Tax Credits

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) lobbied for an extension of the "First Time Buyer New Home Tax Credit" and won!!!! The extension is through April 30, 2010. And there's a bonus to the bill. There is a tax credit for anyone who buys another home and has lived in their current one over 5 years. The first-time tax credit is $8000, and the repeat buyer tax credit is $6500.

This tax credit extension has a two-pronged affect. First, it will encourage those young first-time buyers to buy a home, either a new one or an existing one. They might not have otherwise made this purchase. A current home owner is encouraged to move to a new home now, that might have otherwise waited. These two factors create a demand on the surplus of new homes, and will remove them from the market. There has been a "pent-up" demand for over a year, and the extension of tax credits will help release it. The tax credit will bring the supply and demand closer together, for a more even flow in 2010.

Three cheers and a tip of the hat to NAHB!!!!! Thanks!

Product EXPO - October 22

Houston - The Product EXPO at the Sam Houston Racetrack on October 22 was an excellent success. Thanks so much to all the GHBA builders who came by and talked to me about hurricane tie downs and the Cabletite system for uplift protection. Mr. Jay Conner with MLAW Engineering in Austin helped me man the booth and was also thankful for those who came by the discuss windstorm engineering.

We had some displays available for demonstration of the cable attachment to the anchor bolts and the top plate and the vise that holds the cable. There were several who asked how the cable meets construction codes for high-wind areas. With it's 3200 lb hold-down strength, it far exceeds codes requirements, and is much more robust than hurricane clips. We look forward to working with several new home builders in the Houston area in the weeks and months ahead.

Fred Yate's home

A few days ago I re-visited Fred Yates home on Lake Park Drive. You might remember that we installed over 60 Cable-Tite in his new home in April. For whatever reason, he was just now closing the walls, which worked to our advantage. The Cable-Tite product had been installed approx 4 1/2 months. And every cable was still "cable-tight".

There's a lot of talk in the industry about accumulated compression. Cable-Tite does not have an issue with this problem. First of all, the cables were installed in his house about a month after framing, which we suggest for best results. But even so, accumulated compression will continue for 3-6 months after framing. There was no noticeable change in the pretensioned cables.

It confirmed our claim that there is no need for adjustment after installation. As you know, metal hurricane clips bend, bow, or loosen during accumulated compression. This issue is exaggerated by installing the clips the next day after framing, when there is no accumulated compression. Typical compression is between 1/4 and 3/8 per story. In a two-story house the metal clips at the sil plate could be bent as much as 1/2 inch. If so, the clips have lost much of their hold-down value. Threaded rods can be a better alternative, but they require an adjustment in the attic 4-6 months later, and maybe again a year later.

After my visit to Fred Yate's house I'm even more "sold" that Cable-Tite is the best high-wind and hurricane tie-down system available for uplift protection. And did I mention.....easy to install.

Be prepared

No one wants to face a hurricane, but we are in the midst of hurricane season, and we ought to "be prepared". Here are some tips I thought were helpful. Remember the best preparation is building a solid, sound home when it's sunny so it will withstand the hurricane. This includes Cable-Tite, the BEST in hurricane tie-down systems for high-wind uplift protection!!!

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reminds residents in hurricane-prone areas to monitor weather reports and to take time to prepare as storm activity increases in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Now is the moment to take stock in determining what the needs are for your family and loved ones should conditions of these storms increase in intensity. Families should always have a disaster plan that includes kits with necessary supplies to last for at least three days. Weather systems such as the ones we are currently tracking can change their status quickly. It is just as important to stay informed about local weather conditions and pay attention to emergency information from state, local and tribal officials.

FEMA recommends taking these steps to prepare for hurricanes:
1. Develop a family disaster plan and know how to stay safe in a hurricane. Discuss what your family should do when a hurricane comes ashore and where you might go in an evacuation - to a shelter, hotel or to stay with family or friends. Don't forget about pets. Many shelters will not permit them, so plan in advance what to do with them.
2. Know and review your evacuation routes and never drive through high water.
3. Develop a family communication plan. Identify a friend or relative in another state or city to serve as a point of contact in case family members are separated.
4. Put together a disaster kit and store it in a portable container in case of evacuation. The kit should include:
At least a three-day supply of food and bottled water for each family member;
Battery-powered radio and flashlights with extra batteries;
First aid kit with family members' medications;
A manual can opener;
Emergency contact list and phone numbers;
Hygiene and personal care items;
Pet supplies;
Copies of important papers and
Emergency cash or credit card in the case of an evacuation with little notice.

Clipped to death!

Notice anything here????? Clips, straps, clips, straps, more clips, more straps. It's clipped to death. This house has so much metal it'll be destroyed in a magnet storm.

Notice the straps are bowed or buckled. Do you know why??? They were attached just after framing and prior to any accumulated compression, and either the nails become loose or the metal buckles when the weight of the house compresses and wood shrinks. You can imagine how "wonderful" the sheetrock looks!

There's a better way to have hurricane uplift protection. Cable-Tite. It's twice as robust, hidden in the walls, easy to install, sheetrock hangers love it, and holds up well in a heavy magnet storm.

What is an upgrade worth?

What's an upgrade worth???

I see builders advertising features about their homes, and I ask why they have added features that cost them money? For example, they offer a super-duper dishwasher, when they could buy the cheaper contractor dishwasher. Why?

Obviously, there is value to an "upgrade". There is a real value and a perceived value. The extra $50 spent on the dishwasher will add $200 to the asking price of the house. But who knows the perceived value. The home buyer sees this upgrade along with others and perceives that the builder is concerned about building a better house. When there's a decision between homes, the one with the better perception wins! And the builder knows that.

What's the difference in upgrading the hurricane and high-wind uplift protection with cable tie-downs. Is the thought that this is unseen so it's un-important. This is an added feature that the builder can use as an asset to the home. He could have installed a "good" system, but he installed the best system, Cable-tite. Chances are there are other "hidden" features to the construction that can also be mentioned.

Don't be afraid of costs. Features cost money. But they also reap rewards. Features add a ROI much greater than the cost, both in real dollars and in perceived value. Realtors tell me all the time that a home that is built better is easier to sell. Builders.....don't be afraid to build better than you need to.

THANKS, Houston

THANKS to everyone who made me feel so welcome in Houston Aug 3-7, and to all those who had such interest in our Cable-tite hurricane tie-down system. I had the opportunity to meet a number of builders, both large and small. And everyone had a welcome and nice word to say about our high-wind uplift protection. I also met engineers who loved our system because it ties the house to the foundation with the anchor bolts.

A huge thanks to Lisa and D'Nita at GHBA. They were so helpful with suggestions about how they could help through GHBA. By my second visit, I felt right at home. Thanks for introducing me to so many people in the Houston home building market. We have volunteered to help and donate for the Benefit House, and want to participate in the upcoming Product Expo.

We are anxious to get started with projects in Houston. We will work with the developers/home builders any way needed to move forward with Cable-tite.