The stats are in and the numbers are impressive. The data behind the Spring Parade of Homes^SM and Remodelers Showcase^® prove that we're heading in a very positive direction for the fall tour. Here's why you should enter the Fall 2013 Tour, September 7-29th: 

Out of 1,471 visitors who participated in iPad surveys during the Spring Parade of Homes:

• 36% are planning to buy a newly built home within the next year
• 38% use a tablet regularly, 30% PC/Laptop, 28% smart phone
• 38% will use the Parade of Homes Guidebook when ready to purchase, 14% will use a Realtor, 13% Builder websites, 12% Realtor Websites and 10% Parade of Homes website

At ParadeofHomes.org there were:

• 97,723 unique visitors
• 140,582 visits
• 5.52 pages/visit
• 775,835 page views
• 04:40 average visit duration
• 40.71 percent visited via smart phone or tablet

Thirty-one of New Home entries reported 29,996 visitors (groups) this spring, an average of 968 per home. In addition, 20 Remodelers Showcase entries reported 6,563 visitors (groups) which is an average of 330 per entry over the three-day period. 

Where else will you find an audience like this? Enter the Fall Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase by the May 22, 2013 deadline. 

Online entry opens Thursday, April 18th at ParadeofHomes.org. You can contact Casey Hafner at 651-697-7569 for your password.

Downloadable forms will be available online at BATC.org by Thursday. To request a paper copy, please contact Casey Hafner for a mailed packet.

This fall, the US Department of Energy Challenge Home program is being brought to the Twin Cities by the University of Minnesota and Lampert Lumber, and will be featured in the Fall 2013 Parade of Homes as a special focus within the MN Green Path Energy Efficient Home Tour in partnership with Xcel Energy. Learn more on the PLS Blog >>

Legislative Session Week 14

Informational Hearing Held on Design Licensing Bill
Introduced by House Commerce Committee Chair Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights) as an issue that “will not disappear,” an informational hearing was held last week to discuss the issue of licensed interior design (HF 1052). The chief author of the bill in the House, Rep. Debra Hillstrom (DFL, Brooklyn Center) began the hearing by emphasizing the exemptions from the bill where interior design licensure would not apply or restrict: 

• Architects, landscape architects, and engineers
• Retail consultants for finishes, furnishings or cabinetry on behalf of a retailer
• Salesperson selling surface materials, window treatments, displays, etc
• Residential designers, including kitchen or bath designer working within interior exempt spaces

Concerns against the licensure proposal focused on general opposition to the occupational licensure as a restrictive measure which limits professional opportunities, noting that just three states currently license interior designers. No amendments were offered and no votes were taken during the hearing, which means this will not become law in 2013. Rep. Hillstrom closed the informational hearing by stating “…the requirements of this bill pertain to licensed interior designers and not the broader the interior design profession. It’s been recognized for over 21 years in Minnesota that interior design of non-exempt spaces does affect the health safety and welfare of the public and it’s time to change this to a licensed practice.”

BATC has shared, with proponents of the legislation, our industry’s interest and concern regarding the potentially negative impacts that this bill could have on our industry. These legislators have expressed a willingness to work with us to find common ground as this issue moves forward next session. The Public Policy Committee will review this bill in detail prior to the next legislative session, and will work with our membership to adopt a detailed and formal position on the matter. If you are interested in working on this issue please contact James Vagle at 651-697-7578.

Grassroots Update: BATC Members Continue to Press for Sprinkler Mandate Resolution
Our top priority remains removing the home indoor sprinkler system mandate from the building code, and we continue to discuss this issue with legislators to ensure that home sprinklers are a choice not a mandate. We expect this issue to re-emerge more prominently as the session pivots past the committee work. At the Capitol we have had a number of meetings with key legislators and their BATC constituents to explain the issue and the problems associated with an unnecessary sprinkler mandate. Several BATC members have been working very hard at educating legislators on this issue. Highlights from last week include:

• Mike Devoe (Ryland Homes) met with Sen. Melisa Franzen (DFL-Edina)

• Tom Wiener (Cardinal Homebuilders) met with Sen. Joanne Ward (DFL-Woodbury)

• Scott Busyn (Great Neighborhood Homes) met with Rep. Ron Erhardt (DFL-Edina)

• Dave Pattberg (Centra Homes) met with Sen. Alice Johnson (DFL-Blaine)

If you are interested in connecting with your elected officials on a policy matter, please contact Mary Schweich at 651-697-7572.

Street Improvement District Bill Keeps on Moving
The annual effort by local governments to acquire new authority to charge a street improvement fee continues to survive the committee process in spite of an onslaught of opposition from business, non-profit, higher education and religious groups. At the heart of the opposition is a resistance to the creation of a new tool where local governments can create districts within their boundaries and charge a street improvement fee to all property owners within that district. Under the proposal this fee can be created without the ‘benefits test’ which currently is required for special assessments for road improvements. The League of MN Cities contends that the improvement fee will be smaller and taken over time, which will save money when compared with the assessment process which is oftentimes attempting to fix street problems related to deferred maintenance. BATC entered the session opposed to the measure but has since become neutral on the bill as we’ve  been successful in negotiating a carve out that exempts new development from street improvement districts for three years following the development of the project. The language clarifies that the exemption applies to ‘unoccupied parcels’ which covers model and spec homes and also to vacant developed lots which are approved for development but not yet built upon. The measure is expected to be included in the House Tax Omnibus Bill which will be marked up this week.

1. The projected lot shortage is getting worse.
2. The current lot inventory is 27,152.
3. In 2014, the market will need 6,791 lots.
4. The total market demand for lots between 2013 and 2018 is 47,558.
5. 11,789 of the aforementioned lots needed will be in Hennepin County.
6. 7,109 of those lots needed will be in Dakota County.
7. There will be a 46,756 shortfall of lots by 2018.
8. The lot count has fallen 14,779 lots since August 2007.
9. The number of started subdivisions has fallen by 437 since August 2007.
10. The number of newly finished unoccupied homes has fallen by 3,771 since April 2007.

This information is courtesy of Betty Hardle of Residential Research Services & MarketGraphics Research Group. If you would like to receive additional Twin Cities market information you can subscribe to Betty's blog by contacting betty10436@comcast.net.

NAHB Eye on Housing - "The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index dropped two points to 42 in April. This is the third monthly decline from a peak of 47 in December and January. Two of the three components pulled the composite index down; the current sales component fell two points to 45 and the normally lower traffic component fell four points to 30. The expectations for future sales component increased three points to 53, tied for the highest level since February 2007.

The mixed signals appear to be a squeeze in the distance between costs and sales price along with underlying positive housing market conditions. Builders are facing increased cost of building materials such as lumber, wood panel, and drywall. At the same time, revving up the building industry is causing shortages and rising costs for labor and lots." 

Read the Full Article >>

Do you know a BATC Remodeler who has demonstrated exemplary communication, trust, loyalty and ethics in their business dealings? Now is the time to nominate a worthy candidate for the 2013 Remodeler of the Year award.

Submit a nomination (or enter yourself!) by this Friday, April 19th. The award will be presented on June 27th at the ROMA Awards Banquet.

• Peter Coyle, Larkin Hoffman: Star Tribune: Suburbs' Fees for Parks May Be Skirting the Law [read article].
• Lennar; Ryland; Pulte; D.R. Horton-Minnesota; Mattamy Homes, Gonyea Homes: Star Tribune: The Twin Cities Top-25 Home Builders [read article].
• Pamela Belz, Senior Housing Partners: PR Web: March 2013: Single-Family Homes Continue to Drive Twin Cities’ Residential Construction Growth [read article].
• Lennar Takes Twin Cities Homebuilding Crown [read article].
• Pamela Belz, Senior Housing Partners: Minnesota Business: Increased Number of Construction Permits through March a Good Sign [read article].
• MSP Business Journal: Big year in 2012 for Largest Twin Cities Home Builders [read article].

*Receive a BATC Bonus Buck, worth $100 in BATC Bucks, when you attend an event that's in our  2013 'Champion Event Series.'

April 18
Member Orientation [get more information]
April 22
MN Green Path Training [get more information]
April 26
Deadline to Enter for Remodeler of the Year [Enter now]
May 7
Showroom Mixer at Warners' Stellian [more information]
May 22
Parade of Homes Fall Deadline [information coming soon]
May 31
Walleye Invitational [register]
June 18
Showroom Mixer at Mingle [get more information]
June 27
ROMA Awards Banquet [get more information]

See Complete Calendar at WWW.BATC.ORG >>

View the 2013 Bonus Buck Events >>

Become an event sponsor: Take your membership to the next level by partnering with BATC. Contact Kori for sponsorship openings.