June 2020
NAHB Members Respond to Community Needs During Crisis
Buffalo Restoration volunteered its disinfecting skills in Gallatin County, Mont.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, NAHB members are meeting needs in their communities. Below are just a few of the many examples of members making a difference in this time of crisis. Cleaning for First Responders Southwest Montana Building Industry Association (SWMBIA) member Buffalo Restoration utilized its skills as a damage restoration and disinfectant company to aid area police and fire departments. The company volunteered to disinfect dozens of vehicles for the Bozeman police and fire department and Gallatin County sheriff, detention center, and search and rescue. Financial Support 84 Lumber, based in western Pennsylvania, and its sister company Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, donated $500,000 to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Its donation was combined with funds raised through a challenge by a local television station for a total donation of more than $1 million, enough for more than 5 million meals. Wisconsin Food drive Racine-Kenosha Builders Association (RKBA) and Wisconsin Builders Association member Bear Homes LLC organized two “Fill the Truck” donation drives at a local grocery store. The drives brought in over 2,500 pounds of food and paper products for Shalom Center, a Kenosha-based shelter, food pantry, and soup kitchen.
OSHA Considering Tree Care Standard OSHA is considering a new standard on tree care operations that could add additional requirements to workers when dealing with trees, including those on construction sites. OSHA states that fatality and injury rates for tree trimmers are extraordinarily high and that there is no existing OSHA standard for Tree Care Operations.
Guidance on PPP Loan Forgiveness The Small Business Admin- istration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, has released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions. The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the CARES Act. SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to inform lenders about their responsibilities. Video Highlights Importance of Home Homes have been central fixtures during the COVID-19 crisis, and will continue to be as we move forward in the months ahead. To showcase the value of home building within communities as we rebuild from the pandemic, NAHB has created a public service announcement video. NAHB members are encouraged to share the video via social media and post it on their websites.
Financing a Home While in Forbearance Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have issued temporary guidance regarding the eligibility of borrowers who are in forbearance, or have recently ended their forbearance, looking to refinance or buy a new home. Borrowers are eligible to refinance or buy a new home if: They are current on their mortgage (i.e. in forbearance but continued to make their mortgage payments or reinstated their mortgage); and, three months after their forbearance ends, they have made three consecutive payments under their repayment plan, or payment deferral option or loan modification.
OSHA Requires COVID-19 Recordkeeping OSHA on May 22 announced new policy requiring businesses subject to recordkeeping requirements to record work-related cases of COVID-19 on OSHA injury and illness logs. The new policy requires most employers to investigate whether the illness was transmitted on the job, but it applies only to employers currently subject to OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements. Many home builders are exempt from most of the requirements. NAHB is working with HUD to make implementation of the policy as practical as possible.
Roughly 22% of builders cut home prices in April 2020 in order to bolster sales or limit cancellations, according to the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) survey. As a historical comparison, the 22% of builders reducing home prices in April 2020 is less than half the share who cut prices during the worst months of the last housing recession: 52% in May 2007 and 49% in March 2008. Builders who did reduce home prices in April 2020 cut them by an average of 5%. That discount is smaller than the average price cuts in both May 2007 (7%) and March 2008 (8%). Only 12% of builders think price discounts are “very effective” in bolstering sales/ limiting cancellations. A majority of builders — 58% — believe they are “somewhat effective,” and 17% report they are “not at all effective.” The remaining 13% are not sure about the effectiveness of price reductions. Regionally, builders in the South (26%) and Midwest (23%) were most likely to have reduced prices, compared with much smaller shares in the West (13%) and Northeast (12%).
Job Losses Surged in March The number of job losses in the construction sector more than tripled between February and March as the economy was hammered by the public health response to COVID-19. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data reveals there were 618,000 layoffs in the construction sector in March, a striking increase over the 202,000 total in February and a 245% jump over the 179,000 count in March 2019. The March data showed that the layoff rate in the construction industry surged to 8.1% in March from a 2.6% level in February. This was the highest rate recorded in the history of the JOLTS data, which began at the end of 2001.
Oklahoma Adopts Affordability Law In a victory for home builders and housing affordability, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) has signed into law legislation to limit cities and counties from requiring purely aesthetic building design that would needlessly raise the cost of housing. The measure is a response to residential design changes proposed by several cities that would prohibit exterior finishes such as vinyl, wood and aluminum siding that are otherwise permitted under all editions of the International Residential Code. The cities’ proposed changes would make housing more expensive, harming many low- and moderate-income households. The Oklahoma Home Builders Association (OkHBA) led a coalition of organizations in pushing for the legislative remedy.
Survey Finds 22% of Builders Cut Home Prices in April
Leadership List 2020 GCBA Officers and Directors OFFICERS PRESIDENT Jay Huebner, HSQ Group 1ST VP Maya Chocron, K Hovnanian 2ND VP Rafael Roca, DR Horton Homes ASSOCIATE VP Jason Handin, Ward Damon PL VP FINANCE Steve Karp, Melamed & Karp PA IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT David Kanarek, Pulte Home Company LLC DIRECTORS Fred Pfister, Toll Brothers Inc Karl Albertson, DR Horton Homes Steve Dassa, Lennar Homes LLC Michael Nuziata, 13th Floor Homes Tony Macaluso, GFA International Ken Lebersfeld, Capitol Lighting Irina Heyaime, Pulte Home Company LLC David Donvito, Minto Communities Josh Hedden, Hydroshield South Florida Peggy West, GRS Management Associates, Inc. Executive Officer: KT Catlin
If you are interested in serving on the Board and/or Becoming an Office please contact KT at 561-228-6137 or KT@GCBAFlorida.com
Calendar of Events Check GCBA's Monday EMail for current Location & Registration Information. Tuesday, June 9, 2020 / ZOOM MEETING Builder Benefits NAHB Field Rep Dave Ashley will review NAHB Savings and Resource. KT will review Member Rebate Program. Don't leave money on the table - take the time to learn about the benefits your membership provides. Tuesday, June 10, 2020 / ZOOM MEETING COFFEE & A CONVERSATION This event is open to ALL Members. Bring your coffee and sign on for 30 minutes of conversation. It's an open mic so see if a fellow member can help resolve a challenge. Have a topic you want us to do a session on, let us know. Want to introduce yourself to fellow me,members and let them know what you do ....IT'S YOUR CALL!!!! Tuesday, June 17, 2020 / ZOOM MEETING COFFEE & A CONVERSATION Tuesday, June 24, 2020 / ZOOM MEETING COFFEE & A CONVERSATION Friday, June 26, 2020 2020 GOLF OUTING Come have a day of outdoor fun at GCBA's annual golf outing. A portion of the proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity of Broward and Kids Cancer Foundation. Sponsorships are available starting at $100 for Tee Box Sign. Call KT regarding donations for prizes and goodies bag items. Wednesday, July 1, 2020 / ZOOM MEETING COFFEE & A CONVERSATION Thursday, August 27, 2020 PRISM 2020 PRISM Awards, are presented to builders, developers, architects, marketing professionals, planners, interior designers, landscape architects, sales people and others who have demonstrated excellence in the building industry throughout South Florida. The 2020 winners will be selected from among the categories entered by a panel of industry experts and honored at the 2020 GCBA's PRISM Awards Event on August 27th 2020. Congratulations to our Early Bird Winner Affiniti Architects!
2020 Spring Leadership Virtual Meetings Upcoming Event In an effort to keep the NAHB Federation safe, the 2020 Spring Leadership Meetings will be moved to virtual sessions. NAHB is committed to using the existing meeting dates to support the various sessions that comprise the Spring Leadership Meeting. The schedule is available for download here. REGISTER NOW Following the leadership meetings, NAHB members and HBA are encouraged to participate in the most important grassroots event of the year, the 2020 NAHB Legislative Conference, June 22-24, which will also be held virtually. Now, more than ever, federal lawmakers must understand the industry's legislative priorities as housing prepares to lead our nation's eventual economic recovery. Learn more here. We appreciate your flexibility and patience as we work to continue the efforts of the Federation during this challenging time. For questions, please emailbod@nahb.org. ALL members are encouraged to attend one or all of the open meetings including the Board Meeting. COVID has created a rare opportunity to attend these meetings free because they are virtual this year!
Welcome to our Newest Members!
Builders Chris Barbara Development T-CON GROUP, INC. Associates McDonald Hopkins, LLC Cucina Cabana ODC Construction, LLC Florida Leak Locators TrustLarry Inc Evans-Hughes Code Inspections, Inc Artistic Elements PHSS INC Residential Elevators, LLC TLOA Mortgage, LLC Meir Alarms, Inc. A&S Total Cleaning Statewide Concrete Finishing HW Automation Inc. Frankel Development AFFILATES KT Consulting & Associates Residential Elevators Sachs Sax Caplan, PL HSQ Group If you sponsored one of these individuals please let KT or Robin know! We will be having year long contests and recognition for Recruiting & Retention!
MEMBERS SAVINGS & REBATE PROGRAMS
GCBA 2020 TOP RECRUITERS KT Catlin - 7 Deborah Giarratana - 7 Vic Canales - 1 Stuart MacGregor - 1 Michael Weiner - 1 Jay Huebner - 1 Ethan Nelson - 1 GCBA SPIKE CLUB Members reach the GCBA Spike Club once you recruit 5 or more members in the current year. GCBA Spike Club Members will be recognized at Board Meetings & more!
mEMBERSHIP NEWS
2020 GOLF OUTING EVENT SPONSOR
2020 GOLF OUTING BEVERAGE CART SPONSORS
A message from your Golf Committee Chair Stuart Mac Gregor, Coppola Brothers LLC Our golf outing is just 2 weeks away. If you have been putting off registering now is the time to visit the GCBA Website and sign yourself up. The event is a great way to say thank you to clients, spend time with fellow members or thank your staff by including them in a foursome. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Your ad could be here in the July issue! Sponsors will be promoted during the event and in emails leading up to the event as well. You can purchase your sponsorship at GCBAFlorida.com. If you are a new member this is a great event to promote yourself with a donation of a prize or item to stuff the cooler. We are also accepting Bottles of Booze to stuff the Golf Bag donated by KT Consulting & Associates for our Door Prize! See you on the 26th! Stuart
2020 GOLF OUTING BAR SPONSOR
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Virtual Sponsorship Opportunities for SEBC 2020 Re-Imagined Although SEBC 2020 will not be our traditional experience, attendees will have unprecedented access to virtual education sessions and a virtual showcase of our SEBC Exhibitors- and with that SEBC 2020 Sponsors will have access to our audience like never before. Click here for details about sponsoring one of the virtual education sessions being held during the SEBC 2020 Re-imagined or advertising on the SEBC website, and learn more about how your company could be in front of an audience of more than 80,000!
FHBA Members Receive Discount on Hand Sanitizer The Florida Home Builders Association has secured a direct source of hand sanitizer available for purchase by the gallon. By ordering through our partner, Tallahassee-based Ology Brewing Company, Florida builders can purchase this sanitizer with a 10% discount. Simply use the code "FHBA" during checkout and receive your discount.
June Marks Start of Hurricane Season With the 2020 Hurricane Season officially underway today, June 1, forecasters are keeping their eye on what could become the third named storm already this year. As a reminder Tropical Storms Arthur and Bertha formed in the Atlantic before the season officially began. Here in Florida, preparations are well underway across the state with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting an “above-average” season with 13-19 named storms and 3-6 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). The Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which began last Friday, will continue until Thursday, June 4. Floridians are encouraged to stock up on qualifying disaster preparedness supplies exempt from tax during the holiday including reusable ice packs, portable light sources, batteries, tarping materials and some generators. For more information and a list of qualifying items, visit floridarevenue.com/disasterprep. Now is the time to create a plan and develop a disaster supply kit for your home. For a complete list of suggested items click here. Hurricane preparations also include having a plan for your job sites should a storm approach. Click here for a suggested protection plan for construction sites. As always FHBA will be here for members and our communities if and when a storm strikes.
RICHARD & RICE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Ward Damon DEX Imaging - Print Sponsor
THANK YOU PRISM SPONSORS!
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Congratulations Early Bird Winner!
Join us on Thursday, August 27th to celebrate achievement with those who have demonstrated individual, building and design excellence.