• Check out our BATC endorsed candidates for the Minnesota House of Representatives, below. 
   
• The Fall Parade of Homes starts Saturday! Plan your tour today.
   
• The Foundation is looking for silent auction items for the BIG NIght. Donate here.
   
• Last chance to join us for the sponsorship luncheon on September 9th. Register today. 
   
• New code courses are coming to BATC-U this fall. Register before classes fill up. Also! Get your lead out! Lead refreshers courses starting soon.
   
• We love our associates! September is NAHB associate appreciation month. Show the love! Do business with a member.

BATC is proud to endorse 22 candidates for election/re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives in the upcoming November 4th races. BATC’s endorsement reflects each candidate’s commitment to a strong housing market. We are confident that these candidates are pro-housing leaders who share BATC’s goals of a balanced regulatory structure, housing choice, affordability for all, and economic strength for Minnesota. Read more about these housing champions >>

Hear more from our BATC President Shawn Nelson on why we support these candidates>>

BATC sat down with Met Council staff last week to discuss their draft Housing Policy Plan. BATC will be providing public comment on the plan at the end of September.

The Fall Parade of Homes tour kicks off this Saturday! There are nearly 400 new homes to check out this year. Be sure to stop by one or all of the Dream Homes to help out the BATC Foundation. Also, don't forget when you close your models after the parade that the foundation wants your decor and other extras for the Builders Warehouse sale! 

• The 2nd Annual BATC Foundation Golf Open
  is now SOLD OUT! Sponsorships are stil available or join us for dinner. More info >>
   
• The Big Night is fast approaching! We are still in need of silent auction items. Donate here >>

Last month 256 permits were issued to build 437 units, a 4 percent increase in permits but a 5 percent decline in units compared with a year ago, according to the Builders Association of the Twin Cities. Minneapolis led the metro with 125 units, including a 122-unit apartment building. Read more>>

A persistent price gap between existing homes and newly built homes has given the former an advantage over the latter in recent months. But some economists say that gap will soon will start to narrow.

The latest Commerce Department data show new-home sales in July declined 2.4% from a month earlier, leaving the year-to-date total slightly less than the same period of 2013. Meanwhile, sales of existing homes rose by 2.4% in July from June for the measure’s fourth consecutive monthly gain. Read more >>

Life is good in MN! A new study by NerdWallet says that Minneapolis offers a better overall lifestyle. The City of Lakes came in at #3 based on a healthy work-life balance, a relatively low cost of living and high rates of health coverage.  Read more >>

Minneapolis was recently ranked as one of the top 12 cities for millennials to live, work and play.

Niche, a data analysis firm for young adults, have ranked America's top 25 cities (and neighborhoods) for millennials to reside. Niche's experts compiled the rankings by sifting through data from the U.S. Census, FBI crime rates and nearly 500,000 surveys from college students and recent grads.

Read more>>

From 1/1/14 through 7/31/14 new home sales totaled 266,000, down from 268,000 during the same period in 2013. Similarly, single-family starts are up just 3.2% year-to-date and single-family permits are up just 0.8% year-to-date. Single-family activity is, in part, so lackluster because the average new house price hit a new record high of $339,100 last month! At the height of the housing boom in 3/07 the average was just $329,400. If your not signed up for Elliots blog, click here >>

BATC's first code class is sold out. Luckily there are several others available. Sign up soon, mailers just went out to all builders and contractors across the state.  Reserve your seat in class today!

Get the lead out! Registration is open for our BATC-U Lead Recertification classes.

Sign up here >>

Registration now open! Register for the International Builders Show in September to take advantage of these offers:

-NAHB members can register for a free expo pass.

-Also during September, non-members can purchase an expo pass for $50.

-Plus all spouse registrations are free in September!

You must register by September 30 to get the best deals! Prices increase October 1.

Register here >>

September 9
Sponsorship Luncheon [Register]
September 17- December 3
New Building/Energy Code Courses [Register]
September 23
BATC Foundation Golf Open [Register]
October 2014-June 2015
BATC-U Lead Recertification [Register]
October 7
BATC Clay Shoot [Register]
October 11
Builders' Warehouse Sale [Contact Perri]
October 23
BIG Night [more info]
November 4
Election Day - VOTE
November 13
Member Orientation
November 13
Give to the Max Day
November 18
Remodelers fast forward
December 4
BATC Buck Auction & Holiday Food Drive [more info]

For a complete list of events, visit our website at WWW.BATC.ORG.