February 2024 Building Connections

Darien

Wilton

Bethel

New Milford

Your Monthly Newsletter

Building Connections is a monthly digital magazine produced and published by the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Fairfield County. Inside you will find the latest association news, legislative updates, upcoming events, and featured articles about the industry.

Contact Us:

hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com

www.buildfairfieldcounty.com

@hbraffc

(203) 335-7008

Front Cover:

Featuring: Gatehouse Partners

AUTHENTIC TO YOUR DREAM

Andersen ® A-Series windows and doors are based on the style of home you want. Whether it’s a stately Queen Anne, a bold Modernist design or anything in between, you can now create it with the best-performing, most energy-efficient products Andersen has ever offered. Don’t just imagine your dream home, build it with Andersen.

Andersen is proud to support the Home Builders and Remodelers Assn. of Fairfield County and its members.

EXECUTIVE WELCOME LETTER

What a start to 2024!

I hope the new year is off to a good start for you! We had such a great turnout for our February PWB Hosted GMM at Luxury Flooring. We introduced our 2024 PWB board, and I know they will do great things within their dynamic committee. At this meeting, we also started our new initiative - giving members an opportunity to introduce themselves and their business to all attendees at the meeting. If you are interested in taking part in this program, please reach out to me.

This year, we will also be rolling out a new website focused on marketing our members. This will happen in conjunction with a social media push spotlighting our members. Stay tuned for our new and improved website!

IBS is just a few days away and I hope to see you all there. As a reminder, the HBRA CT party will take place on Wednesday, February 28th at 5PM. Please RSVP to Kim DiMatteo at kim.dimatteo@crossagency.com to attend.

Be sure to keep our online membership directory in mind whenever you are looking for a business: www.buildfairfieldcounty.com/directory. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can do anything for you or your business: kerry@buildfairfieldcounty.com.

Kind Regards,

Kerry Brunn Executive Officer

Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Fairfield County

“ The mission of the HBRA is to help promote, protect & improve the building industry in Fairfield County. Our association is dedicated to promoting, strengthening, and informing our local home building market and those who work within it to ensure that we areindependently and collectively - a viable economic engine of growth now and in the future. ”

Upcoming EventsSave the Date!

Feb. 27 - 29: International Builder’s Show

Las Vegas, NV | Presented by the National Association of Home Builders

Save the date for the CT IBS Annual Party - Weds. Feb. 28 at Carmine's Italian Restaurant - Las Vegas!

Weds. March 6: “Beyond the Blueprint” Panel Presentation

The Waters Edge at Giovanni's, Darien | 6pm-9pm

Our annual panel presentation featuring a behind-the-scenes look at how leading industry professionals build award-winning homes in Fairfield County.

Weds. April 3: April GMM

Interstate Design Center, Westport | 6pm-9pm

Weds. May 1: May GMM & Member Mixer 6pm-9pm | Food, drink, & table display opportunities!

Mon. Sept. 16: Annual HBRA Golf Classic

Tashua Knolls Golf Course, Trumbull

2024 OFFICERS

Immediate Past President

Kim DiMatteo Cross Insurance

President: John Hertz Hertz Construction

Senior VP: Rob Michaud Michaud Development Group

VP: Brian Kurtz Interstate + Lakeland Lumber

Treasurer: Chris Shea Domus Constructors, LLC

Secretary: Karen Bradbury Closet & Storage Concepts

2024 DIRECTORS

George Pusser Cornerstone Contracting

Kevin Polcer Polcer Home, LLC

Lisa Heldwhite Breakwater Renovation & Design, LLC

Stephanie Rapp

Stephanie Rapp Interiors, LLC

Tori McBrien McBrien Interiors

LIFE DIRECTORS

Joanne Carroll

JMC Resources

Jerry Effren

The Greyrock Companies

Gary Fanali City Carting

Peter Fusaro

Preferred Builders

Michael Palumbo

ERI Building & Design

Peter Gaboriault

Bear Paw Builders

Terrence Beaty

William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

Chris Steiner Steiner, Inc.

Anthony DeRosa DeRosa Builders

BEYOND BEYOND THE BLUEPRINT

Weds. March 6th, 2024 | 6pm-9pm

The Waters Edge at Giovanni's: 2748 Boston Post Road, Darien

Join the HBRA of Fairfield County for our annual "Beyond the Blueprint" panel presentation, featuring a behind the scenes look as to how leading industry professionals build in today's unique market.

Cocktail hour finger foods followed by seated dinner, salad and dessert, plus one included drink ticket (cash bar thereafter).

Dinner Choices: New York Strip Steak, Chicken Parmesan, Broiled Salmon Beurre Blanc, or vegetarian option.

PANELISTS:

Robin Carroll, Karp Associates Inc.

Noel Farrell, Guiltec Development

Chris Steiner, Steiner Inc.

Moderator: Robin Faller, Ferocious Digital

HBRA Members: $125.00 (early bird) | $135.00 (week of)

General Admission: $135.00 (early bird) | $145.00 (week of)

Reserved Table of 10: $1250.00 (Only pre-purchased full tables will have reserved seating. First come first serve seating otherwise.)

THANK YOU TO THANK YOU TO

OUR SPONSORS: OUR SPONSORS:

BEYOND BEYOND THE BLUEPRINT

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE! SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE!

Weds. March 6th| 6p-9p | Giovanni's Darien

Presenting Sponsor - $2000

Listed as presenting sponsor with logo on banner at event

Listed as presenting sponsor with logo on all marketing materials

Three attendees to the event

1 minute to speak at the event

Full page ad in program at the event (back cover)

Tagged in social media post

Full page Ad in Building Connections E-Magazine for 3 months

Drink Ticket Sponsor - $1500

Logo on website registration page and all email invitations

Logo on sponsor banner at the event

Full page ad in program at the event

Logo on all drink tickets

Two attendees to the event

Foundation Sponsor - $500

Logo on website registration page and all email invitations

Logo on sponsor banner at the event

Half page ad in program at the event

Thanked by Executive Officer at the podium at the beginning of the event

One attendee to the event

Blueprint Sponsor - $1000

Logo on website registration page and all email invitations

Logo on sponsor banner at the event

Full page ad in program at the event

Thanked by Executive Officer at the podium at the beginning of the event

Half page ad in Building Connections magazine for 3 months

Two attendees to the event

Ad Sponsor - $350

Logo on sponsor banner at the event

Full page ad in program at the event

Membership Raffle Sponsor -

$425 Signage at the event

1 attendee to event and opportunity to draw the winning ticket

UILDERB SPOTLIGHT

COMPANY HISTORY:

DeLaurentis Developments is a multiple award-winning design and build firm based in Fairfield CT. Born and raised in the Fairfield County Area, Eric DeLaurentis (Owner) has spent his career involved in all aspects of construction and real estate development. The company began building and selling spec homes to now also offering: semicustom, and custom homes, as well as additions and renovations.

LATEST PROJECT:

A unique tudor-style luxury speculative home in Fairfield within walking distance to the Main Train Station and downtown. It will feature 5 Beds, 5 1/2 Baths, 3,938 finished sq. ft. on .26 acres.

For those looking for a superior quality home in the Fairfield, CT area that will stand the test of time...

Say Hello To

OWNER: Eric DeLaurentis

COMPANY MISSON:

We're committed to your vision and build around it, quite literally. We work hard to make the design build process approachable to every client and to meet every deadline. We are committed to quality and care about every detail.

WE ARE RAISING MONEY FOR THE NEXT TWO

Circle of Care

Dream Rooms!

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER BRONZE

$3,500 $1,000 - $3,000 $500 - $1,000 $250 - $500

Platinum Sponsorship pays for one entire dream room. Sponsorships can be donated as monetary or in-kind.

Sponsors will be featured in PWB/HBRA promotions throughout the year.

PWB MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

"Our homes should not only be functional and aesthetically pleasing but also bring joy, be designed with intention, feel harmonious throughout and with nature, and have good energy flow.”

~ Tori McBrien

By blending modern design principles with sustainable practices, biophilic design and the intuition of ancient Feng Shui methods, Tori curates personalized spaces that deeply resonate with her clients. Her background in business and product development from her Vineyard Vines years equips her with the skills to work efficiently within specified budgets and timelines. Additionally, her

experience as a project manager for local contractors has provided valuable insights into the intricacies of home construction. Tori's commitment to environmentally friendly design is evident through her certification as a Green Accredited Professional by the Sustainable Furnishings Council. She is also a certified Feng Shui practitioner, offering clients the opportunity to holistically design spaces that are both environmentally sustainable and energetically harmonious.

Recent projects in her portfolio showcase her versatility, from overseeing the full design, renovation, project management, and installation of family home in Greenwich, CT to renovating multiple bathrooms throughout Fairfield County. Upcoming projects include two full kitchen renovations: one locally and the other, outside of Philadelphia.

Tori calls Fairfield, CT, home, where she resides with her husband, two young children, and two incredibly furry cats.

If you or your clients are interested in a wellness-based and holistic approach to design, please reach out for an introductory call.

www.mcbrieninteriors.com | (914) 441-0450

Tori McBrien NCIDQ, GreenAP

Certified Feng Shui Practitioner McBrien Interiors, LLC

UILDERB SPOTLIGHT

COMPANY HISTORY:

In the 1980s Randy began his career in the building industry with a carpenter’s toolbelt on. By 1999 he had met Stephen Ditri, and they co-founded Gatehouse Partners - a custom construction company founded on the principle that a smaller company could offer a focused, hands-on approach in bringing your plans to life. 25 years in business later, the Gatehouse team remains committed to building quality homes and trusting relationships.

LATEST PROJECTS:

37 Byram Road, CT - MODERN CONTEMPORARY Full Renovation. In addition to the full renovation, Gatehouse was contracted to install a custom glass elevator. 30 Wynkoop Lane, NY - CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY ESTATE New Construction. Gatehouse was contracted to build this single-family home from the ground up.

37 Byram Road, CT

30 Wynkoop Lane, NY

OWNERS: Randy Sullivan & Stephen Ditri

COMPANY MISSON:

Personalized construction management of the highest possible quality with the client's needs of primary importance.

February GMM RECAP

The HBRA kicked off 2024 with our first GMM of the year on February 7th at LuxFlrs in Stamford. Presented by the Professional Women in Building Council, members and industry guests enjoyed delicious food and drinks while touring the new LuxFlrs showroom.

George Pusser of Cornerstone Contracting launched our new “Meet a Member” feature, where at each GMM this year a different HBRA member will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and speak about their business. We still have opportunities for members to participate at upcoming meetings – email kerry@buildfairfieldcounty.com if you’d like to be our next “Meet a Member!”

Plus, Mindy Gerhardt (also of Cornerstone Contracting) won $250 in our first Membership Raffle of the year, sponsored by LoParco Associates Inc. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the rest of the year – contact the HBRA office to sponsor!

New PWB Chairwoman Robin Carroll of Karp Associates introduced the Professional Women in Building Council and their new Board of Directors, and PWB members Rebecca St. Germain (Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group) and Michelle Hughes (Tile America) spoke about the PWB’s 2024 charity initiative with Circle of Care, helping to provide assistance to children and families facing pediatric cancer treatment. Again this year the PWB is participating in the “Art From the Heart” program, and will be designing and building room makeovers for two children currently undergoing cancer treatment.

CLICK HERE to learn more and see pictures from the 2022-2023 room makeovers for Milo and Jasmine. The first room makeover of 2024 will take place in April, and the PWB is currently accepting donations to help cover the $3500 cost.

If you or your company would like to support this cause, CLICK HERE to make an online monetary donation, or email Rebecca at rstgermain@toofer.com if you would be able to donate materials, services, or labor.

February GMM RECAP

Thank you to Robert at LuxFlrs for hosting, and our Professional Women in Building Council members for presenting!

Thank you to Kirt Washington Photography for the capturing the moments of this amazing event!

Learn more:

https://luxflrs.com/

https://buildfairfieldcounty.com/pwb/#!form/PWB

https://www.kirtwashington.com/

Plan Your IBS Experience

#IBS2024

The 2024 IBS Education line-up is unmatched and unrivaled for the residential construction industry.

Walk away with the latest trends, newest techniques, forward-thinking business strategies and actionable items you can apply to your business right away.

100+ sessions

9 tracks

25% more education opportunities with encore (repeat) sessions & additional education rooms

Going to Vegas for IBS? Going to Vegas for IBS?

Take advantage of these travel discounts included with your HBRA Membership through NAHB Savings an

Exclusive Discounts on Travel

Save up to 25% on select hotels. Bundle hotel, rental car, flight / or book multiple hotels or any hotel/rental car combination. Deeply discounted hotel deals worldwide.

Use for Vegas, or anywhere you travel!

CLICK HERE

Rental Cars

Save up to 35% on your next car rental with either Avis or Budget Use in Vegas, or anywhere you need a rental car!

CLICK HERE

Las Vegas Shows

Discounted tickets for shows including Cirque du Soleil, the Broadway musical Jersey Boys, MJ Live: Michael Jackson Tribute Concert, comedy shows, magic shows, and more!

CLICK HERE

Specially Negotiated Hotel Rates for NAHB Members

Save up to 65% on hotel bookings. Special negotiated hotel rates and a consolidated list of the best hotel rates available in the marketplace. Use for Vegas, or anywhere you travel!

CLICK HERE

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARE EXPECTING...

TO RENOVATE

One of the most important skills that we as General Contractors utilize throughout a residential

renovation is managing client expectations. Because this is an intangible skill and not something that we can pick up from a supplier or download to our phones, its importance is also often overlooked. Nurturing a succesful Contractor/Client relationship from the initial introduction, through the final punch list, should be a fun and exciting team effort.

3 Keys to creating a successful client relationship during a residential renovation project.

1. Provide Clear Background on Purpose

For example, let’s say a client is deciding whether to keep a line item in your proposal like construction cleaning and is negotiating for its removal in order to lower overall project costs. Look at this as an opportunity to present your case from a practical standpoint. “Construction cleaning will reduce the overall amount of reoccurring dust in a home before and after you move in”. If the client still wants to remove this line item, make it an exclusion before the proposal goes to contract or convert it into an add/alt as a reminder for down the road. Either way, you’ve now made your case as to why you think this is important, addressed the clients concerns and set the stage for a smoother finish for the project.

2. Know Your Timing - Plan Ahead!

This thinking can be applied to anything but, just like everything else in our industry, timing is everything. Take the installation of hardwood flooring. Advising a client to install humidification in their HVAC system because it will reduce the potential for movement during heating and cooling systems is a good idea for a number of reasons. You are lowering your chances for “call backs” after completion due to concerns over gapping in the floors and creating a situation for a better install.

3. Help Your Client Imagine the Space

Helping your client forecast what the finished product is going to look like depending on which decisions they make throughout the building process is an important role of a General Contractor. Using visual representations or grouping sample choices together in the actual space are a few ways to imagine a space pre-execution. Taping out the size or placement of potential furniture or walls/cabinetry can also help. Our ability to identify and consistently execute this part of the building process, could mean the difference between a happy client satisfied with a finished product to one with a never-ending “warranty” list.

At the end of the day, we are in a customer service industry. Guiding our clients through the building process by managing their expectations not only gives you the chance to maximize profits through efficiency but to keep your clients happy and more likely to refer you to their friends and family.

Article By: Joe Stroll

Membership Discounts & Deals

Log in at www.nahb.org

Through agreements with more than 20 national companies, NAHB offers exclusive discounts on a variety of products and services that can benefit your business, employees and family. Members save big when they take advantage of these offers.

Steps to Access NAHB Discounts:

Please Note: Your nahb.org login is separate from your buildfairfieldcounty.com login.

If you do not have an NAHB account, select “Register” on the right side of the screen.

You will need the PIN you received when you first joined the HBRA – find yours by logging in to your account at buildfairfieldcounty.com, or contact the HBRA office and we would be happy to let you know!

After you log in, go to www.nahb.org/NAHB-Community/Member-Benefits/Savings

Click on “Learn More” under the discount you want to use and follow the instructions.

See the NAHB "Member Savings Program at a Glance" handout for a full list of available discounts!

Through the HBRA of Fairfield County’s partnership with NPP you can save on products for your business and employees. Membership is free.

Steps to Access NPP Discounts:

Visit www.mynpp.com/association/hbra-of-fairfieldcounty/

If you already have an account, select “Log In” at the top right to log in.

If you do not currently have an NPP account, enter your information on the form on the right and follow the website prompts to create an account.

Click on the discount you would like to sign up for and follow the instructions.

See the NPP handout for a full list of available discounts!

For a full list of all benefits available to members, visit: buildfairfieldcounty.com/membership-benefits-discounts/

Bethel | Branford | Danbury

Darien | Fairfield | Lewisboro | Madison

New Milford | Newtown | Niantic

North Stamford | Norwalk | Orange

Stamford | Stratford | Trumbull

Westport | Wethersfield | Wilton

JOIN THE RING’S END TEAM!

Do you have a positive attitude that contributes to a high company morale? Are you goal-oriented and self-motivated? Can you connect with our customers and build strong relationships? Are you an effective communicator? Do you present yourself professionally? If so, you may be a perfect candidate for a career at Ring’s End!

Ring’s End is a Connecticut-based lumber and building materials retailer serving Connecticut, South County, Rhode Island, and Southern Westchester County, New York. We are a thirdgeneration, family owned and operated business with a rich history dating back to 1902. With 20 retail locations, Ring’s End continues to expand and evolve as an industry leader.

The positions at Ring’s End are as diverse as the employees who hold them. Discover your passionjoin the Ring’s End team today!

Strategic Vision

To

Mission Statement

To

the very best products, industry knowledge, customer service, and shopping experience. We do this by employing the best team in the industry, ensuring we maintain a diverse, evolved work environment that values cooperation and teamwork. We look for innovation and continuous improvement in everything we do.

• Accountability

• Community

NEW MEMBERS

Andrea Nicole Interiors | Andrea Piacentino

A full-service interior design firm specializing in luxury, bespoke design for modern living. With an aesthetic that ranges from contemporary to traditional, we take a client-centric approach, resulting in highly personalized and curated environments that are beautiful, inviting, and, above all, functional. Read More

Home Media Designs | Chris Barre

Home Media Designs is a Connecticut based home technology integration company specializing in design, sales, programming and installation. We bring creativity and passion to the system design process and work closely with you at every level of the project. Read More

JerMar Designs | Jeanne Collins

JerMar Designs is an award-winning, full-service luxury interior design studio based in New Canaan, Connecticut, specializing in custom new builds and renovations. Read More

Kirt Washington Photography | Kirt Washington

From a tradesman to a photographer, combining 16 years in residential audio/video installation with a love for art, Kirt Washington Photography offers a unique take on architecture and offers many services including photography, videography, drone operation and creating marketing materials for various applications. Read More

Kitchen Tune-Up | Dane Zenko

At Kitchen Tune-Up, our team works with you to achieve your dream kitchen. Our team of experts will provide you with a kitchen update that matches your desires at an investment you are comfortable with. Read More

Lauren Vallario Designs | Lauren Vallario

Your Interior Designer for High-End Liveable Design. We take the stress and overwhelm out of creating practical, functional, and beautiful spaces that live alongside your family. We focus on what’s working and what’s not and update your space with everything your family needs to live, work, and thrive. Read More

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

A subflooring panel with a built-in barrier for jobsite durability.

AdvanTech X-Factor panels are the latest innovation from the subflooring brand builders have trusted for more than 20 years for the FLAT OUT BEST™ start to a quiet, stiff floor. AdvanTech X-Factor is a new class of premium subflooring with a fade-resistant, watershedding surface on a high-performance engineered wood panel. With a built-in protective top layer, it takes the moisture resistance teams expect from an AdvanTech panel to the next level and pairs well with AdvanTech™ subfloor adhesive for a Squeak-Free Guarantee™1

The built-in, water-shedding top layer provides a distinctively smooth, even, premium subfloor surface that is marker friendly and easy to clean.

Weather-Resistive Top Layer Delivers First-Class Moisture Protection

Enduring Premium Look — Resists Discoloration,

NEW MEMBERS

MFJ Home Management, LLC | Marianne Johansson

Stamford Construction CT, LLC | Pawel Szymko

Stamford Construction CT, LLC is an experienced and respected building construction company in Connecticut and New York. We build with the intention of exceeding our clients' expectations for safety, quality, functionality and aesthetics. Read More

AFFILIATES

Huber Engineered Woods | Matt McCammitt

Home Media Designs | David Woodward

Marvin | Josh Sullivan

JOB BANK

AVAILABLE JOBS:

These opportunities are offered by the HBRA members listed in the specific advertisement. Please do not contact the HBRA regarding these listings.

Accurate Lock And Hardware

JOB TITLE: Customer Solutions Specialist

SUMMARY: In this role, you will communicate with customers via phone and email, help determine their requirements, process purchase orders, provide quotations, check on order status and expedite orders. You will be part of a team that provides customer service and support for a wide array of products to a network of showroom and contract hardware distributors, OEM accounts, architects, designers and specifiers.

Bear Paw Builders Inc.

JOB TITLE: Part Time Bookkeeper

START DATE: immediately

Salary: $30-$35 per hour

SUMMARY: Experienced bookkeeper experienced in construction job costing with QuickBooks.

CONTACT: peter@bpaw.com

Chloe Winston Lighting Design

JOB TITLE: Showroom Coordinator

RESPONSIBILITIES: Assist with showroom opening and closing duties, answer phones and make customer appointments, greet customers in showroom and make them feel welcomed, receive deliveries and help with in-store merchandise pick-ups, liaise with showroom, manufacturers, and designers, architects, builders and retail customers, and support sales team.

HOURS: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm

Email resume to hello@chloewinstonlighting.com

Workplace retirement plans have become mandatory for all Connecticut businesses with 5 or more employees (MyCTSavings Plan)

Fortunately for you the HBRA has you covered with the HBRA Member Retirement Program!

Higher contribution limits, plan design flexibility, and higher income limits are just a few potential reasons why the HBRA Member Retirement Program may make more sense for your business.

You build homes down to every detail of what your customer is looking for, so why not build your own retirement plan the same way!

John V. DiMatteo CFP®, CPFA

AVAILABLE JOBS: (Continued)

These opportunities are offered by the HBRA members listed in the specific advertisement. Please do not contact the HBRA regarding these listings.

Lansing Building Products, LLC

JOB TITLE: Outside Sales - Norwalk, CT (lever.co)

START DATE: immediately

SUMMARY: Full time - secures new business while building and maintaining relationships with customers.

CONTACT: (203) 831-0977 or george.harvey@lansingbp.com

Studio KC LLC

JOB TITLE: Jr Designer/Project Manager

SUMMARY: Studio KC is an emerging high end interior design firm located in Norwalk specializing in full home renovations, kitchens, baths and custom millwork. We are looking for a Junior Designer/Project Manager to join our tight knit team. Our office is a fun, fast paced environment where collaboration and mutual support are encouraged.

JOB BANK

Mortgage Rates in US to Drop to 5.5% in 2024, Survey Shows

Bloomberg | January 28, 2024

Mortgage rates in the US will decline this year, stoking optimism about the battered real estate market, according to the latest Bloomberg Markets Live Pulse survey.

The rate on a 30-year, fixed mortgage is expected to fall to 5.5% at the end of the year, according to the median from 236 respondents. That’d be down more than a full percentage point from its current level of about 6.69%, and the first annual decline after three straight years of gains.

Read More

Plan to Attend the NAHB Leadership Meetings at the 2024 International Builders’ Show

Members of NAHB’s committees and councils, delegates to the Leadership Council, and members of the Board of Directors will meet to discuss key issues facing the industry.

To view the full NAHB leadership meeting schedule, visit BuildersShow.com or download the IBS app.

Read More

Catch Live Demos and Sessions in the Jobsite Safety Zone at IBS 2024

The NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) is the best place in the world to see leading products and best practices in the residential construction market. It’s also the best place to get the latest in jobsite safety equipment and techniques.

The Jobsite Safety Zone, sponsored by Builders Mutual, at IBS showcases exhibitors who specialize in providing cutting-edge construction safety products and educate residential construction professionals on the latest in workplace safety solutions.

Demonstrations and education sessions run all day in the Safety Zone. General sessions include Ladder Safety 101, Fall Protection 101 by the Job-Site Safety Institute, sessions focused on OSHA inspections and violation, and how to reverse an opioid overdose on a jobsite.

There are also product-specific demonstrations from exhibitors such as Little Giant Ladder, SawStop, Ballantyne Gear and Diamondback Toolbelts. See the full schedule.

The Jobsite Safety Zone has been around only a few years at IBS, but it has already proven to be a popular destination for builders, remodelers and trades professionals with its singular focus on safety on residential construction sites.

At IBS 2024, taking place Feb. 27-29 in Las Vegas, the Jobsite Safety Zone will be located in the upper level of the South Hall, right next to the Construction Performance Zone (booth SU443 on the mobile map). Just look for the big yellow banner hanging from the ceiling.

Read More

Housing Affordability Remains Near Historic Low Level

Mortgage rates that hit more than a 20-year high, coupled with elevated construction costs and excessive regulatory costs, left housing affordability in the fourth quarter of 2023 virtually unchanged from the previous quarter and holding near its lowest level in more than a decade.

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/ Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), just 37.7% of new and existing homes sold between the beginning of October and end of December were affordable to families earning the U.S. median income of $96,300. This is nearly identical to the 37.4% posted in the third quarter of last year, which was the lowest reading since NAHB began tracking affordability on a consistent basis in 2012. The fourth quarter also marks the final report of the long-running HOI series. Replacing the HOI in the first quarter of this year will be a new housing affordability index from NAHB called the Cost of Housing Index (CHI), a quarterly analysis of housing costs in the U.S. and metropolitan areas.

Read More

How Is WOTUS Impacting Your Business?

To identify issues that may arise outside the conforming definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) that went into effect in September 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers will be hosting multiple listening sessions to enable broad participation from co-regulators and stakeholders.

Read More

Be Unstoppable with Help from UPS®

The world moves fast – and your NAHB UPS® Savings Program has the tools you need to help your small business move even faster. We’re here to help you push envelopes and ride the edge of what’s possible. We’ll be right by your side with everything you need to keep blazing forward.

Let UPS® help make your business unstoppable. Members enjoy the following savings every time you ship:

• 50% off Domestic Next Day / Deferred

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• Plus, UPS Smart Pickup® service is free.

Don’t Let Shipping Mishaps Slow You Down

A lot can go wrong in shipping – package loss, breakage, porch piracy theft. The good news is that you can mitigate the financial impact of some shipping mishaps with InsureShield® shipping coverage.

Through your NAHB UPS® Savings Program, you have access to insurance that can help keep your business moving despite the everyday risks of shipping.

All you have to do is enter the value of the goods in the declared value* field of your UPS® approved shipping system and you are on your way to better shipping experiences.

Start covering your shipments today: savewithups.com/nahb

Legal Disclaimer:

Insurance coverage

not available in all jurisdictions or on all shipments.

© 2023 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. UPS, UPS Capital, InsureShield, the UPS brandmark,

Inc. All rights reserved.

U.S. Expected to Increase Lumber Tariffs This Summer

The U.S. Department of Commerce has signaled that it plans to raise tariffs later this year on imports of Canadian softwood lumber products from the current rate of 8.05% to about 14% following its annual review of existing tariffs.

Although NAHB is disappointed by this action, this decision is part of the regularly scheduled review process the United States employs to ensure adequate relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade practices.

The Department of Commerce initiated its fifth administrative reviews of its softwood lumber anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders last March and announced its preliminary findings of these reviews at the beginning of this month. The agency is expected to issue its final results later this summer or early fall, at which time the higher duties will take effect.

Read More

DOE Issues New Energy Conservation Standards for Cooking Appliances

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a final rule this week that adopts new and amended energy conservation standards for consumer conventional cooking products — both electric and gas. The final rule, which will go into effect on Jan. 31, 2028, will require modest improvements in a small portion of models.

Read More

“Gatehouse Partners has been advertising with New England Home Connecticut since 2017. Roberta and the rest of the team have been instrumental in helping to get our brand in front of our target audience: homeowners, architects, and interior designers. Working with the New England Home Connecticut team feels closer to a supportive friendship than a business agreement. We highly recommend them (and their networking events) to everyone in the home industry!”

KRISTEN SULLIVAN, GATEHOUSE PARTNERS

Contact Associate Publisher, Roberta Mancuso to learn how New England Home Connecticut can enhance your marketing efforts. rmancuso@nehomemag.com | 203.530.9593

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Monthly Update Available to Members

To help members articulate key housing priorities, NAHB’s Monthly Update provides the latest messaging framework for the Federation. An exclusive benefit for NAHB members and local and state association leaders, the Monthly Update provides top-line information on housing economics and the housing priorities for the Federation.

Some highlights within the Monthly Update for February include issue updates and talking points related to:

• Chief Economist Robert Dietz’s analysis of future market conditions and forecast for single-family construction

• A breakdown of the legislative momentum building on NAHB’s 2023 advocacy victories

• The status of NAHB supported American Families and Workers Act of 2024 and Senate bills boosting transformer output

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House Panel Approves Amendment to Expedite Permitting Process

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today approved an NAHB-supported amendment to the Nationwide Permitting Improvement Act (H.R. 7023) that includes five bills aimed at providing the necessary clarity and confidence needed under the Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting process.

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Are Agrihoods a Growth Opportunity?

There was a time when golf courses, clubhouses, fitness centers, and pools ruled the community amenities offered in master planned communities (MPCs). Then it was collaborative “makerspaces,” dog-friendly commons, and more recently, pickleball courts.

But as land has become less available and more expensive, fewer master plan developers are teeing up golf courses. A number of them are using that land for rows of crops and groves of olive and citrus trees, creating “agrihoods” that not only feed an increasing consumer desire for health and wellness but also offer greater opportunity for community connection and what has become an enticement for home buyers in a competitive market.

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Top Challenges for Builders in 2024

Homeownership Rate Dips in Fourth Quarter Amid Housing Affordability Woes

The Census Bureau’s Housing Vacancy Survey (CPS/HVS) reported the U.S. homeownership rate declined to 65.7% in the last quarter of 2023, amid persistently tight housing supply and elevated mortgage interest rates. This is a 0.3 percentage-point drop from the third quarter (66%) and 3.5 percentage points lower than the peak of 69.2% in 2004. The rate remains below the 25-year average rate of 66.4% amid a multidecade low for housing affordability conditions.

The homeownership rate for those under 35 decreased 0.6 percentage point to 38.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023.

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According to the January 2024 survey for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), high interest rates were a significant issue for 90% of builders in 2023, and 77% expect them to be a problem in 2024. The second most widespread problem in 2023 was rising inflation, cited by 83% of builders, with 52% expecting it to be a problem in 2024.

Concerns over the cost and availability of labor have increased significantly in recent years, rising from only 13% of builders in 2011 to its peak at 87% in 2019. Fewer builders reported this problem in 2020 (65%), but the share rose again in 2021 (82%) and 2022 (85%). The share eased slightly in 2023 to 74%, and 75% expect the cost and availability of labor to remain a significant issue in 2024.

The share of builders experiencing significant problems with building materials prices has fluctuated over the years as well, reaching as low as 33% in 2011 to a peak of 96% in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The slowdown in single-family construction in 2023 made this less of a problem for builders last year, with 63% reporting it as a significant issue. Fewer (58%) expect it to remain an issue in 2024.

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NAHB Identifies Post-Disaster Housing Challenges and Solutions During Industry Roundtable

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab has been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to investigate ways to speed up the provision of immediate, temporary and permanent shelter after disasters. To do so, it has been reaching out to involved parties to help inform their understanding of the issues and challenges in order to shape their recommendations.

NAHB has been assisting MIT and FEMA in recent years to identify the challenges of meeting housing needs after a disaster has struck and what steps are needed to proactively address them. Additional partners include code experts, industry groups, and federal and state stakeholders.

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Chairman’s Update:

2023 Chairman Alicia Huey Provides Final Remarks

In her final update as NAHB chairman, 2023 Chairman Alicia Huey reflects back on her tenure as a national leader for the Federation. Although 2023 wasn’t without its challenges, Huey highlights NAHB’s advocacy efforts to push forward legislation that will impact all areas of home building and growing builder confidence as key accomplishments that will continue to benefit the industry.

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