pandemic, this winter is expected to be the worst of the entire outbreak, and home builders should continue to practice diligence. But cold weather also brings non-virus dangers to jobsites that require special attention. The use of space heaters inside structures presents an elevated fire risk, so be careful while using them. OSHA also has guidance for workers on jobsites during the winter that includes: •

Be aware of weather forecasts. Keeping track of the forecast for the day is the first step for keeping your workers warm. A worst-case scenario is that an employer sends workers out to a jobsite the day a blizzard blows into town. Employers should watch the local weather and check the National Weather Service. If possible, schedule work during the warmest part of the day. Limit exposure to the elements. When the wind and snow are blowing and temperatures are dangerously low, schedule outside work in shorter time blocks. Consider breaking up larger projects into smaller tasks or providing short, frequent breaks in a warm environment such as a heated trailer or a tent with portable heaters.

Require proper gear. Working outside during the winter requires the right gear for the job, including boots, heavy coats, gloves, hats and other essentials based on the weather. Employers should require all workers to wear clothing that will keep them warm and dry to prevent hypothermia and frostbite. Review work sites every day. Any kind of debris can pose a risk in work environments; however, it is particularly true for winter construction. Snow and ice on overhangs and rooftops should be regularly cleared to prevent falling to the ground level. Snow can also hide dangerous materials that can fall to a lower level and injure a worker. Remove snow and ice. Before work is started on a site, employers should ensure snow is removed, salt or sand is put down, and large patches of ice are chipped away. And, no matter how time sensitive the construction job is, workers should avoid working on scaffolding in ice and snow. Inspect and prepare vehicles. Before heading into the winter, all work vehicles should be inspected to determine if they are fully functioning. Employers should also add winter emergency kits to work vehicles that include an ice scraper, snow brush, shovel, tow chain, flashlight with extra batteries, emergency flares, a blanket, snacks and water. Educate workers on the signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Even when employers do everything they can to protect workers, issues can still arise. Supervisors and workers need to know the symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite so that if anyone shows these signs, they can receive immediate medical attention.

Stay safe from the elements and the coronavirus this winter, because 2021 is promising to be an extraordinary year in one building.


Registration is open for IBSx, the new International Builders’ Show® virtual experience from NAHB. The inperson event was transitioned to a virtual show due to health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. This online alternative to IBS, the most comprehensive business-building event in residential construction, will showcase the most innovative new products, offer live and semi-live interactive education sessions with on-demand recordings, feature creative networking opportunities such as live chat and one-on-one meeting requests, and much more. Registrants can participate in all of the IBSx offerings, Feb. 9-12, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET daily. “IBS has always been the premier show of the industry, and this year is no exception. While this year’s show is a different format than our attendees are used to, we think they will really be impressed with the new offerings and topnotch industry access they have come to expect,” said NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke. “NAHB is excited about the new IBSx virtual experience where participants can log in and have access to innovative product demos, networking opportunities and education sessions — all available from home or the jobsite, on-demand and when they want the information.”

The week will kick off with a special keynote address from well-known television host Mike Rowe. Participants will

In a win for NAHB, House and Senate negotiators have agreed on “beneficial ownership” legislation that addresses key builder concerns after NAHB negotiated directly with key congressional leaders. Specifically, NAHB members will not be required to file federal reports on old or inactive Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), thereby avoiding an onerous and potentially financially damaging federal mandate. This language was attached to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report, which passed the House and Senate this week. However, the legislation still faces a possible veto from President Trump and veto override votes in the coming days. While we continue to have reservations about the paperwork requirements our members will face, today’s action is great news for our industry and NAHB’s advocacy efforts.

also be able to stay on top of the latest industry trends and exciting new product launches and demos through product areas such as the Home Tech Zone and Start-up Zone. Networking opportunities and one-on-one live meetings with top industry suppliers and service providers will also be part of the week. Participants who register with an All Access pass can expand their skills and learn about a variety of cutting-edge topics offered in the more than 100 exclusive education sessions featuring top industry speakers. Another big draw of the week is the unveiling of NAHB’s official show homes, The New American Home® and The New American Remodel®, through a series of virtual tours and presentations. The homes are designed to showcase innovative building technologies, emerging design trends and the latest building products. IBSx is not open to the public. Industry professionals should register at BuildersShow.com. Expo passes for the virtual event are free for NAHB members, and $50 for nonmembers. Early-bird pricing — available through Jan. 8 — for an All Access: Education + Expo pass is $199 for NAHB members and $299 for non-members. Further details on the virtual offerings will be forthcoming. For more information on IBSx or the International Builders’ Show, visit BuildersShow.com.

The original legislation was much more onerous and would have required builders to disclose all of their LLCs, even LLCs that have been long defunded or otherwise shut down for years. Since real estate, land development and home building activities typically involve the creation of multiple LLCs over multiple years this language would have created a burdensome, if not impossible, federal reporting requirement uniquely targeting our industry. Looking ahead, should the NDAA become law, NAHB will continue to work with the Treasury Department and the Financial Crime Enforcement Network to address outstanding paperwork and compliance issues during the rulemaking phase. For more information, contact Scott Meyer at 800-3685242 x8144.


2600 Gateway Ave, Ste 1 Bismarck, ND 58503


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.