Washington Hotline - November 6, 2008

Home Builders Congratulate President-Elect Obama, Urge Quick Action On Housing Stimulus

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today congratulated Senator Barack Obama on his election as the nation’s 44th President and all the lawmakers who were elected to the 111th Congress.

“The nation’s home builders look forward to working in a bipartisan manner with the incoming Obama Administration and new Congress to help solve our nation’s economic crisis and get housing and the economy back on track,” said NAHB President and CEO Jerry Howard.

Pillars Application Deadline Extended Until Nov. 14!

You still have time to enter! The deadline to apply has been extended until Nov. 14. Make the most of your marketing dollars and receive national recognition.

By winning a Pillars of the Industry Award, you are guaranteed recognition in Multifamily trade and consumer publications, promotion on NAHB's website, press coverage, inclusion in NAHB Multifamily publications, and more.

Apply online today! Take advantage of the easy online process. Visit www.nahb.org/pillarsawards for the awards criteria and a complete list of categories.

For more information, contact Lynn Basso or call her at 800-368-5242 x8130.

Regulatory: HUD Releases Final Rule Clarifying FHA Accessibility Safe Harbors

This final rule updates the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) references to the ANSI A117.1 in their recognized safe harbors for complying with the Fair Housing Act accessibility requirements.

Below are some important items to note when following the Fair Housing Act:

• When more than one law applies to a project, and there are different accessibility standards for each law, the governing principle to follow is that the more stringent requirements of each law apply.
  
  
• If a designer or builder does not rely on one of the HUD-recognized safe harbors, that designer or builder has the burden of demonstrating how its efforts comply with the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.
  
  
• If a State or locality has adopted one of the safe harbors without modification to the provisions that address the Fair Housing Act requirements, a building covered by the Act’s design and construction requirements will be deemed compliant provided that:
  
  
  • The building is designed and constructed in accordance with plans and specifications approved during the building permitting proces.
    
    
  • The building code official does not waive, incorrectly interpret, or misapply one or more of those requirements.
    
    
• However, neither of these practices changes HUD’s statutory responsibility to conduct an investigation, following the receipt of a complaint from an aggrieved person to determine whether the requirements of the Fair Housing Act have been met.
  
  
• It is HUD’s position that these safe harbors apply only when used in their entirety, and that a building in question should comply with all of the provisions in that document that address the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements.
  
  
• The benefit of the safe harbor may be lost if the designer or builder chooses to select provisions from more than one of the safe harbors.
  

View the Final Rule.

View HUD's Recognized 10 Safe Harbors.

For more information, e-mail Carmel McGuire or contact her at 800-368-5242 x8207.

IBS Early Registration Ends Today! Register Now and Save

The early bird registration deadline is TODAY. After today the price of an exhibit pass and full registration increases. Register today and save big.

The housing deadline was also extended until today. This means you still have time to register for the show before the price increases and take advantage of recently reduced Vegas hotels-some up to 30% off previous rates.

Remember, in addition to the Full Registration option, registered attendees can purchase individual tickets to IBS education.  Individual tickets are $50 for members. Registrants can also purchase four tickets and get one free or seven tickets and get three free – bring your entire team!  Full Registration attendees DO NOT NEED to buy individual education session tickets. A full registration badge also gives spouses access to the education sessions.

Visit www.BuildersShow.com/Firsttime for more information.

Finance: NAHB Helps Multifamily Builders Meet FHA Financing Guidelines

At a time when the importance of this government agency is expanding, NAHB is reminding builders and developers that you are required to affirmatively market your homes to minority populations in order for them to qualify for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) financing. To ensure that specific steps are followed, as described in 24 CFR 200.620, the regulations require multifamily builders and developers to file an Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan (AFHMP).

As an alternative, NAHB's Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement provides 50+ multifamily builders with an off-the-shelf version of the AFHMP. Under the voluntary agreement, the builder promises to conduct affirmative marketing and report these activities annually, which eliminates the need to file an AFHMP and have it approved by a HUD official.

Get more details on builder training, marketing and reporting requirements pertaining to this subject in NBN.

For more information, e-mail Andrew Holliday or call him at 800-368-5242 x8305.

Industry News: First Annual ULI/Terwilliger Workforce Housing Awards

The Boulevard in Anaheim, Legacy at Lincoln Park and Morgan Woods have been selected as the winners of the first annual Urban Land Institute/J. Ronald Terwilliger Workforce Housing Models of Excellence Awards.

The awards are given to workforce housing developments in high-cost communities that represent outstanding achievements in several areas — including innovative financing, unique construction methods, strong public/private partnerships and their ability to be replicated to provide affordable workforce housing.

The three winning projects designated at least 25% of their units for families earning between 60% and 120% of the area median income; were located near employment centers and transportation hubs; and utilized public capital subsidies for no more than 25% of the development costs.

The award winners below were announced at the ULI Fall Meeting in Miami.

• The Boulevard in Anaheim — developed by John Laing Homes in Anaheim, Calif. — was transformed from a former truck transfer facility into an affordable, sustainable and walkable community of 36 townhomes and 20 single-family homes. Twenty-eight of the workforce units are required to remain affordable at the targeted income levels for 45 years. The site is located near major employers and is directly on a main bus line.
  
  
• The City of Rockville, Md. played a key role in the development of Legacy at Lincoln Park — developed by Urban Atlantic in Rockville. Working with the city, Urban Atlantic developed a 60-unit, for-sale, mixed-income development on a former public housing site.
  
  
• Morgan Woods — developed by The Community Builders, Inc. in Edgartown, Mass. — was a community-driven housing effort. The Town of Edgartown assembled and donated 12 acres of land on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The site design uses “cluster development” principles with structures that resemble large single-family homes but contain multifamily units.

To learn about workforce housing resources at NAHB, e-mail Blake Smith, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8583.

View the full story in NBN.

We Need Your Feedback — Membership Survey Will Help Develop Standard

We are asking  the multifamily membership to respond to the three sets of survey questions below. There is a survey for each type of multi-residential building to support the development of a floor measurement standard for multi residential structures. It will become part of the record for ANSI certification of this new standard once the initial development process is complete.

The goal is to ascertain the predominant approach multifamily members use in measuring each of the three primary multi-residential building types - Apartments, Condominiums, and Cooperatives.

Apartment Survey
Condominium Survey
Cooperative Survey

Please forward your response as soon as possible to multifamily@nahb.com. Thank you for your participation.

NCHI Product: Cleveland Faucet Group Water Saving Showerhead

Cleveland Faucet Group® (CFG), a Moen Incorporated brand, introduced a new Water Saving showerhead, designed specifically for the multifamily market.  

This showerhead flows at a rate of 1.75 gallons per minute (gpm), offering a 30% water savings from the industry standard of 2.5 gpm. There are significant savings in reducing water consumption, as well as reducing energy costs as less hot water is used.

CFG’s new Water Saving showerhead is available as a stand-alone item, or as an option on the tub & shower products of CFG’s Capstone® or Cornerstone® collections.  For more information, visit www.cfgonline.com, or call 1-888-450-5522.

For more information about NCHI, E-mail David Cooper, or call him at 800.368.5242 x8247.

Resources: Two Audio Seminars on Financing Options and Strategies

Get helpful financing information in two newly announced upcoming audio seminars from NAHB.

Calendar: Conferences and Events

November 2008

Pillars Call for Entries  Deadline Extended — Nov. 14! The online Call for Entries and application system is still open. Vist the Awards Web page to check out the most frequently asked questions, review entry requirements, and browse the list of categories. The application deadline is now November 14, 2008. Be sure to submit your entry binders and supporting materials no later that November 21. Apply online today! We look forward to receiving your entry. Good Luck! For more information, e-mail Lynn Basso, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8168.

Finding Alternative Funding to Keep Your Business on Track November 13, 2008 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST Fee: $39 per phone site REGISTER NOW! The current economic climate and housing market conditions have changed the way you do business now and the way you will do business in the future. Keeping your business up and running is paramount, but doing so at a time when you trusted credit providers are cutting back is making event the simplest business transactions rough going.  A panel of housing construction and financial experts will discuss the ins and outs of finding and working with alternate sources, including an NAHB builder member who has been successful in taking advantage of these options. You’ll come away with: Resources you and your associates can approach for funding—for example, institutions other than banks or private investors How to approach these alternate sources The different funding vehicles and arrangements you should consider The legal implications and issues you need to keep in mind when looking into these options Be there for both parts of our banking series!  Register for this and Alternative Funding for only $69

Builder Financing: Working with your Lender in the Credit Crunch Audio Seminar November 18, 2008 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST Fee: $39 per phone site REGISTER NOW! The current state of the credit market has had far reaching effects for business. Builders are reporting an adverse shift in terms and availability on loans for acquisition, development and single family construction (AD&C) and builders with outstanding loans are facing mounting challenges. In this Audio Seminar, NAHB brings you together with banking experts to discuss the actions and options Our experts will discuss: The current environment for single-family residential construction lending Strategies, alternatives and hazards for both performing and non-performing credits Potential legal options that may be available to builders.  Be there for both parts of our banking series!  Register for this and Alternative Funding for only $69

December 2008

LIHTC Utility Allowance Estimates: Understanding an Applying the New Methods. Dec. 3, 2008 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST Join NAHB for this audio seminar in which experts in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) policy will break down the new options for calculating utility allowances: obtaining a utility estimate from the agency with jurisdiction over the building, using the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Utility Schedule Model, and using the energy consumption model. HCG Steering Member $39 per Phone Site HCG Builder Member $59 per Phone Site Non-Member  $89 per Phone Site Presenters on the audio conference will: Provide an overview of the new methods and practices allowed Go over the HUD utility schedule model in depth Discuss hiring qualified contractors to run energy consumption models Speakers: Scott Michael Dunn, HCCP, Compliance Solutions Craig Drumheller, NAHB Research Center Paul Emrath, NAHB View the seminar flyer here. To register visit www.nahb.org/HCG or e-mail Carmel Mcguire  for more information.

January 2009

Early Bird Registration Ends TOMORROW! Our 2009 IBS Grand Opening Ceremonies keynote speaker is...  legendary football coach Lou Holtz!   The only coach in history to take six different college teams to a bowl game, Holtz is a West Virginia native who started his head coaching career at the College of William & Mary, followed by the University of Minnesota, University of Arkansas, North Carolina State University and Notre Dame; he was also head coach for the NFL's New York Jets for one season. While at Notre Dame, he turned a struggling team into one with the longest winning streak in the school's history. He's now a college football analyst on ESPN, and earlier this year was named to the College Football Hall of Fame. Holtz will speak during opening ceremonies for the 2009 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas on January 20. Read more in our press release.   Register now. Visit the all-new www.buildersshow.com to lock in the best registration rates and the choice hotels for IBS 2009 in Las Vegas. January 20-23, 2009.

March 2009

Save the Date for Pillars 2009! The 2009 Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference and Awards Gala will be held March 17-18, 2009, at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, Calif. The Awards Gala will be held on March 18. Registration information and conference details will be provided in the upcoming issues of Multifamily Hotline.