‘Choose Tallahassee’ Set
For Thursday’s Meeting

TBA members should not miss this Thursday’s general membership meeting at Killearn Country Club (start time 11:30 am) where “Choose Tallahassee” will present the program. The speaker is Dave Bruns, Communications Manager of AARP-Florida State Office. Choose Tallahassee is designed to encourage retiring Baby Boomers to consider relocating to Tallahassee. Come hear about this exciting initiative and its huge potential impact on our housing market. In addition, TBA member Bobby Long of the Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A. law firm will be conducting a quick poll of members attending the meeting with the goal to present a construction law seminar on November 8, 2013 (11:30 am at location to be announced). Cost of the general meeting, which includes lunch, is $15 per person, payable at the door by cash, check and credit card.
 
 
 

 

Maronda Decision Has
Big Impact on Builders

An article authored by Bobby Long and Monica Segura of the Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A. law firm explains why the July 2013 Florida Supreme Court ruling in Maronda Homes v. Lakeview Reserve is of such importance to builders and developers. The article is available for viewing at tallyba.com under NEWS on the home page. The case brings a series of new considerations to the development and construction of homes and residential communities in Florida.   The Florida Supreme Court held that the habitability of a home is impacted by a broad range of factors that had never before been so widely held.  For instance, the Court held that stagnant water in the yard of a home, erosion of soil from the home’s lot, storm water runoff into a driveway, and even mosquito infestation can violate the implied warranty of habitability.  Individual builders should seek the counsel of a qualified attorney in the event they have specific questions about the effects of this new case and the related statutory provisions. For more information, visit www.rumberger.com.
  
 

 

Lambert Shares Insights
On Local Housing Market

President Shane Lambert, CIP, CAPS, represented the Tallahassee Builders Association (TBA) at the recent Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Community Conference in Amelia Island and spoke on a panel with commercial Realtor® Ed Murray, Jr. of NAI-Talcor and Assistant City Manager Jay Townsend during a standing-room-only session focused on the Tallahassee real estate market. TBA members Greg Lane of Timberlane Appraisal Associates and Jason Naumann of the Naumann Real Estate Group provided information for Lambert’s presentation. Some of their insights on the local housing market included the following:

• A balanced market is considered 6 months of inventory.  Currently, some segments of Leon County have a 6-months supply of detached homes, townhomes and condos which are not under contract.  In 2012 at this time, we had 11 months of inventory, so inventory is going down and demand remains high. 
   

• Of the 916 active listings in the Realtors® Multiple Listing Service (MLS), 30 percent are short sales or foreclosures, a percentage that has been constant for quite some time and will most likely remain so for at least the next two years.
   

• Home sales volume in June 2013 was 30 percent higher than sales volume in June 2011.   Values are stabilizing, inventory is slowly decreasing and the volume of sales is increasing. 
   

• The townhome market is finally improving.  People buy townhomes when they cannot afford a home, and they are a good alternative.  Investors bought a lot of townhomes during the recession, now primary owners are starting to look at townhomes again.  

TBA First Vice President Masoud Karimipour of Persica Homes and Board member Mike Roberts of Roberts Sand Company also serve on the Chamber Board and attended the Community Conference.
 

Remember to friend and follow TBA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TallahasseeBuildersAssociation

   -- Paul M. Thompson, Executive Officer
 

View the 2013 TBA
Membership Directory
 

BUILDER OF YEAR

ALAN WEEKLEY Alan Weekley Homes

ASSOCIATE OF YEAR

ALAN ROBISON Capelouto Termite & Pest Control

PRESIDENT'S AWARD

BILL KIMBERL, IV, CIP Kimberl Construction, Inc.

HALL OF FAME

MARK WORLEY, CIP, GMB Worley Construction

Dave Bruns Guest Speaker
From ‘Choose Tallahassee’

TBA members should mark Thursday, August 22 on their calendars as “Choose Tallahassee” will be the program at 11:30 am at the Killearn Country Club. The speaker will be Dave Bruns, Communications Manager of AARP-Florida State Office. Choose Tallahassee is designed to encourage retiring Baby Boomers to consider relocating to Tallahassee. Boomers will be retiring at the rate of nearly 10,000 a day this year and for another 17 years.  According to various national surveys, anywhere from one-in-three to one-in-five Boomers wants to relocate in retirement. If just three-tenths of one percent of 18 million relocating Boomers choose Tallahassee as a retirement destination, they would add $1 billion per year to the community’s annual income, according to AARP Florida. Come hear about this exciting initiative and its huge potential impact on our housing market. In addition, TBA member Bobby Long of the Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A. law firm will be conducting a quick poll of members attending the meeting with the goal to present a construction law seminar in the fall of this year. Cost of the general meeting is $15 per person, payable at the door by cash, check and credit card.
 
 

 

Lambert Offers Outlook
At Chamber Conference

The Tallahassee Builders Association (TBA) is proud of its reciprocal membership relationship with the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. TBA President Shane Lambert, CIP, CAPS, is one of three TBA members – along with Mike Roberts of Roberts Sand Company and Masoud Karimipour of Persica Homes – who serve on the Chamber Board of Directors. Last week, Lambert shared his thoughts on the Tallahassee-area housing market with delegates to the Chamber’s Annual Community Conference in Amelia Island. He was joined on the panel by assistant city manager Jay Townsend and commercial Realtor® Ed Murray of NAI-Talcor.
 
Here are the highlights of Lamberts presentation:

• The residential market is rebounding. Tallahassee is now one of 19 markets in Florida considered “improving” according to a national index. That means the area has seen growth in employment, house prices, and building permits for six consecutive months. Housing inventory varies dramatically by price range:  of homes over $500,000, there is a 19-month supply; for homes priced from $250,000-$500,000, there is a 6-month supply (considered a “balanced” market); and for homes in the $250,000 price range – the sweet spot for builders right now – just a 4-month supply.
   
• The remodeling market remains strong. The most frequent types of remodeling are: Upgrades of a kitchen or bathroom; new windows or doors; whole-house renovations; and decks and roof replacements.
   
• The challenge for home builders is finding buildable lots (under $100,000) and lenders who are willing to make construction and permanent mortgage loans. New lot opportunities are likely to emerge in Falls Chase, Southwood, Welaunee, and  Centerville Conservation. As to the lending environment, lenders remain generally conservative but builders are starting now to see some return to construction and mortgage lending. Other challenges for builders include labor shortages, material price increases, appraisals (that do not always accurately reflect the value of a new home), and threats to home ownership incentives like Congress’s possible elimination of the mortgage interest decision.
   
• An emerging market opportunity is “Aging-in-Place.” People want to stay in their existing homes, provided they are safe and accessible. Aging Baby Boomers represents a growing market for Seniors Housing. Currently, 25 TBA members hold the designation of Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) which means they are skilled in design solutions for aging-in-place and communicating with older adults.

Lambert also addressed the role of TBA – and association with 250 corporate members – and its programs on education, networking, and community service. “Our goal is to increase professionalism in our industry and constantly learn how to better serve our customers and clients,” said Lambert. “As an association and as individual members, we want to be a positive force in making the Tallahassee area a great place to live and work.”
  
 

TBA Remodelers Awards
Have August 16 Deadline

With City of Tallahassee Gas – Your Own Utilities signing on as a sponsor, professional remodelers in TBA can have their work recognized, evaluated and critiqued when they enter the 2013 Remodelers Showcase Awards, according to awards chairman Larry Wayne Strickland, CIP, CAPS, of Capital City Builders. Strickland said the deadline to enter is August 16, 2013. The awards will be presented September 25, 2013 during a special evening meeting of the TBA Remodelers Council. A registration form outlining categories, fees and additional information is available at tallyba.com under Remodelers Council (left hand side of home page).
 

Remember to friend and follow TBA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TallahasseeBuildersAssociation

   -- Paul M. Thompson, Executive Officer
 

View the 2013 TBA
Membership Directory
 

BUILDER OF YEAR

ALAN WEEKLEY Alan Weekley Homes

ASSOCIATE OF YEAR

ALAN ROBISON Capelouto Termite & Pest Control

PRESIDENT'S AWARD

BILL KIMBERL, IV, CIP Kimberl Construction, Inc.

HALL OF FAME

MARK WORLEY, CIP, GMB Worley Construction

‘Choose Tallahassee’ Set
For August TBA Meeting

Glenn Dodson Will Speak
To TBA-ABC Wednesday

Remodeling with Hardie
Set for Thursday Program

President Shane Lambert
Chamber Forum Speaker

TBA President Shane Lambert, CIP, CAPS, will appear on panel at this weekend’s Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Annual Retreat in Amelia Island to talk about the Tallahassee real estate market. He’ll be joined by commercial Realtor® Ed Murray of Talcor and assistant city manager Jay Townsend. Lambert is expected to share his thoughts on the residential market rebound, why the remodeling market remains strong, the challenge for builders in finding buildable lots, the emerging marketing opportunity for Seniors Housing and Aging-in-Place remodeling, and TBA’s role in increasing professionalism in the industry. He’s expected to talk about the future of communities such as Falls Chase, Southwood, and Welaunee as well as builder challenges such as labor shortages, material price increases, appraisals and federal threats to home ownership incentives. Lambert serves on the Board of the Chamber along with TBA leaders Mike Roberts of Roberts Sand Company and Masoud Karimipour of Persica Homes.  
 

City Gas Will Sponsor
TBA Remodelers Awards

With City of Tallahassee Gas – Your Own Utilities signing on as a sponsor, professional remodelers in TBA can have their work recognized, evaluated and critiqued when they enter the 2013 Remodelers Showcase Awards, according to awards chairman Larry Wayne Strickland, CIP, CAPS, of Capital City Builders. Strickland said the deadline to enter is August 16, 2013 with entry materials due one week later on August 23, 2013. The awards will be presented September 25, 2013 during a special evening meeting of the TBA Remodelers Council. A registration form outlining categories, fees and additional information is available at tallyba.com under Remodelers Council (left hand side of home page).  
 

Support These New
Members of TBA

Remember to friend and follow TBA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TallahasseeBuildersAssociation

   -- Paul M. Thompson, Executive Officer
 

View the 2013 TBA
Membership Directory
 

BUILDER OF YEAR

ALAN WEEKLEY Alan Weekley Homes

ASSOCIATE OF YEAR

ALAN ROBISON Capelouto Termite & Pest Control

PRESIDENT'S AWARD

BILL KIMBERL, IV, CIP Kimberl Construction, Inc.

HALL OF FAME

MARK WORLEY, CIP, GMB Worley Construction