Tax Hike Takes Effect July 1st

Higher shipping and construction costs for consumers are just some of the prices already on the rise after a nearly 200 million dollar tax hike law takes effect July 1st. Gina Mangieri has more in tonight's top story. Ron, shipping and building are among industries that will have to pay more when a GE tax exemption gets suspended for two years just weeks from now, and that so far means passing costs on to buyers.

Soiurce KHON-FOX
July 16, 2011 5:04PM

2011 Remodel It Right Expo Need A Booth?

Sign up Today to get your booth for the upcoming Remodel It Right, Remodel It Green Expo.
Visit www.biahawaii.org or you can reach Clarice Watanabe at 808-629-7503, email ckw@biahawaii.org

Highlights from the Board of Directors Meeting at the 2011 International Builders' Show

Key video reports from the recent NAHB Board of Directors Meeting is available for viewing.

To view the videos please log onto the NAHB.org website before clicking on this link.

Promote National Designation Month in February

In February, NAHB Education sponsors National Designation Month to promote ongoing education in the housing industry, recognize the achievements of building professionals and educate the public about the value of selecting builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who hold NAHB designations. The 2010 NDM was a great success, with more than 150 classes held at participating HBAs across the country drawing a total of 1,616 registrants.

Marketing and public relations materials to promote National Designation Month are available to order or download here: www.nahb.org/ndmtools

For more information on participating in National Designation Month, visit www.nahb.org/ndm, or call the Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242, x8154, e-mail them at designations@nahb.org.

17th Annual 2011 BIA Home Building & Remodeling Show Generates Attendance of 22,655

BIA Home Building and Remodeling Show Attendees

Lea Kanaya, BIA Training Coordinator and Karen Nakamura, BIA CEO at the HBRS show

HONOLULU- The 17th Annual BIA Home Building & Remodeling Show, held January 28- 30 at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, generated 22,655 attendees. This is a +13% increase over the  2010 show and the third largest attendance in the 17 year history of this signature BIA-Hawaii event.

Silver Sponsor BIA-Hawaii Remodelers presented Hawaii’s top contractors, suppliers, building industry experts and associates. The daily seminars conducted by award winning designers and industry experts drew hundreds of interested consumers. The most popular exhibitors featured Photovoltaic Solar Panels, Windows, Kitchen & Bathroom Renovation contractors and sustainable materials that offered low maintenance and energy savings to homeowners. The top sustainable and energy efficient material categories were flooring, cabinets, counter tops and roofing. Consumer attendees were focused, brought lists, took notes and asked the exhibitors specific questions. The 2011 attendance reflects an increase of +13.0% over the 20,059 show attendance in 2010.

Karen Nakamura, BIA-Hawaii CEO stated, “We are thrilled with the tremendous public response and our exhibitors are very excited to start 2011  with this level of interest and leads from the commercial and residential markets at the 2011 BIA Home Building & Remodeling Show. For many people, their home is their most valuable asset and we are proud to provide ‘The Big Show’ array of products and services under one roof. Consumers used our guidebooks to find specific vendors, obtain information, costing and availability of products and services.”

Chartered in 1955, the Building Industry Association of Hawaii is a professional trade organization affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders, representing the building industry and its' associates. The 500 members of BIA-Hawaii are developers, contractors, suppliers, Realtors, architects, financial institutions and a host of other professionals who serve the building industry. BIA-Hawaii takes a leadership role in unifying and promoting the interests of the industry to enhance the quality of life for the people of Hawaii.
View the 2011 HBRS News Coverage on the BIA Youtube Channel

2011 BIA Home, Building, and Remodeling Show

The 2011 BIA Home, Building, and Remodeling Show is just 2 days away. Graham Builders is participating in this year's show and will reveal a very unusual display. It's called the "Green Dog Haus", an eco-friendly dog house visitors can bid on with proceeds benefiting the Hawaiian Humane Society. And joining us now live is Mark Slivka from Graham Builders.

View the KITV-ABC interview here

FDIC Hotline Lets Builders Voice Concerns on Credit Availability

To help small business firms address their difficulties in obtaining credit, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) has announced the creation of a new hotline and website that enable small business owners – including builders – to register specific issues or problems they may be having with credit availability. Let your members know about this excellent opportunity for them to weigh in directly with the FDIC to discuss any business constraints they are facing due to the scarcity of credit for housing.

Members can call 866-924-NAHB (866-924-6242), which will patch them through to the FDIC's hotline, where they can discuss their specific situation. Callers should be aware that they will be talking to a live FDIC representative, so they should have all relevant information at hand. Operating hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday.

They can also provide more details by accessing the dedicated FDIC website at www.fdic.gov/smallbusiness and using the Business Assistance Form at the bottom of the page. This allows them to fill in information and provide details about lending or credit problems they are having with a specific bank or lending institution.
NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen sent a letter to all NAHB members this week alerting them to this great opportunity to help expand regulators' awareness of the extent of the credit crunch for small home builders. Any home builder, developer or associate who is unable to obtain financing, is having a hard time with an outstanding AD&C loan or feels that they have been treated unfairly by their lending institution should alert the FDIC either through the hotline or the FDIC website.

Strong member participation is vital to raise greater awareness of the AD&C credit problems builders are facing and to find constructive solutions that will restore the flow of credit to our industry. Please urge any of your members who are experiencing credit problems to contact the FDIC today!

teamhawai'i in the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

hale - a built structure
pili -connection; to connect
honua - earth and land

teamhawai'i, one of twenty university teams selected by the U.S. Department of Energyin the SOLAR DECATHLON (http://www.solar.hawaii.edu/), will build a sustainable house leading the way to a more sustainable future.


Photos left to right: Tarin Ma / Justin Carland / Elyse Petersen and Tyler Phillips with Karen Nakamura at the International Builders Show in Orlando.