December Newsletter

December June 09 08

A monthly publication of the Asheville Home Builders Association

DECEMBER Christmas Gala

Join us as we celebrate 2009!

Biltmore Estate, Lioncrest December 11 7:30 pm *Heavy hors d’ourves and festive beverages. See page 15 for more details!

Upcoming Events December 1

Home Buyer Tax Credit, New NOL Rules Signed Into Law In a major victory for NAHB that will boost the fledgling housing recovery and help struggling business owners nationwide, Congress last week approved legislation that will extend the first-time home buyer tax credit beyond its Nov. 30 deadline and expand it to a wider group of home buyers. The bill also provides relief to cash-strapped home builders by providing broader tax benefits for businesses with net operating losses (NOLs). The legislation, which was signed into law by President Obama on Nov. 6, will extend the $8,000 credit for first-time home buyers for sales contracts entered into by April 30, 2010 and closed on by June 30. It has been expanded to include a new $6,500 credit for owners of existing homes who are purchasing a new principal residence. Existing home owners can claim the $6,500 tax credit if they have been residing in their principal residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight. In more good news, the income eligibility limits to claim the full credit amount for both groups of home buyers have been raised from $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples. NAHB’s consumer-oriented Web site, www.FederalHousingTaxCredit.com, provides complete details on the enhanced home buyer tax credit.

New Member Orientation AHBA Office

NAHB has launched a set of resources at www.nahb.org/taxcreditresources to help association members understand and promote the new tax credit.

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

For NOLs, the new law will allow all businesses — regardless of size — with operating losses in 2008 or 2009, not both, to claim refunds on taxes paid up to five years ago. Businesses can offset 100% of taxable income with NOLs carried back in years one through four and offset 50% of income in year five. Small businesses with less than $15 million in gross receipts would be able to claim a five-year carryback for 2008 losses under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and for 2009 losses under the new law. The new net operating loss rules will throw a lifeline to struggling businesses, allowing them to continue making payrolls, paying business loans and otherwise keep their doors open until the economic recovery takes hold.

December 8 -9 NCHBA 4th Quarter Board Meeting Raleigh, NC

January 19 - 22 International Builders Show Las Vegas

January 28 Annual GMM Check your weekly briefings!

Lawmakers Signal Last Action on Home Buyer Tax Credit Even as Congress neared completion last week on legislation to extend and enhance the home buyer tax credit, proponents of the tax credit made it perfectly clear that the extension would have a limited shelf life and not be extended again when it expires next year. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), a long-time champion of the home buyer tax credit, said: “This is the last extension of the home buyer tax credit. Tax credits like this only work by creating the sense of urgency to take advantage of it, and to bring the market back.” On the floor of the Senate, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said that, “It’s important that this tax credit does not become a permanent fixture in the tax code. Our amendment would end the credit on April 30 of next year. This extension would get us through the winter — traditionally the worst season for real estate. Our amendment would jump-start the housing market as it enters the summer months of 2010.” Baucus added that the seven-month extension of the tax credit would be “long enough to encourage home buyers to buy homes, but it’s short enough to remain fiscally responsible.” On Nov. 5, the House approved the legislation by a vote of 403 to 12, less than 24 hours after it sailed through the Senate by a unanimous 98 to 0 vote. Prior to the congressional votes, NAHB sent letters to leaders in each chamber designating passage as a “key vote” due to its importance to the housing industry. In addition, NAHB issued a Legislative Alert earlier last week urging association members to call their senators and representatives immediately and tell them to support the tax credit and NOL carryback because they will preserve and create jobs, stabilize the housing market and provide critical stimulus to the nation’s economy. [ continued on page 5 ]

Asheville HBA O Bringing Professionalism to Our Industry O www.AshevilleHBA.com

2009 AHBA Board of Directors

Calendar

Meetings Professional Women in Building

Thomas McClain, President Home Sweet Home

Tuesday, December 1 @ 12 pm

Richard Soderquist, 1st Vice President Builder Membership Soderquist Construction Co.

Tuesday, January 5 @ 8:30 am

Stuart Ray, 2nd Vice President Builder Membership JS Ray & Associates

Christmas Gala Friday, December 11 6:30 pm- SPIKE Reception *Special invitation only 7:30 pm-General Membership Biltmore Estate, Lioncrest *Free for members, $65 for guests Must RSVP!

Greg Spicer, Vice President Associate Membership MATH Insurance Service Herb Freeman, Treasurer Herbert C. Freeman, CPA, P.C. Jill Jones, Secretary Westall Chandley Sean Sullivan, Immediate Past President Living Stone Construction, Inc. Josh Abrams, moreSPACEplace James Bound, Greencraft, Inc. Jim Demos, Demos Builders Don Thompson, Thompson & Rhodes Builders Duane Liming, Pioneer Construction and Development Chris Lyman, McGuire, Wood & Bissette Construction Law Team

*Hi-Tech Systems Showroom

Board of Directors Meeting December 3 @ 3:00 pm Parade of Homes Committee Wrap Up Meeting TBD

*AHBA Office

Events

New Member Orientation December 1 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm *AHBA Office

NCHBA 4th Quarter Board Meeting December 8 - 9 *Raleigh International Builders Show January 19 - 22 *Las Vegas Annual General Membership Meeting Thursday, January 28 *Check your weekly briefing for updates!

DECEMBER Education

WNC Green Building Council: HealthyBuilt Home Orientation NC Arboretum: 100 Frederick Law Olmstead Way Asheville, NC 28806 Tuesday, December 8th from 12:30pm to 4:30pm Statewide green builder program for residential building professionals administered by the WNC Green Building Council in partnership with the NC Solar Center. This event is required orientation to the NC HBH program for all builders who wish to build NC HealthyBuilt Homes The link to register is: http://www.wncgbc.org/events/calendarDetail.php?id=623

Steve Royster, Bass & Royster Builders

AHBA Staff Executive Officer Caroline Purcell Sutton [email protected] Director of Marketing and Communications KC Hart [email protected]

Office Hours Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm Phone: 828-299-7001 Fax: 828-299-7008 Email: [email protected]

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Q & A: WNC Green Building Council What is Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certification? C2C certification is for products that meet the standards of the MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry), a product and process design firm. The goal is to identify products that use “environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material reutilization, such as recycling or composting; the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency; efficient use of water, and maximum water quality associated with production; and instituting strategies for social responsibility.” This methodology is based off of the work done by William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart. The core of the methodology is to create a “closed loop” cycle (cradle to cradle) for products instead of a cradle-to-grave straight shot where products only have one life. There are Basic, Silver, Gold or Platinum rankings. The rankings are achieved by their own requirements for each level. You can see a list of their certified products on their website, http://www.c2ccertified.com/. This information was provided by the Western North Carolina Green Building Council. For more information about the WNCGBC or their Energy Star or HealthyBuilt Homes Programs, contact the AHBA at 299-7001 or by email at [email protected]

Bringing Professionalism to our Industry

[ presidentʼs message ]

2009- How Will This Year Go Down in History? President’s Message by Thomas McClain All I can say is WOW! What a year it has been! The good news is that we made it through one of the toughest years in our industry, both here in western North Carolina as well as in our nation. Looking back at the past year, we have much to be thankful for here at the Asheville Home Builders Association. We just completed the most successful membership drive in the AHBA history. Almost 50 new members signed up during our two-day membership drive. Even after the drive was over, we had additional new members continue to sign up. This is a direct result of all the hard work of our volunteers! This means we will end 2009 with our membership total near the 2008 membership total. Given the year’s challenges, this is a truly amazing feat. We just completed the Table-Top Expo at the new building at the WNC AG Center and we are looking forward to our 1st annual Home & Garden Expo next Spring at the same location. I want to thank everyone who came out and participated. When we take the time to communicate with each other and share ideas and projects, we all benefit. As we enter 2010 – the New Year – it appears our industry is on the road to recovery and of course that will mean new jobs coming to our area and the need for new homes will again be on the upswing. As the recovery unfolds, we must continue to support each other and do business with members. Since this is my last letter as President of the AHBA, I want to take this opportunity to thank each of our members for your loyalty and for your support and dedication to your association. Without you none of this is possible. Take the time to become involved and make the most of your membership. If you are involved, continue your involvement. If you are not actively participating, get plugged in, join one of our committees and make 2010 even better than this year. There is always room to grow. I look forward to watching the AHBA become the best local HBA in the country. Support your fellow members and let’s make our AHBA the best association and network it can be.

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[ builders tips ]

Builders’ Tip: A More Stable and Handy Step Stool I’ve been a remodeler and a handyman for more than 20 years, and in that time I’ve really come to appreciate the simple perfection of the little step stool I built. I made it out of scrap lumber, but the thing I like best about it is its stability. Because the sides are tapered, the stool is a lot harder to tip over than one with straight sides. At 14 inches high, it’s not only tall enough for me to use it to reach the top of a wall in a room with 8-foot ceiling heights, it also slips easily enough between stud walls framed on 16-inch centers. To protect floors and add even more stability, I wrapped its feet made with 2x2 lumber with rubber shoes made with an inner tube. The stool also doubles as a small workbench — providing me with a stable platform for sawing, cutting, painting and hammering. And at the end of the day, I can flip the stool over and use it as an open box to carry my tools and supplies back to my truck. — Mike Niemeyer, Lawrenceburg, Ind. Tips & Techniques provided by Fine Homebuilding. ©2009 The Taunton Press

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Bringing Professionalism to our Industry

[ builder issues ]

NAHB Member Advantage Updates

Fair Appraisals Are a Priority for NAHB

Omaha Steaks®: The Perfect Holiday Gift

In round two of NAHB’s appraisal summit in the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 3, participants honed in on what can be done to enable builders, lenders and real estate agents to provide appraisers with information they should know in determining the value of a home.

Save 10% every time you shop online for Omaha Steaks®. As soon as items are placed in your shopping cart, the 10% discount is applied. As an added bonus, your 10% member discount can be combined with any special found on this Web site, offering an even greater savings. Feel free to browse our shopping categories. Omaha Steaks also offers salmon, tuna, and seafood specials, along with great side dishes and desserts. Omaha Steaks plays a very important role for companies across the country – as employee safety and sales incentives, to extend appreciation to a valued business partner or client, as employee gifts at holiday time, and as a gift to a new customer. This holiday season, chances are that a lot of new home buyers and remodeling clients will be receiving a package from Omaha Steaks as a token of appreciation from our members. But Omaha Steaks is not just for special occasions. So set the table, get ready to fire up the grill (or oven broiler) and click on Omaha Steaks special NAHB web page at http://www.osincentives.com/servlet/redirect?fromUri=/promo/nahb.

Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension [ continued from page 1 ] Federation-Wide Effort Leads to Success Immediately following congressional passage, NAHB Chairman Joe Robson sent a memo to the entire federation citing the importance of this legislation to the housing industry and how NAHB was instrumental in helping to get the bill passed. The communiqué was also delivered to the Executive Officers via the PRx Exchange. Additionally, NAHB issued a press release applauding Congress on extending and enhancing the home buyer tax credit. “This legislation is the result of months of determined effort by the entire NAHB federation,” said Robson, who noted that the association’s grassroots membership first banded together this summer in a “Revive Housing, Restore America” campaign calling on Congress to focus on housing in order to create jobs and provide the impetus for a full-scaled economic recovery. The home buyer tax credit and NOL provisions were the two legislative priorities in that campaign. The NAHB leadership continues to work with Congress and various organizations in Washington to urge regulators to adopt policies that will restore the flow of credit builders need to finish projects in the pipeline and begin new ones and end faulty appraisals. Robson said that NAHB has been “working tirelessly” to build upon the small gains the industry has seen in the marketplace in recent months and has been in continuous contact with the House and Senate. “During key stages of the campaign, we activated our grassroots network to meet with their lawmakers when they were in their home districts and to visit them on Capitol Hill,” he said. “We have inundated congressional offices with e-mails and phone calls urging senators and representatives from both parties to extend and expand the home buyer tax credit to create jobs, spur home sales, reduce foreclosures, stabilize home values and push housing and the economy to higher ground.” Robson noted that NAHB had joined with the National Association of Realtors® and Mortgage Bankers Association in the past few months to help get the vital housing legislation across the finish line. This article was reprinted with permission from the NAHB. For more information on the legislation, call the AHBA at 299-7001.

Following up on the meeting — which assembled leaders from major appraisal, lending and housing agencies and federal housing and banking regulators — NAHB will be moving ahead to clarify how builders and others can communicate with appraisers under the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) that went into effect last spring. The appraisal issue has emerged as one of the top priorities for NAHB leaders as the housing industry struggles to gain momentum and gather sufficient strength to create jobs and support a strong rebound in the nation’s economy. At the center of the problem, some appraisers have been using foreclosure and other distressed sales as comparables for appraisals without making proper value adjustments for differences in the quality and condition of the new homes they are assessing. Properties involved in distressed sales often are in poor condition due to neglect or deliberate damage. In the first meeting of the appraisal summit on Sept. 21, participants noted that there have been “unintended consequences” from the HVCC, including a perception that interested parties are not permitted to communicate with the appraiser. A good answer to this particular issue, summit participants heard, can be found in sets of Frequently Asked Questions individually issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to clarify what the code of conduct requires and allows. Both of their FAQs state that interested parties are permitted to communicate with the appraiser to provide information relevant to the appraiser. The intent of the HVCC is to come to an accurate result, participants were told. As long as the result is not to improperly influence the appraiser, then providing information is appropriate if it helps achieve an accurate valuation. Another concern for NAHB members is appraisers who have been coming from outside the area to appraise properties in local markets they don’t adequately know. The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter where they come from if they don’t know the area in which they are working. The concern over out-of-town appraisers is part of a larger concern ensuring that appraisers are qualified and experienced, a matter of major importance that took up much of the discussion at the summit. There is also a need for creating a process that would enable builders and others to receive a second appraisal when the initial appraisal is wrong. There is currently no consistent process for appealing or questioning the results of an appraisal. At their first meeting, summit participants discussed the possibility of following the example of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Loan Guaranty Program, which has established a process that requires an appraiser to contact the lender for additional information if it appears the appraised value of a home will not be sufficient. Unfortunately, broader application of the VA reconsideration process is limited because of the unique structure of that program and the direct relationship between the VA and the appraisers assigned to handle valuations on VA transactions. The HVCC does not prohibit lenders from requesting a reconsideration of an appraisal in order to correct errors, such as miscalculated square footage or the wrong number of bedrooms. But many lenders don’t understand this. Lenders frequently won’t take on any additional information, and people around the country feel there is no appeals process. This article was reprinted with permission from NAHB, www.nahb.org. www.AshevilleHBA.com |5

Share your accomplishments, awards, and announcements with fellow members. Send your news to [email protected] and we will be glad to include it in the newsletter!

Asheville Radio Group offers Non-Profit Rates

New NAHB Brand Means Goodbye to the MA Logo

Asheville Radio Group (65.5, 98.1, 105.9, ESPN Radio) is offering a special to the AHBA! Any of our members who sign up for advertising with ARG will receive the non-profit rate for advertising when they add “Proud Member of the Asheville Home Builders Association. Visit ashevillehba.com for details” to the end of their advertisement. That is a 33% savings off the regular price! Also, for each company that signs up, the AHBA will receive 5 free commercials! What a kick-back for the AHBA! If you are interested in this great way to gain exposure for your company, please contact the AHBA Office at 299-7001 or contact Mu rphy Funkhouser at ARG at [email protected]. Thank you ARG for promoting our motto of “Doing Business with Members!”

NAHB recently launched a new brand! As a part of this new initiative, we will begin to phase out the use of the Member Advantage logo. As we approach 2010, all communication materials and the web site will no longer include the MA logo and will feature only the NAHB mark. We are in the process of updating the member advantage ads and web banners that are currently on www.NAHB.org/matoolkit and we appreciate your patience as we make these adjustments. Now more than ever our members see the value in the discounts on these products and services! Please contact the AHBA with any questions- 299-7001!

Tax Credit Resources Updated to Drive Home Sales With the extension and expansion of the home buyer tax credit signed into law by President Obama on Nov. 6, NAHB updated its comprehensive online resources to help the federation promote the two tax credits- an extended $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit and a new $6,500 repeat buyer tax credit- immediately to consumers. The resources are located at www.nahb.org/taxcreditmaterials and include materials to help members promote the credit to home buyers. Members can download ready-to-use promotional materials such as a consumer flyer, radio spot scripts, Web banner ads, and print ads for consumer audiences from the NAHB Web site and most materials can be customized with the member’s contact information. Talking points and a fact sheet are also available to help leaders and members of home builders associations talk to the local media about the two home buyer tax credits. Members can direct consumers to the popular tax credit video, which was updated to reflect the new credits, and changes to the consumer brochure “Opportunity Knocks” will be completed and available online soon. Most of the resources are accessible only to NAHB members, and you must be logged in to www.nahb.org to view them.

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Bringing Professionalism to our Industry

ProBuild Takes on Two New Hires ProBuild is pleased to announce two new hires. Mike Dunlap and Scott Lewis will be two excellent additions to the sales team. With their combined years of experience, these two gentlemen will help ProBuild serve the building community of Western North Carolina with outstanding building products backed with expert service and technical expertise.

more SPACE place Wins 4th Chamber Award On Thursday October 29th, more SPACE place received the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Sky High Growth Award. more SPACE place was honored to receive this award for 4 consecutive years. The award honors small businesses that have experienced outstanding growth in sales and/or employment over the last several years. more SPACE place helps homeowners maximize space and reduce clutter with a full collection of Murphy beds, custom closets, home offices, entertainment centers and organization systems.

[ member news ]

Parade of Playhomes Fundraiser Brings in Big Dollars for United Way of ABC

On October 29th, AHBA members and United Way supporters gathered at the Asheville Mall for a special auction event raising money for United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. Our members built 5 children’s playhouses that were on display for two weeks at the Asheville Mall before the live auction. Over 50 attendees watched the auction and bid on the playhome of their child’s dreams. Each of these unique homes were auctioned to the highest bidder, with varying prices collectively raising over $11,000 for United Way! The competition among the bidders was strong and the home prices shot up quickly. With details on the homes including stone fronts and cedar shakes, a live green roof, two stories, and much more, who wouldn’t want to bid on one of these special playhomes? Thank you to all of our dedicated members who built these homes, aided in the delivery, the setup/takedown, and attended the auction. This is a great way to give back to our community! Special thanks to the following companies who constructed playhomes for the Parade of Playhomes! Advantage Development Company and Handicraft Homes Biltmore Farms Homes and Christopher Fox Builders Westall Chandley Buchanan Construction, LLC and the AHBA Board of Directors Thank you to 84 Lumber who helped deliver the playhomes to their new owners! Special thanks to the companies listed below whose donations of material and labor helped make this fundraiser possible! Herbert C. Freeman, CPA, P.C. Home Sweet Home JS Ray & Associates Pioneer Construction Tucker Materials, Inc. Carolina Colortones 84 Lumber Westall Chandley Living Stone Construction Mountain Window & Door Bassett Builders Jay’s Roofing Greencraft, Inc. Soderquist Construction Co. Lowes ProBuild Holcombe Painting Sherwin Williams House Electric Wright’s Stoneworks Cook & Boardman Norandex AAC McClung Roofing Jack Gorovoy Dave & Lisa Caudle Jim & Andrea Haxby Builders First Source Oscar Magana Wayne Ashton Dennis White Butler Farm Enterprises James Gearhart

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[ member news ]

Two-Day Membership Drive Brings in 49 New AHBA Members The AHBA Membership Committee held a two-day membership drive on November 11 and 12 which quickly became the most successful AHBA Membership Drive ever! Forty AHBA volunteers separated into six teams in order to recruit area professionals who would benefit from an AHBA membership. The drive began with a fun party at the Holiday Inn where the teams picked their team names and began razzing each other as to who would recruit the most. Each team then came to the office for two hours over the next two days to call area homebuilding professionals in order to explain the many benefits of AHBA membership. At the end of the second day, the results were tallied and the drive was complete. Then, to celebrate our success, all the team members and new AHBA members were invited to attend a wrap-up party at Wild Wings where snacks and drinks were on us! The AHBA provided exciting prizes for those who recruited the most new members, including $350 cash, movie tickets, gas cards, restaurant gift cards, books, and much more! The winners were announced at the AHBA Table Top on November 19. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this a successful event for the AHBA. We are proud of the 49 new members of the Association and hope you will begin using them for your business needs! Special thanks to the following participants in the drive: Team 1: Mighty Membership Marauder Co-Captains: Thomas McClain, Home Sweet Home & Judy Dinelle, 84 Lumber Team Members: Greg Spicer, Math Insurance Services; Rick Cooper, McNutt Service Group; Mark Sluder, Mountain Window & Door Gallery; Rob Fisher, Brand Vaughan Lumber Company; Eric Redden, 84 Lumber; Guy Campbell, Carolina Colortones; Kevin Abercrombie, Home Sweet Home Team 2: MADDOG2020 Co-Captains: Sean Sullivan, Living Stone Construction & Jill Jones, Westall Chandley Team Members: Brad Rice, Bellwether Builders; Terry Walton, Westall Chandley; Barry King, Westall Chandley; Cindy Hipps, Westall Chandley; Don Thompson, Thompson-Rhodes Builders; Herb Freeman, Herbert C Freeman CPA PC; Brian Burpeau, West End Cabinets Team 3: Talk Is Cheap Co-Captains: Steve Wallin, Western Carolina Home Place & Skip Brewer, Walnut Cove Builders Team Members: Robbie Vaughn, Building Environmental Solutions; Kris Wilson, A-American Electric; Tom Rich, Rich Builders; Darrie Earley, Home Environments Team 4: Out of Town Co-Captains: J Kohen, Concrete Specialties Inc. & Meredith Johnson, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty Team Members: Brenda Dunlap, Sears Commercial; Maria Aponte, Hi-Tech Integrated Systems; Shawn Busby, Jennings Builders Supply Team 5: Memberizers Co-Captains: James Bound, Greencraft Inc. & Jim Demos, Demos Builders, Inc. Team Members: Josh Abrams, moreSPACEplace; Rich Kubica, K-Wall Poured Walls LLC; Barbara Cerridwen, Spacemakers; Ryan Mclellan, Copperwood Builders; Jan Coleman, J Coleman Waterproofing; Georg Efird, A2Z Plumbing; Murphy Funkhouser, Asheville Radio Group Team 6: AHBA Janitors Team Members: Chad Golden, Solar Energy Systems and the AHBA Staff

Congratulations to our prize winners: Top Recruiter: Herb Freeman, Herbert C. Freeman, CPA, PC Top Recruiting Team: MADDOG2020 Most Inspiration Team Leader: Jill Jones, Westall Chandley Least Recruiting Team (yes they get a prize too!): Out of Town

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Bringing Professionalism to our Industry

[ member news ]

Drive Incentives from Local Companies

First Annual Home & Garden Expo in 2010

The newest members of the AHBA, those who joined during our twoday Membership Drive, received special offers from local companies. In addition to all the great AHBA membership benefits, new members also received a wheel rotation and computer balance, 1000 color business cards, an hour of tax consultation, a month free gym membership, a 4-hour NCBI education course through the AHBA, and a closet accessory package. Those who recruited were also given the chance to win great prizes from AHBA members for each member they recruited: t-shirts, hats, gift certificates and more! Special thanks to the companies below who donated prizes or provided incentives to aid in our recruiting efforts.

We are pleased to announce the AHBA will host the first Annual Asheville Home Builders Association Home & Garden Expo on May 1 & 2, 2010. This is the result of years of planning by the AHBA Associates Committee, chaired by Richard Soderquist of Soderquist Construction Co., as we transition our existing Table Top Expo to a full consumer show open to both our membership and the general public. This is an exciting opportunity for the AHBA and our members to have an industry specific show produced exclusively by our members, for our members. The show will be held at the WNC Agricultural Center off Airport Road, in their new 30,000 square foot facility. This location has excellent parking, all one-level flooring, 6 large loading doors around the building, and heating and air conditioning. This new facility will accommodate over 130 booths that will vary in size with options for prominent placement, with room for expansion as the Expo grows in future years. We will unveil the Expo as an industry specific show, geared toward promoting the products and services of our membership to include: builders, landscapers, building supplies, fireplaces, hot tubs/pools, windows, garage doors, lighting, architects, etc. For a complete list of applicable vendors, please visit the AHBA website at www.ashevillehba.com and select the category drop down menu on the directory page. Although the Expo will be open to the public for May 1 & 2, on the evening of April 30, the AHBA will host a private Builder Preview Event to give our general membership a sneak peek at the products and services our members have on display. The Builder Preview Event will be free for our members, but the two days open to the public will be a ticketed event. Tickets will be available in advance at a discounted rate through the AHBA and various other community businesses. Sponsorship opportunities for the AHBA Home & Garden Expo are available at various commitment levels, including but not limited to media sponsorship and corporate sponsorships. If your company is interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities in the Expo, please email [email protected]. Information on booth registration is available now at the AHBA Office. AHBA Members who sign up for a booth by December 31, 2010 will receive a 10% discount on the size booth of their choice. A non-refundable deposit payment is expected at time of reservation. Please contact the AHBA in order to reserve a booth. The AHBA looks forward to the first annual Asheville Home Builders Association Home & Garden Expo as an opportunity to showcase our members as experts in the homebuilding industry. As the community’s homebuilding resource since 1966, the AHBA is proud to serve our membership and the residents of western North Carolina.

The Asheville Home Builders Association’s

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[ member news: marketing ]

Early Findings Inconclusive on Chinese Drywall Hazards Releasing its initial findings on Oct. 29, a multi-agency government task force was unable to establish a conclusive link between Chinesemade drywall and adverse health symptoms in home owners or corrosive effects on components of their homes. Although preliminary results showed that the Chinese drywall contained elemental sulfur as well as higher concentrations of strontium than non-Chinese drywall, neither chemical was present in sufficient levels to pose a radiological health risk. “We did not find levels of chemicals that suggested an imminent health hazard,” said David Krause, state toxicologist for the Florida Department of Health. He said the levels were consistent with the reported symptoms of eye irritation, however. Multiple Agencies, Tactics Agencies participating in the study include the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR), along with a number of state health departments. The groups have been working together since early spring to investigate and analyze how Chinese-made drywall entered the U.S., where it was used, what chemicals are in it and how it may be affecting human health and electrical and fire safety components in homes. A Web site, www.drywallresponse.gov, has been established to share agency findings and address consumer concerns about defective drywall. Scott Wolfson of the CPSC said that more than $3.5 million has been spent on the issue over the past five months, and that the study is the largest investigation in CPSC history. “All resources are being brought to bear at this point,” he said. Formaldehyde Discovered More than 1,200 air samples were collected and analyzed from 10 homes in Florida and Louisiana in order to help develop a federal and state indoor air testing protocol, according to Jim Woolford of the EPA. The tests found detectable concentrations of two irritant compounds — acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. The compounds were found in homes built using Chinese drywall as well as those with non-Chinese drywall, however. “Formaldehyde concentrations of this level are not unusual for new homes,” Woolford said. The levels were also higher in homes in which the air conditioners had not been in use for some time. Elevated levels of formaldehyde were also discovered in FEMA trailers provided to Hurricane Katrina victims, who were immediately relocated because the presence of the chemical should have been dissipated under normal living conditions. The test case homes, however, were tightly constructed and unoccupied. New boards commonly emit non-toxic levels of the chemical, he said. Border Patrol Lori Saltzman of the CPSC said the agency is partnering with the Department of Homeland Security to stop drywall imports from China. “We are working with port authorities to make sure Chinese drywall doesn’t come into the U.S.,” she said. “Additionally, notices have been sent to warehouses where the drywall is being stored letting them know of the investigation.” No Chinese drywall has been imported into the U.S. this year, she added. Saltzman said that CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum traveled last week to meet with the Chinese vice minister and stress concern over 10 | Asheville HBA

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Bringing Professionalism to our Industry

Saltzman said that CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum traveled last week to meet with the Chinese vice minister and stress concern over the issue. “They talked about the need for drywall manufacturers to take a fair and just response to the issue,” she said. They did not, however, secure a promise from the Chinese to be held accountable for the damage caused by drywall that is found to be harmful. Home Owners Still on Hold Home owners hoping the government will fund remediation of their homes will have to continue to wait, according to Warren Friedman of HUD. “We are still evaluating the problem right now, and that is a precursor to developing remediation strategies,” he said. The agency wants to make sure the direct source of the problem is identified first, and it hopes to implement more efficient, less-costly methods of remediation than complete to-the-studs renovations that can cost thousands of dollars. Friedman recommended that home owners who have vacated their homes due to suspected Chinese drywall contamination and are in financial distress should contact their lenders to work out a loan mitigation plan. Congressional and White House officials have been asked to consider legislation and other means to help families affected by the issue. The CPSC has conducted more than 800 direct telephone interviews with affected home owners, and received nearly 1,900 reports from concerned consumers in 30 states. Consumers who suspect their homes contain defective drywall are urged to contact the CPSC at 800-638-2772. A statement issued by the participating agencies recommends the following steps to improve indoor air quality and reduce exposure to substances that may cause health concerns: • Open windows to let in fresh air • Lower inside home temperatures as much as possible • Run air conditioners and dehumidifiers • Do not smoke indoors Further Results Expected Data from a 50-home air sampling study is still being evaluated, with results expected in November. The methodology was adjusted to reflect learning outcomes from the initial 10-home study. A preliminary engineering analysis of potential electrical and fire safety issues related to corrosion is also expected at that time. For more information, go to www.nahb.org/chinesedrywall. This article was reprinted with permission from NAHB. For more information, visit www.nahb.org.

[ member news ]

In the Know... 2009 Committees and Councils Activities Committee Duane Liming and Nathan Lawrence- Co-Chairs Be sure to join us on December 11 at the Lioncrest at the Biltmore Estate for our annual Christmas Gala. The business portion of the Gala will be greatly reduced and heavy hors d’ouevres will increase the amount of time for socializing. Social Function will be playing music for dancing, so mark your calendars for some Christmas cheer on Friday, December 11! See page 15 for details. The committee has had a lot of fun this year planning the golf tournaments and the AHBA picnic! The Christmas party will be the culmination of a lot of hard work from this committee and will be a great way to end the year with a bang! Join us in 2010 if you’d like to help plan AHBA events. Education Committee The AHBA has the last NCBI course offered through the AHBA in 2009 on November 10. The courses were held at the AHBA office and were a huge benefit to the builders and associates who attended. The AHBA Education program- the Asheville Home Builders Instituteoffered two 4 hour courses each quarter in 2009. New this year, the AHBA hopes to expand the program and have even greater value for our members in 2010. The program was given a STARS award from NCHBA this year. Thanks to everyone who participated in this program this year! Legislative Committee Greg Spicer-Chair This month the Legislative Committee will be attending the City Manager’s Development Forum. This Forum provides an opportunity to learn about current development trends, regulatory updates and management incentives with the City of Asheville’s development services departments. We will also tour the City’s new One Stop Shop Development Services Center. This month on the National level the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit and a new $6500 repeat home buyer tax credit has been passed. There are a number of resources posted at nahb.org/taxcreditmaterials. These include materials to help members promote the credit to potential home buyers and download ready to use promotional materials. On the State level this year, of the 1,333 bills introduced this session 316 directly affect the construction industry. I am always impressed to see the State Governmental Affairs staff at work and hope everyone realizes the extreme value of your BuildPAC contributions to help keep the building industry alive. Your local Legislative Committee has continued to make a strong presence and build a valuable relationship with our local elected officials.

Parade of Homes Committee Josh Abrams & Steve Royster- Co-Chairs With 2009 quickly coming to an end it is hard to believe that another Parade of Homes has come to an end. Even with all of the challenges in today’s world, the 2009 Parade of Homes was a success for all! Builders witnessed great traffic in their homes, Associate members were able to sell product and the Association presented itself in the community in a very professional manner. Although October is still many months away, plans are underway for next year’s Parade of Homes. If you have always wanted to get involved in a committee, now is the time to contact the office for an application for the 2010 Parade of Homes Committee. Thanks you to everyone involved who helped to contribute to this year’s success! Professional Women in Building Council Gina Kidder – Secretary/Treasurer At our November 3rd meeting the PWB held elections for the 2010 officer positions. We are pleased to announce our new board members: Chairman – Amanda Ballew, more SPACE place Vice Chairman – Maria Aponte, Hi-Tech Integrated Systems Secretary/Treasurer – Gina Kidder, Core Installations Director – Jenny Brunet, Cool Mountain Construction The PWB would like to take this opportunity to thank the 2009 board of directors for all their hard work and dedication. We elected Judy Dinelle, our past Chairman, to represent us at the Women’s Council Delegate at the IBS meeting Jan 18, 2010. The PWB had an outstanding 2nd year with a long list of accomplishments and we should all be proud of our endeavors. As a reminder everyone is welcome to join and if you are interested in being a part of the PWB Council please contact Gina Kidder with Core Installations at [email protected]. Next meeting date: January 5 – 8:30am @ AHBA

Membership Committee The Membership Committee recently held the most successful membership drive in AHBA history, recruiting 49 new members to the Association! Over 40 volunteers came to two parties and two hours at the office for recruiting and won great prizes! We are so proud of our members who stepped up to enlist other area professionals who will benefit from membership in our organization. We are looking forward to a 2010 with a great membership team ready to recruit new members and provide great benefits to help with retention! Join us in 2010 if you are interested in being a part of this great committee!

www.AshevilleHBA.com |11

[ member news ]

- Pending Members -

**Allegra Print & Imaging Mike Powell 191 Charlotte Street Asheville, NC 28801 828-253-6886 Printing, Signage SPIKE: Maria Aponte **Allora, LLC Jennifer Jeffries 201 River Place Ste 501 Greenville, SC 29601 864-458-8176 Builder, Land Developer SPIKE: Skip Brewer **AMC, Inc. Rob Sadler 133 Thompson Street Asheville, NC 28803 828-252-6161 Ironwork. Wrought Iron & Welding SPIKE: Rich Kubica **Amp Electric Jason Hamilton 356 Flat Creek Rd. Black Mountain, NC 28711 828-318-5217 Electrical Contractors SPIKE: Sean Sulllivan **Angel’s Stucco Jose A. Rodriguez 3 Lynnbrook Drive Arden, NC 28704 828-551-5939 Stucco SPIKE: Greg Spicer **Asheville Ford, LLC. Bob Slebonick PO Box 1490 Asheville, NC 28802 828-253-2731 Auto & Truck Dealer, Auto & Truck Repair SPIKE: Rich Kubica **B&L Distribution Company of NC Scott T. Ibbotson 190 Continuum Drive Fletcher, NC 28732 828-209-5000 Brick,Stone, Masonry, Sand Suppliers, Stucco SPIKE: Skip Brewer **Best Built, Inc. James Alan Best 4879 Crabtree Mountain Rd. Clyde, NC 28721 828-506-943 Commercial Construction, Green Builder SPIKE: Judy Dinelle **Brookstone Builders, LLC Richard King PO Box 1105 Black Mountain, NC 28711 828-230-7972 Builder SPIKE: Brian Burpeau

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**Carlton DesignBuild, Inc. Rob Carlton PO Box 7466 Asheville, NC 28802 828-212-6297 Single Family -Spec Single Family Towhnhouses SPIKE: Herb Freeman

**Home Environments Darrie Earley 1070 Tunnel Rd. Asheville, NC 28805 828-768-1167 Carpet & Floor Coverings Ceramic Tile SPIKE: Steve Wallin

**Mountain Paint & Decorating, Inc Ted Hughes 110 Merrimon Ave Asheville, NC 28801 828-258-5385 Decorating & Interior Design Paint Suppliers SPIKE: Herb Freeman

**Carolina Cornerstone Construction, Inc. Scott L. MacAlister 357B Depot St Asheville, NC 28801 828-251-9067 General Contractor, Green Builder SPIKE: Rich Kubica

**Interiors By Donna Coudes Donna Coudes 2 Town Square Blvd Suite 246 Asheville, NC 28803 828-651-8811 Decorating & Interior Design SPIKE: Sean Cashin

**Mountain Showcase Group Nick Dionne 211 Sugarloaf Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 828-545-2831 Cabinets, Kitchen & Bath SPIKE: Katie Rice

**Jethro’s Johnnies, Inc. Jeff Moore 15020 NC Hwy 209 Hot Springs, NC 28943 828-622-9407 Portable Toiles SPIKE: Steve Wallin

**Nemec Construction, LLC Chris Nemec PO Box 300 Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-686-0621 Green Builder, Solar Homes SPIKE: Brenda Dunlap

**JSS Homes, LLC Dan Arrowood 16 Yorkshire Ct Candler, NC 28715 828-251-1958 Builder SPIKE: Judy Dinelle

**New South Construction Supply Jey Yates 9 N Kings Rd Greenville, SC 29621 864-269-7007 Handscape Products Waterproofing Supplies SPIKE: Jay Koehn

**Carolina Native Nursery Bill Jones 1126 Prices Creek Rd. Burnsville, NC 28714 828-684-1471 Landscape Materials Landscape,Lawn & Garden **Clearwater Well Dwelling, Inc Jeff Moore PO Box 71 Hot Springs, NC 28743 828-622-7241 Wells & Well Drilling SPIKE: Steve Wallin **Custom Granite & Marble, Inc George Douglas 16A Piney Park Rd Asheville, NC 28806 808-255-1855 Marble, Stone, Granite & Tile SPIKE: Kevin Abercrombie

**K2 Irrigation Services, Inc. Kevin McRae PO Box 698 Enka, NC 28728 828-633-0536 Landscape Contractors Landscape, Lawn & Garden SPIKE: Josh Abrams

**D & H Construction A. Houston Sullivan 34 Raleigh Road Asheville, NC 28803 828-335-9180 Carpenters, Framing Framing Contractor SPIKE: Kevin Abercrombie

**Ken Wilson Ford, Inc. Earl Wheless PO Box 869 Canton, NC 28716 828-648-2318 Auto & Truck Dealer, Auto & Truck Repair SPIKE: Brian Burpeau

**David Wall David Wall 71 Garden Circle Asheville, NC 28806 828-215-4200 Real Estate Sales & Maketing SPIKE: Terry Walton

**Keystone Kitchen & Bath David Gardner 1170 South Main St. Waynesville, NC 28786 828-452-4931 Cabinets Countertops SPIKE: Erin Spicher

**DRA Living, Inc. David Rand 900 Hendersonville Rd, Ste 301 Asheville, NC 28803 828-274-4699 Modular Homes SPIKE: Herb Freeman **Dwell/EcoHouse Realty Inc. Jack Bebber 135 Cherry St. Asheville, NC 28801 828-254-3334 SPIKE: Jill Jones

Bringing Professionalism to our Industry

**Medlock & Associates Engineering, PA John Squires 53 Asheland Ave., Suite 101 Asheville, NC 28801 828-232-4448 Engineers, House Plans & Design SPIKE: Jill Jones **MJO Industries, Inc Mark Olander 5 Summersweet Lane Asheville, NC 28803 828-712-1688 Builder Residental Remodeling - Builder SPIKE: Rich Kubica

**Preferred Properties of Asheville, Inc. Laura Livaudais 39 Woodfin St. Asheville, NC 28801 828-712-5445 Real Estate Sales & Maketing SPIKE: Jill Jones **Profiles In Wood Dawson Spano 76 Parker Drive Maggie Valley, NC 28751 828-734-4482 Builder SPIKE: Judy Dinelle **Red River, Inc. Mary Duffy 800 E. Fairview Rd., Suite 274 Asheville, NC 28803 828-298-9309 SPIKE: Brenda Dunlap **Robert J. Deutsch, P.A. Tikkun A.S. Gottschalk 75 North Market Street Asheville, NC 28801 828-251-0600 Attorneys SPIKE: Jill Jones **RockStar Marble & Granite Matt Olofson 6 Fairview Rd. Asheville, NC 28803 828-505-2137 Countertops Marble, Stone, Granite & Tile SPIKE: Sean Sullivan

[ member news ]

- Pending Members Continued **Scenic Wolf Development, LLC Rick Bussey 1915 Wolf Ridge Rd. Mars Hill, NC 28754 828-689-3600 Builder SPIKE: Chad Golden **Solarnomics (CM Wilson, Inc.) Chris Wilson PO Box 1270 Mars Hill, NC 28754 828-230-6238 Electrical Contractors, Solar Energy SPIKE: Herb Freeman **SoWachaWant Screen Printing Tracy Owens 20 Maple Street Fletcher, NC 28732 828-243-2482 Advertising & Specialties Signage SPIKE: Josh Abrams **Swannanoa Carpet City Don Robinson 2407 US Hwy. 70 Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-686-7356 Stairs & Stair Parts Flooring & Floor coverings SPIKE: Brian Burpeau **The Palmer Group Bobby Jones Two Town Sqare, Ste 200 Asheville, NC 28803 828-713-3929 Insurance SPIKE: Herb Freeman

**Tri-County Solutions Jon Hill 44 Buck Shoals Rd., Suite F-1 Arden, NC 28704 828-687-2654 Printing Signage SPIKE: Rich Kubica

**WNC Health Insurance Michael Breslin PO Box 2287 Skyland, NC 28776 828-681-8223 SPIKE: Herb Freeman

ISS Technologies Dave Heath 22 Business Park Circle Arden, NC 28704 828-684-4248 Structured Wiring Telephone & Communications SPIKE: Tom Rich

Binswanger Glass Co. David Pritchard 1194 Hendersonville Rd. Asheville, NC 28803 828-277-7599 Glass & Mirror Products Doors: Exterior & Interior SPIKE: Barbara Cerridwen

**Valley Glass and Mirror Monte Hensley PO Box 182 Black Mountain, NC 28711 828-215-9410 Glass & Mirror Products Custom Shower Doors SPIKE: Brian Burpeau **Alderman Custom Homes, LLC Bill Hanke PO Box 1548 Weaverville, NC 28787 828-380-1788 Commercial Remodeling Green Builder SPIKE: Brenda Dunlap **Viridis Building Elements Andy Sluder 825-C Merrimon Ave. #381 Asheville, NC 28804 828-400-7922 Building Materials: Home Centers Concrete, Specialty/Decorative SPIKE: Jim Demos

First Restoration Services of Asheville Shawn Silliman 173 Rutledge Rd Fletcher, NC 28732 828-684-1582 Repairs - Storm Damage/ Building Defects Water/Fire Damage SPIKE: Josh Abrams Hagemeyer North America Lee Harris 155 Jacob Holm Way Candler, NC 28715 828-255-2401 Safety Products SPIKE: Thomas McClain

North Carolina Farm Bureau Patrick Cusack PO Box 6955 Asheville, NC 28816 828-259-3883 Insurance SPIKE: Thomas McClain Willow Creek Homes LLC Jeff Wagner 1852 Brevard Rd Arden, NC 28704 828-650-6532 Builder Residential Remodeling Builder SPIKE: Robbie Vaughan WNC Ceramic Tile Inc. J.T. Barber 508 Swannanoa River Rd. Asheville, NC 28805 828-298-3251 Marble, Stone, Granite & Tile SPIKE: Sean Sullivan

**Thomas and Company Accounting Rhulon Todd Fowler 20 Harrison Street Asheville, NC 28801 828-776-8633 accounting/tax preparations SPIKE: Terry Walton

** Denotes a pending member who joined during the AHBA’s Fall Membership Drive, November 11 & 12, 2009.

- New Members PLEASE READ In compliance with our Bylaws and the policies which have been put in place by our Board of Directors and the Membership Committee, Association procedure is to have new member applications approved by the Board of Directors and by the General Membership. Please look at the list of Prospective Members. If you know of any compelling reason that any applicant should not be considered for membership, please contact any AHBA staff member at 828-299-7001 or email your comments to the AHBA at [email protected]. All information given to the AHBA is held strictly confidential.

To educate and engage new members within the association, we have a New Member Orientation. AHBA Members are required to attend the one hour New Member Orientation as the final step in the application process. Mueller Roofing Kristopher Joseph Mueller 7 Pine Ridge Rd Asheville, NC 28804 Roofing Contractor SPIKE: Greg Spicer

*Pending New Member Orientation Sherwin Williams Co Terri Kilmer 1068 Patton Ave. Asheville, NC 28805 Painting and Wallcovering suppliers Decorating & Interior Design www.AshevilleHBA.com |13

[ member news ]

- Sorry to See You Go! The AHBA is sorry to see the companies below drop their AHBA memberships. If you know these past members, or do business with them, give them a call and help us get them back to the AHBA! Target Builders Inc. Builder

Innovative Housing, LLC. Associate Member

Crest Mountain Condominiums, LLC Real Estate

Pinnacle Builders Western North Carolina Inc. Associate Member

Asheville Area Construction, Inc. Builder

Hammerhead Construction, Inc. Builder

- Renewing Members Asheville Elevator Company, Inc. Kevin Mathis PO Box 5863 Asheville, NC 28813 (828) 274-3633 Elevators/Platform and Stair Lifts

Forest Millwork, Inc. Tom Bader 93 Thompson St Asheville, NC 28803-2330 (828) 251-5264 Millwork, Moldings; Doors Cabinets

Hutton Vincent Williamson McLean Insurance Group Edward Newsome PO Box 20 Asheville, NC 28802-0020 (828) 253-2371 Insurance

Belco Electric Co. Milton Burris PO Box 969 Old Fort, NC 28762 (828) 582-4663 Electrical Contractors Electrical Suppliers

Griffin Waste Services, LLC Chad Griffin 402 Old Leicester Highway Asheville, NC 28806 (828) 281-4549 Waste Disposal

Mountain Home Systems Chad Helmuth 16 Westminster Drive Asheville, NC 28804 (828) 777-0657 Alarm & Security Systems Structured Wiring P. H. Construction, Inc.

Briarwood Construction Inc Steve Rogers PO Box 770 Arden, NC 28704-0770 (828) 684-6916 General Contractor

Haywood Appliance Keith Arnold PO Box 1079 Clyde, NC 28721 (828) 627-0001 Appliance Suppliers

High Country Homes Nancy Padgett Carolina Mountain Roofing & Co 9 Meadow Brook Dr Fletcher, NC 28732 Charles Patterson (828) 628-1771 PO Box 325 Custom Builder Candler, NC 28715-0325 Green Builder (828) 665-3091 Roofing Contractors Sheet Metal Fabricators Fairview Door Sales Co Robert McBrayer PO Box 190 Fairview, NC 28730-0190 (828) 628-2369 Garage Doors

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Holloway Plastering/Stucco Tim Holloway PO Box 159 Tuxedo, NC 28784-0159 (828) 779-5262 Stucco

Bringing Professionalism to our Industry

Patrick Hunt 88 Dearview Street Asheville, NC 28806-4557 (828) 776-0886 Builder Pella Window & Door Co Jorg Ronke 3 Design Ave Unit 103 Fletcher, NC 28732-7824 (828) 684-3389 Window Products Windows Pioneer Construction & Development, Inc.* Nathan Lawrence/Affiliate 133 Thompson St Unit F Asheville, NC 28803-1458 (828) 254-1536 Builder Green Builder

Quality Comfort Heating & Cooling, LLC Mikheil Lebed 38 Cane Brook Dr. Leicester, NC 28748 (828) 255-4659 Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors Showcase Exteriors Maria Horton 618 Rose Hill Rd Asheville, NC 28803-8545 (828) 298-1700 Remodeling Services Southern Concrete Materials Dave Davis PO Box 5395 Asheville, NC 28813 (704) 692-6517 Concrete Suppliers Stills Stone Co Don Stills PO Box 39 Fairview, NC 28730-0039 (704) 628-3455 The Colorful Palate Tara Letts P.O. Box 1054 Asheville, NC 28802 (828) 242-3352 Caterer Westall-Chandley Inc Jill Jones PO Box 5755 Asheville, NC 28813-5755 (828) 253-5331 Building Materials: Home Centers

[ AHBA Nation ]

Christmas Gala to be Party of the Year at Biltmore’s Lioncrest

The AHBA will have the annual Christmas Gala at the Lioncrest at the Biltmore Estate this year. What has traditionally been a sit-down dinner, will now be a cocktail party brimming with festive drinks and heavy hors’ d’ourves. The evening will begin at 6:30 pm with a private party for our top SPIKE’s, 2009 Foundation Club Members, and Board of Directors, and will officially open for the General Membership at 7:30 pm. We will have an hour of networking and refreshments before the band begins and shifts the party atmosphere into a dancing mood. The band, A Social Function, is well-known in Asheville for their extreme talent and wide variety of musical selections.

AHBA NATION

Tickets for all AHBA members, including Affiliates, are FREE to attend this magical evening at the Biltmore Estate. Spouses and guests of AHBA Members are $65, with an RSVP required for everyone attending. Dress will be cocktail attire, please feel free to come in your holiday best!

We look forward to spending the evening with our members, as we celebrate the closure of another wonderful year with the best homebuilding professionals in Western North Carolina! Mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss this enchanting event at the Biltmore Estate!

2008 AHBA Christmas Gala

AHBA Nation Member Spotlight

Name/Title: a Herb Freeman Business Name: Herbert C. Freeman, CPA, PC Member for 8 years!

How did your company get started? I started in public accounting 14 years ago and became involved in the AHBA 8 years ago. Prior to becoming a CPA I worked in the construction industry and felt I needed to continue my involvement with the industry after becoming a CPA. What makes your company unique? Being a small CPA firm has unique challenges but we have been able to overcome these hurdles through quality procedures and practices, we also have created alliances with others in the industry to meet the needs of our clients. In addition, our billing practices allow us to serve our clients on a proactive basis versus reactive therefore eliminating many problems or potential issues.

What has been your greatest business success? My greatest business success was creating a business model that does not consume my personal life. My family life is extremely important to me and I will not allow my business to consume all of my time and energy. Creating a quality balance between work and personal life allows me to enjoy owning a business, serving my clients, and being a husband and father. What do you like about doing business in Asheville? Asheville has such a variety of business and people, it allows you an opportunity serve a broad base of clients but at the same time it is small enough to know people in the community. What kind of business does your business attract? Our business looks for clients who appreciate and value the service we provide and want to build a long-term relationship. We are not in the business of just preparing tax returns but becoming an advisor that is available all year. The type of clients we have range from the single college student to companies with revenue in excess of $10M. Each client is made to feel as if they are my best client because without them my business would not be successful. How does your business positively contribute to the Asheville Community? I like to think we contribute to the community by offering a quality service at a very reasonable price. In addition, we provide accounting services to some very needed organizations such as Asheville Pregnancy Support Services and Experiencing God Through Missions. Phone: 828-684-4501

Location: 10D Herman Ave Ext, Asheville 28803; P.O. Box 2170 Skyland, 28776 www.AshevilleHBA.com |15

Asheville Home Builders Association PO Box 9722 Asheville, NC 28815

[ inside this issue ] Calendar ........................ 2 Committee Update .......... 3 Builders Issues .............. 4-5 Member News ........... 6-14 AHBA Nation ................ 15 Blueprints is an award-winning publication! 2008 STARS Award (NCHBA) 2008 Association Excellence Award (NAHB)

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