Joe Wynn Discusses Design
With Remodelers Wednesday

Popular residential designer Joe Wynn of Wynn & Associates will share his ideas on the latest design trends and moderate a roundtable discussion at this Wednesday’s 11:30 am TBA Remodelers Council luncheon at the TBA office (201 East Park Avenue). The lunch is free to members of the Council (whose dues are $105 annually and include membership in the FHBA and NAHB Remodelers Councils) and $20 for non-Council members. “Many of us rely on Joe when we or our clients have design challenges,” said Council Chair Jerry McFarland, CIP, of James McFarland Builder. “It’s always very insightful to hear what Joe is seeing in terms of what consumers want, and some of the best ideas come the experiences we share during the roundtable discussion.” Carole Butler, CAPS, of Carole Butler Interiors is Vice Chair of the Council, which meets the fourth Wednesday of every month.
 
 

 

Greg Lane Sees Good Outlook
For New Homes in Tallahassee

Call him pleased but not satisfied. In his presentation last week to 70 TBA members attending a general membership meeting at Killearn Country Club, Greg Lane of Timberlane Appraisal said that while 2014 will be a good year for home builders, new construction should be playing a more prominent role in the Tallahassee-area housing market. “Our numbers indicated that only about seven to eight percent of all the available homes are new construction, and that’s not good enough,” said Lane, who agreed with national experts on the “headwinds” still facing housing – tighter mortgage credit standards and the shortage of labor and buildable lots. Lane said that the overall supply of homes will last just six and one half months, calling it a “balanced” market, but that the inventory of homes over $400,000 is much higher. He was concerned that many potential first-time buyers are opting to rent until they have the money to buy or more confidence in the economy. He praised builders like Tom Asbury of Premier Fine Homes (Velda Oaks) and Robert Parrish of Parrish Builders (Kings Mill) for bringing on excellent and affordable new-home communities but he noted their small scale compared to mega-developments like Killearn Estates, Golden Eagle, and SouthWood.  He acknowledged Centerville Conservation as the current “hot spot” with 18 new homes under construction, including a number of homes slated for TBA’s 2014 Parade of Homes™. He urged every new-home builder to incorporate a key design feature into their homes: “I call it BAI – a Big Ass Island… home buyers love them,” said Lane. 
 

Innovative Products Stole
The Show at NAHB’s IBS

President Masoud Larimipour, CIP, CAPS, of Persica Homes represented the Tallahassee Builders Association (TBA) at the recent National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas and said one of the highlights was touring the more than 1,200 exhibits presented by the nation’s leading manufacturers and suppliers. For the first time, IBS was co-located with the National Kitchen and Bath Show and it made for a spectacular presentation of all the exciting new products available in today’s new homes. The show attracted more than 75,000 visitors. More than 250 exhibitors applied to be considered for this year’s “Best of IBS” Awards which were selected by a panel of independent judges made up of attending reporters and building professionals. The awards were given in seven categories, plus an overall Best in Show award. For a list of the winners go to tallyba.com under News. 
 

Karen Koelemij Represents Florida
On NAHB’s 2014 Leadership Team

Tallahassee Builders Association Past President and multi-family builder Karen Koelemij of Orange State Construction has been elected to represent Florida and Puerto Rico on the 100-member Executive Board of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Koelemij assumed her position as Area V National Vice Chairman at the recent International Builders Show in Las Vegas. Koelemij, whose father John Koelemij served as NAHB President in 1985, was TBA’s President in 1999 and was elected to the TBA Hall of Fame in 2005 for her career contributions to the industry. She holds the professional designations of Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), Registered Apartment Manager (RAM), and Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP). Taking the helm as NAHB’s Chairman of the Board this year is Kevin Kelly, a Delaware builder and developer with more than 30 years of experience in the housing industry. Kelly is president of Leon N. Weiner & Associates, Inc. and is a successful builder and developer with several decades of experience in land development, multifamily and single-family home building, and property management. NAHB (www.nahb.org)  is headquartered in Washington, DC and represents 800 affiliated state and local home builders associations and 140,000 corporate members across the country in the areas of advocacy, education and research.
 

Parade of Homes Committee
Sets Meeting This Tuesday

Under the leadership of Chairman Doug Barton, CIP, CAPS, of Barton Construction, the TBA Parade of Homes™ Committee meets again on Tuesday, February 25 at 11:30 am at the TBA office. The Parade of Homes is off and running toward the show dates of May 10-11 and May 17-18, 2014. Barton has announced that The City of Tallahassee Natural Gas Utility and Capital City Bank are the Platinum-level sponsors for the Parade. Homes & Land will publish the official Parade of Homes magazine and members will be contacted about advertising by Jackie Johnson  or a Homes & Land representative. David Perkins, CIP, CAPS, () of Perkins Electric is chairing the Parade Sponsorship Committee. The Parade judging is May 2 and the awards banquet is May 15. 
 
Your TBA Parade of Homes Committee for 2014 is:
 
Doug Barton, CIP, CAPS, Chairman, Barton Construction
Thomas Asbury, Jr., Premier Fine Homes
Chad Boss, Premier Pools of Tallahassee
Jane Conn, ES Green & Company
Sean Deiler, Premier Fine Homes
Katie Grabowski, Tallahassee Kitchen Center
Susan Grabowski, Tallahassee Kitchen Center
Jackie Johnson, Homes & Land Magazine
Larisa Kuleshova, City of Tallahassee Natural Gas Utility
Scott Lindeman, Cade & Associates
Suzanne Mozley, Capital City Builders
David Perkins, CIP, CAPS, Perkins Electric
Andy Santana, Barton Construction
Ken Szortyka, SunTrust
Mike Still, Tallahassee Democrat
Larry Wayne Strickland, CIP, CAPS, Capital City Builders
Mark Worley, CIP, GMB, Worley Construction
Robin Yeatman, Tallahassee Democrat 
 
 

 

Hard Hat Happy Hours
Set March 6 & April 10

One of Masoud Karimipour’s goals as President of TBA in 2014 is to bring back “Hard Hat Happy Hours” and he’s done it. The first of these monthly networking meetings will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm on Thursday, March 6 and will be hosted by SCP Tallahassee at their New Hardscapes Showroom at 1290 Capital Circle NE. SCP will provide beer, wine and appetizers to TBA members and guests. SCP is a local distributor for hardscapes and outdoor living products. The Thursday, April 10, 2014 after-hours event will be hosted by Sunshine Savings Bank with slightly different hours (5:30 pm to 7 pm). “It’s so important that TBA members take every opportunity to connect with each other in relaxed settings,” said Karimipour. “General membership meetings are very educational and informative but they don’t offer that rich networking environment that the Hard Hat Happy Hour will provide. I look forward to seeing and meeting TBA members at these events.”  
 

Trap Shoot Set for March 21,
Technology Seminar April 17

Dates have now been set for two TBA events this spring. The Sporting Clay Shoot, sponsored by Centennial Bank, will be held Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Coon Bottom. The new registration for the Clay Shoot is posted at tallyba.com under News. Also, the TBA Member & Consumer Education Committee (MCEC) has announced that on Thursday, April 17, 2014, starting with a lunch at 11:30 am, the Tallahassee Democrat will host TBA’s general membership meeting and present a seminar on The Internet and Digital Media 101. There will be no cost to attend.  
 
 

 

Welcome These New Members
Support Them with Your Business

Capelouto Termite & Pest Control (adding affiliate member), Rick Jarrard, , 850-656-1166 (Sponsor: Mark Worley)

Capital City Bank (adding affiliate member), Helen Proctor, (Sponsor: Mark Worley)

Carpet Studio, Inc. (adding affiliate member), Kathleen Hewitt, , 850-656-2666, Ext. 4 (Sponsor: Kirk Davis)

Envision Credit Union, Vickie Kirchhoff, , 850-942-9000 (Sponsor: Masoud Karimipour)

Meeks & Son, Inc. (electrical contractor) Jimmy Meeks, ,
850-575-5241 (Sponsor: Masoud Karimipour)

NRG Industries, Inc. (aluminum, screen rooms, siding, soffit & fascia, windows & doors), William Strickland, 850-224-7433 (Sponsor: Masoud Karimipour)

Precision Building & Remodeling, James & Kyndra Light, www.pbandr.org,
850-322-6736 (Sponsor: Drexal Harris)

Robert West Jr. Plumbing, Inc., Matt West, ,
850-514-1961 (Sponsor: Masoud Karimipour)

Superior Redi Mix (concrete products), Danny Collins, ,
850-575-1532 (Sponsor: Stan Derzyspolski)

   -- Paul M. Thompson, Executive Officer
 

View the 2013 TBA
Membership Directory
 

Lane Offers Market Insights
At Thursday’s TBA Luncheon

What’s in store for the local housing market in the year ahead? Perhaps no one is better positioned or prepared to answer that question than Greg Lane of Timberlane Appraisal, who’s set as the featured speaker at this Thursday’s TBA General Membership Meeting at the Killearn Country Club. The event begins with lunch at 11:30 am ($15 per person) and the program follows. Plenty of time has been built in for questions and answers. In addition to Lane’s presentation, TBA President Masoud Karimipour, CIP, CAPS of Persica Homes will highlight the association’s upcoming events and honor a milestone for one of TBA’s leading membership recruiters.
 
 

 

Parade of Homes Committee
Sets Meeting for February 25

Under the leadership of Chairman Doug Barton, CIP, CAPS, of Barton Construction, the TBA Parade of Homes™ Committee meets again on Tuesday, February 25 at 11:30 am at the TBA office. The Parade of Homes is off and running toward the show dates of May 10-11 and May 17-18, 2014. Barton has announced that The City of Tallahassee Natural Gas Utility and Capital City Bank are the Platinum-level sponsors for the Parade. Homes & Land will publish the official Parade of Homes magazine and members will be contacted about advertising by Jackie Johnson  or a Homes & Land representative. David Perkins, CIP, CAPS, () of Perkins Electric is chairing the Parade Sponsorship Committee. The Parade judging is May 2 and the awards banquet is May 15. 
 
Your TBA Parade of Homes Committee for 2014 is:
 
Doug Barton, CIP, CAPS, Chairman, Barton Construction
Thomas Asbury, Jr., Premier Fine Homes
Chad Boss, Premier Pools of Tallahassee
Jane Conn, ES Green & Company
Sean Deiler, Premier Fine Homes
Katie Grabowski, Tallahassee Kitchen Center
Susan Grabowski, Tallahassee Kitchen Center
Jackie Johnson, Homes & Land Magazine
Larisa Kuleshova, City of Tallahassee Natural Gas Utility
Scott Lindeman, Cade & Associates
Suzanne Mozley, Capital City Builders
David Perkins, CIP, CAPS, Perkins Electric
Andy Santana, Barton Construction
Ken Szortyka, SunTrust
Mike Still, Tallahassee Democrat
Larry Wayne Strickland, CIP, CAPS, Capital City Builders
Mark Worley, CIP, GMB, Worley Construction
Robin Yeatman, Tallahassee Democrat 
 
 
 
 

It’s Back: Hard Hat Happy Hour
Set for SCP Showroom March 6

One of Masoud Karimipour’s goals as President of TBA in 2014 is to bring back “Hard Hat Happy Hours” and he’s done it. The first of these monthly networking meetings will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm on Thursday, March 6 and will be hosted by SCP Tallahassee at their New Hardscapes Showroom at 1290 Capital Circle NE. SCP will provide beer, wine and appetizers to TBA members and guests. SCP is a local distributor for hardscapes and outdoor living products. The April 6, 2014 after-hours event will be hosted by Sunshine Savings Bank with slightly different hours (5:30 pm to 7 pm). “It’s so important that TBA members take every opportunity to connect with each other in relaxed settings,” said Karimipour. “General membership meetings are very educational and informative but they don’t offer that rich networking environment that the Hard Hat Happy Hour will provide. I look forward to seeing and meeting TBA members at these events.” 
 

TBA News Notes

Black Hawk Engineering has moved. Their new address is 2417-3 Fleischmann Road, Tallahassee Florida 32308 (Corner of Centerville and Fleischmann). They can be reached at 850-224-4295 or 850-224-HAWK…. TBA members Frank and Peper Willis wish to announce that the renowned Delta Blues artist Slim Fatz will be performing at the Old Willis Dairy Barn this Friday evening. The event includes dinner by local BBQ legend Jimbo Walker, two shows by Slim and all the good company you can stand.  BBQ buffet style at 6:30 pm with music beginning just after. Admission is $25 per person and includes music, dinner and non-alcoholic drinks.  It's BYOB for anything else you care to drink. Attendance will be strictly limited so if you're coming, RSVP to . Questions: call 850-322-1293.
 

Save the Dates for Trap Shoot
And Digital Marketing Seminar

Dates have now been set for two TBA events this spring. The Sporting Clay Shoot, sponsored by Centennial Bank, will be held Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Coon Bottom. The new registration for the Clay Shoot is posted at tallyba.com under News. Also, the TBA Member & Consumer Education Committee (MCEC) has announced that on Thursday, April 17, 2014, starting with a lunch at 11:30 am, the Tallahassee Democrat will host TBA’s general membership meeting and present a seminar on The Internet and Digital Media 101. There will be no cost to attend.  
 

Survey Reveals Consumers
Buy 17 Percent Larger Home

With the market rebounding, builders are working hard to give housing consumers what they want. And exactly what is it that consumers want? A recent National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) survey offers some insights. On average, home buyers are looking for a home that is 17 percent larger than their current home, a median of 2,226 square feet. But, likely as a result of the ongoing challenges of the economic downturn, that size is 13 percent smaller than the average size of homes started in 2012. The layout of the home is more important than the location to most buyers. Living space and number of rooms was ranked the most influential characteristic by 65 percent of buyers, while only 33 percent ranked proximity to locations they need to go as tops. A sense of open space continues to be popular, with about three-quarters of home buyers wanting a kitchen that is open to the family room, and nearly two-thirds looking for ceilings on the first floor that are nine feet or more tall. Some of the most desired features in a home involve saving energy. Energy Star®-rated appliances were considered essential or desirable by 94 percent of respondents, and 91 percent wanted an Energy Star® rating for the whole home. In fact, nine out of ten buyers would rather buy a home with energy-efficient features and permanently lower utility bills than one without those features that costs two percent to three percent less. Convenient organization and storage is another home buyer favorite. More than 80 percent of the respondents said they wanted walk-in pantries and pull-out shelves in the kitchen, a laundry room and storage in the garage. While only 15 percent of home owners currently have a wireless home security system, 50 percent want one. Similar gaps in “have” versus “want” occur with security cameras, lighting control and wireless audio systems, and multi-zone HVACs.

   -- Paul M. Thompson, Executive Officer
 

View the 2013 TBA
Membership Directory
 

North Florida Home Show
Sees Strong Traffic, Sales

TBA members who exhibited at last week’s 22^nd annual North Florida Home Show shared a common view: the visitors to this year show were ready to do business. “It had a really good feel to it in terms of the consumer attitudes,” said Bobby Dollar of Bobby Dollar Appliance Consultants. “Whether it was the improving economy or spring being just around the corner, people were ready to make decisions about home improvements.” Dollar was one of over 35 TBA members who exhibited at the show, which included 100-plus exhibitors and drew an estimated 5,000 people over three days to the Civic Center. TBA had an information booth at the show, where it distributed free copies of a 36-page Tallahassee Better Living Guide highlighting TBA members, and presented a one-hour wind mitigation seminar for consumers. The seminar, sponsored by a grant from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, was taught by TBA members Jane and Randy Conn of ES Green & Company.
 
 

 

All-Weather Insulation Sponsors
This Thursday’s Green Luncheon

Clearly one of the key factors in Green and energy-efficient homes is proper insulation and TBA Green Building Council members will learn about the latest technology and installation techniques when All-Weather Insulation sponsors and speaks at this Thursday’s 11:30 am luncheon meeting at the Myers Park community room. The luncheon is free to TBA Green Council members and $20 for non-members of the Council. The Green Council has a series of excellent educational programs lined up for the year under the leadership of Council Chair Jane Conn of ES Green & Company. Council dues are $70 annually. If you need a Green Council membership dues invoice, e-mail TBA Member Services Director Jacqueline Hill () or plan to pay your 2014 dues at Thursday’s meeting. 
 
 
 
 

Ed Dion Tells It Like It Is
In Terms of ‘Flipped’ Homes

Writing in last Sunday’s Tallahassee Democrat Homefinder.com section, TBA Past President and former Florida Remodeler of the Year Ed Dion, CIP, CAPS of Dion Builders warned consumers about the possible pitfalls of buying a flipped home. “What I’ve always questioned is how someone without the proper knowledge of licensing and code requirements could find it profitable to buy, renovate according to codes and licensing requirements and then sell,” wrote Dion. “As the market improves, House Flipping has once again become attractive, hapless buyers will vie for a good deal, and building contractors will be too busy to worry about the jobs they didn’t get. Verifying whether a contractor has had any complaints against their license can be done through the myflorida.com website. To best of my knowledge, there is no such complaint list for flippers so Caveat Emptor, Let the Buyer Beware.” To read the complete article, and the state and nationwide pace of home flipping, go to News at tallyba.com. 
 

Karimipour, Koelemij Hear
Upbeat News at Builders Show

TBA President Masoud Karimipour of Perscica Homes and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Area V National Chairman Karen Koelemij of Orange State Construction heard positive news about the housing outlook for 2014 when they attended last week’s International Builders Show in Las Vegas. NAHB Chief Economist Dr. David Crowe projected a 30-percent increase in single-family starts in 2014 – the best showing of the last seven years – but he noted that residential construction is still well below where it was before the recession.  Dr. Crowe admitted that his projection for 200,000 more starts nationwide this year over last is aggressive but he justifies it with the consistent rise in consumer confidence. “The consumer is much more on board now,” he said. “Attitudes not just about the overall economy but housing in particular have improved.” Dr. Crowe said that shortages of buildable lots, labor and materials are making it difficult for builders to respond to resurging demand. Dr. Crowe and his colleagues believe that mortgage interest rates will remain near their historic lows and that home values will continue to rise, perhaps by five percent this year.
 

Houses Have Never Been Bigger
According to NAHB Research

House size is on the rise. In 2013 the average new home size in the U.S. hit a record 2,679 square feet. “That’s about 150 square feet larger than it was in 2012,” said Rose Quint, a researcher with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “It’s been rising four years in a row – it’s the largest it has ever been.” Almost half of the new single-family houses that builders across the U.S. constructed in 2013 had four bedrooms or more, Quint told builders meeting in Las Vegas last week. “That’s up from 34 percent in 2009,” she said. Sixty percent of houses constructed last year had two or more stories, too. Average new home sales prices in the U.S. hit $318,000 last year, Quint said. That’s because of the shift in the housing industry to more affluent buyers. “It’s not surprising to see what’s been happening to the average price,” she said. “Why are homes getting so big? It takes very high credit scores and very nice income to be able to qualify for a mortgage.” The average household income of new homebuyers now tops $108,000. No wonder that the share of young, first time homebuyers has plunged. “In normal circumstances the first-time homebuyer is 30 percent of the market – it’s 20 percent now,” according to NAHB. 
 

FHBA’s First Attorney/Lobbyist
Robert M. Ervin Dies at Age 97

Robert M. Ervin of Tallahassee died last week at age 97. Ervin was the first attorney and outside professional lobbyist for the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) in the mid-1960s, and created FHBA's initial articles of incorporation and bylaws and generally guided the early development of the state association. He was a trusted advisor to FHBA for more than 15 years and played a lead role in state legislation governing lien laws, condominium associations, and construction licensing. Ervin, revered as a “lawyer’s lawyer” who served as President of the Florida Bar Association and in numerous leadership roles with the American Bar Association, was elected to the Florida Housing Hall of Fame in 1993 for his career contributions to the advancement of the home building industry. Ervin’s son is now a partner in the longtime Tallahassee law firm – Ervin, Kitchen, and Ervin – that the senior Irvin founded. 
  

Tallahassee Democrat Assails
Sweeps of Sadowski Funding

The Tallahassee Democrat used its editorial pages last week to assail the Florida Legislature’s practice of sweeping funds intended for affordable housing into general revenue. The Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) is a member of the Sadowski Housing Coalition that has fought to end the sweeps and will ask the Legislature to roll back the doc stamp increase that was created for that purpose if the funds are not directed to affordable housing as intended. In 1992, the documentary stamp tax paid on real estate transactions was increased, with 70 percent of the money to go to counties and qualifying cities through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), and 30 percent to state programs such as the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL). SHIP money goes to such things as emergency repairs, rehab and new construction, assistance with down payments and closing costs, acquisition of property for affordable housing and homeownership counseling. Based on projections, there will be about $291 million available from the Sadowski housing trust funds. Governor Rick Scott, in his proposed budget for fiscal year 2014-15, proposed to use $89 million of that for housing needs ($69.3 million toward SAIL, and $20 million toward SHIP). That leaves $142.3 million swept into general revenue. The Sadowski Housing Coalition estimates that, if the entire $291 million were used for its intended purpose, it would help create more than 27,000 jobs, putting unemployed contractors back to work, and have an economic impact of $3.4 billion. 
  

Save the Dates for Trap Shoot
And Digital Marketing Seminar

Dates have now been set for two TBA events this spring. The Sporting Clay Shoot, sponsored by Centennial Bank, will be held Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Coon Bottom. The new registration for the Clay Shoot is posted at tallyba.com under News. Also, the TBA Member & Consumer Education Committee (MCEC) has announced that on Thursday, April 17, 2014, starting with a lunch at 11:30 am, the Tallahassee Democrat will host TBA’s general membership meeting and present a seminar on The Internet and Digital Media 101. There will be no cost to attend.  
 

   -- Paul M. Thompson, Executive Officer
 

View the 2013 TBA
Membership Directory
 

TBA-Sponsored Home Show
Kicks Off Friday at Civic Center

Visitors to this week’s 22^nd Annual North Florida Home Show will glean a wealth of knowledge about new home opportunities, remodeling possibilities, and home-improvement products and services. The show runs this Friday (Noon to 7 pm), Saturday (10 am to 7 pm) and Sunday (10 am to 5 pm) at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center and is co-sponsored by the Tallahassee Builders Association (TBA) and East Coast Shows, Inc.
 

TBA members exhibiting at the show (listed below) will be highlighted in a 36-page Tallahassee Better Living Guide produced by TBA’s Member and Consumer Education Committee (MCEC) chaired by Stan Derzypolski, CIP, CAPS, of 3 Rivers, Inc. The guide will be distributed to all show visitors.
 

At the TBA information booth (at the entrance of the show), visitors will learn how to make “The Right Choice” in selecting a builder or remodeler and discover that “doing their homework” will help you them a more successful experience.
 

Builders at the TBA information booth will also alert consumers to the responsibilities of being an owner-builder, including direct, on-site supervision of the construction process, a prohibition against hiring an unlicensed person to act as a contractor or supervise persons working on the building or residence, and compliance with federal income tax, social security contributions, and workers’ compensation requirements for any unlicensed person on your site as well as all applicable laws, ordinances, building codes, and zoning regulations.
 

The Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) and TBA are participating in a state grant to educate homeowners on residential wind mitigation techniques and will present a one-hour workshop on Saturday at 2 pm on the show floor. Instructors are TBA members Jane and Randy Conn of ES Green & Company. The course offers “do-it-yourself” mitigation measures that homeowners can employ. The grant is sponsored by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and State-Emergency Response Team (SERT).
 

There will also be experts on hand to talk about the hottest new communities in Tallahassee, how to remodel in ways that allow older adults to “age in place,” and the latest in home technology and security.
 

TBA Exhibitors … at the North Florida Home Show

U.S. Senate Passes Measure
For Flood Insurance Relief

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) last week applauded Senate passage of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (S. 1926), legislation that would provide relief from soaring flood insurance premium rates for countless home owners across the nation and contains an amendment by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) that is critical to the health of the remodeling industry. "The bill will resolve some of the costly and unintended consequences of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, including huge premium spikes and impacts on the sale, construction and remodeling of homes across the nation," said NAHB Chairman Rick Judson. The Act delays insurance rate increases for all primary residences until an affordability study is completed; require that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) take into account all local flood control structures while mapping; allows consumers to appeal FEMA's mapping decisions and to be reimbursed for their appeal expenses; and reinstates an exemption in 53 communities nationwide for basements that are built a certain way. Blunt's amendment would return the "substantial improvement threshold" that triggers a higher flood insurance rate to the historic 50 percent level of a structure's fair market value, which is important for many remodelers across the nation.  The measure now moves to the House for consideration. 
 

Lane Offers Housing Outlook
At February 20 TBA Meeting

One of the most popular programs of the year is set for TBA’s February 20, 2014 General Membership Meeting when Greg Lane of Timberlane Appraisal offers his always-insightful look at the Tallahassee-area housing market. Lane has is pulse on new communities, what’s selling, and what’s happening with home prices and values. The luncheon meeting begins at 11:30 am at Killearn Country Club and the cost is $15. TBA members should also, mark their calendars for the March 20 General Membership Meeting which features the Bobby Dollar Appliances Open House hosted by Bobby Dollar at his Thomasville (GA) showroom, 7 pm to 9 pm, and includes limo transportation from Tallahassee, gourmet food, one-stop shopping for a wide range of products. 
 

Homes & Land Will Produce
Parade of Homes™ Magazine

The Tallahassee Builders Association is pleased to announce that Homes & Land of Tallahassee will produce the official 2014 Parade of Homes™ magazine. “TBA has every confidence that Homes & Land will play a key role in the success of the 2014 Parade, both through high-quality magazine and its other promotional and marketing vehicles,” said Parade of Homes Committee Chair Doug Barton, CIP, CAPS. TBA members are invited to advertise in the magazine by contacting Jackie Johnson via email at  or by phone at (850) 570-0327. TBA encourages your support and asks that you be receptive when Jackie or a representative of Tallahassee Homes & Land calls on you. 
 

Save the Dates for Trap Shoot
And Digital Marketing Seminar

Dates have now been set for two TBA events this spring. The Sporting Clay Shoot, sponsored by Centennial Bank, will be held Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Coon Bottom. The new registration form for the Clay Shoot is posted at tallyba.com under News. Also, the TBA Member & Consumer Education Committee (MCEC) has announced that on Thursday, April 17, 2014, starting with a lunch at 11:30 am, the Tallahassee Democrat will host TBA’s general membership meeting and present a seminar on The Internet and Digital Media 101. There will be no cost to attend.  
 

   -- Paul M. Thompson, Executive Officer
 

View the 2013 TBA
Membership Directory