Barry Rutenberg Fulfills Date with Destiny
For the first time in nearly a quarter-century, Florida will be represented on the Senior Officers team of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) as Gainesville builder Barry Rutenberg won the position of NAHB Third Vice Chairman in a competitive election with Chicago builder Marsha Elliott on January 22, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Jeb Bush Would Have Inside Track to Senate
As it becomes increasing obviously that the actions of our federal government – for better or worse – will play a huge role in shaping the future of the construction industry, Mel Martinez’s recent announcement that he will not seek re-election in to the United States Senate in 2010 should be met with more than just passing interest. U.S. Senators are among the most powerful people in the world and stand, with state Governors, as the most likely individuals to become President.
Crisis Reveals Best Of Leadership, Staff
Remember as a kid when you’d come home from school and your Mom and Dad would ask: “Well, what did you learn today?” Some days, it wasn’t the easiest question to answer. But last week, as I watched our FHBA Senior Officers and staff in action on the front lines of an important industry battle, there were lots of lessons learned.
FHBA-NAHB: A Deal at Just 64 Cents a Day
It happens more often than it should. A member of a local HBA Board of Directors, more than likely one who’s never been to a state or national builders’ meeting, looks at the $85 per member per year in dues that goes to the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) and the $150 portion that goes to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and asks – no, questions – whether the members are getting their money’s worth.
Tell Me: Who’s Going To Bail Out Builders?
With all the news coming out of our nation’s capital in recent weeks, I just have one question: who’s going to bail out the builders?
Lenders and Builders Must Work Together
The legendary thief Willie Sutton once was asked why he robbed banks, to which he replied "because that's where the money is." And those of us who remember the movie Jerry Maguire recall the now-famous line "Show me the money!" Personally, I'm always amused who someone suggests "now this is not about the money" when we both know darn well that it is."
Survivors Will Enjoy Rewards of Recovery
On November 13, 1993, Florida State University’s unbeaten and No. 1-ranked football team took its national championship hopes to South Bend, Indiana for a classic match-up against second-ranked Notre Dame in the shadows of the Golden Dome. The Seminoles lost a hard-fought, down-to-the wire game. Afterwards, a reporter, fully expecting to mine the depths of disappointment, shoved a microphone into the face of FSU quarterback Charlie Ward, who instead shrugged off the loss and quickly put it in perspective with the question: “Nobody died did they?”
Loyalty is Love Is ‘Must Read’ Book
Doesn’t it just stop you in your tracks when you read that the marriage counselor is getting a divorce, that the nutritionist has clogged arteries, or that sweet “Miss Manners” is given to uncontrollable fits of rage? All too many people in our world set themselves up as experts but fail to walk the talk.
Roy T. Dye: A Life Worth Remembering
It will happen more and more… the passing of people who made an incredible impact on our industry and our association. In many cases, I watched them perform from the best seat in the house then probed their hearts and minds for what made them tick… and what made them special.
DeVoe Moore Pushes Use of Sensible Solar
If billionaire investor Warren Buffet is the “Oracle of Omaha,” surely DeVoe Moore is the “Titan of Tallahassee,” a man of incredible strength, passion, and intellect, and one who, like the giants of Greek mythology, questioned the bureaucratic system.
Builders Adopting Survival Techniques
In retrospect, we were naïve to believe that the good times in the Florida home building industry would last forever. When you are selling homes as fast as you can build them, the last thing on your mind is that the housing bubble will burst.
Power of Nice Can Make a Difference
The old Chicago Cubs manager Leo Durocher coined the term "Nice guys finish last." It cannot be denied that success in the construction business requires a certain psychological toughness to cope with insidious regulations, Murphy’s Law, and clients from hell… not to mention the latest housing downturn that arrived, quite starkly, like a thief in the night.
Florida Trend Portrays An Industry Challenge
By now, many of you may have read this month’s Florida Trend cover feature entitled “Unfinished Business,” a seven-page report on housing consumers across the state who have suffered because builders didn’t meet their obligations when the housing economy turned sour. Some builders walked away from unfinished homes. Some were allegedly guilty of construction defects. Some filed bankruptcy.
Rutenberg, Tritt Made Unique Contributions
The Florida Housing Hall of Fame is richer today thanks to the election of Gainesville builder Barry Rutenberg and Jacksonville association manager Arnold Tritt.
Impact Fees Hurting Our Competitiveness
Florida builders have complained for years that escalating impact fees are detrimental to affordable housing in the Sunshine State. Now, it’s obvious those same fees are contributing to a lack of competitiveness with non-Florida areas in attracting opportunities, businesses and jobs.
Builders Deserve Better Treatment
Let’s assume your grandmother is 80 years old and you are unquestionably her very favorite (and perhaps only) grandson or granddaughter. Granddad, rest his soul, had three pensions, a big life insurance policy, and some great investments. Without sounding crass, Granny is, well, loaded. Cash. Stocks. Bonds. Mutual funds. Condo on the coast. And there’s a good chance you’re in line for a share of the inheritance.
Reasons for Optimism In Challenging Times
You know things are bad when builders who usually talk about how many homes they sold in recent weeks are breaking out the champagne bottles over even the slightest increase in traffic at their models.
Jim Shimberg Offered His Heart To Housing
The Florida Home Builders Association lost a true icon late last week with the passing of Tampa builder-developer James H. “Jim” Shimberg.
Sprinkler, Immigration Battles Far From Over
We can take great pride and pleasure in our recent national-level, twin victories to defeat both a bad immigration bill and a proposal to mandate residential sprinklers in the International Residential Code. But the celebrations should be brief because these issues, and their threat to our industry, are far from dead.