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News, Announcements & Commentary
(11-22-13) Why It Takes So Long to Build a Bridge in America - "Regulatory review is supposed to serve a free society, not paralyze it." WSJ, Philip K. Howard.
(10-21-13) How Long Does it Take to Build a House? - NAHB, Eye on Housing blog
(10-18-13) CT Housing Still Expensive, Still Scarce - CT News Junkie
(10-17-13) Tax Foundation Ranks CT in Bottom 10 of all States
(10-16-13) Governor Malloy announces public review process to streamline government, create jobs and improve services for residents - Executive Order 37 requires each state agency to review its regulations for any that are outdated, unnecessarily burdensome, insufficient, or ineffective.
(10-16-13) HBRA CT Green Homes Council Chairman, Pete Fusaro, Preferred Builders Inc., wins big at DOE Challenge Home Builder Awards.
(9-19-13) Energize Connecticut - Save money through energy efficiency programs. See YouTube video on how it works.
(9-19-13) Connecticut Needs a Better Value Proposition - by Douglas G. Fisher
(9-13-13) - Members-Only: An alert regarding employee notices under the ACA, required by Oct. 1, 2013, was sent to all members via email. If you did not receive it, please contact us.
(9-13-13) - "STEP-UP" EMPLOYER CONFERENCES" - free informational conferences, held Oct. 3, 8 and 23, presented by the Department of Labor for area companies seeking to learn more about tax credits, wage subsidy and training programs, recruitment services, new healthcare guidelines, and a variety of other services designed to benefit local employers.
(8-29-13) State proposes to adopt the 2013 Amendments to the 2005 State Building Code by Dec. 31, 2013, incorporating the 2009 IRC, 2009 IECC, 2011 NEC and other model codes, as amended with this 2013 adoption. Where to obtain the State Building Code (members only).
(8-26-13) July housing permits released for Connecticut. January through July shows 10.3% increase over same period in 2012 - a slow down from the earlier in the year; still a long way to go to get back to healthy growth levels.
(8-22-13) Green Home Builder magazine - highlights the Performance Home in Greenwich, built by HBRA CT member and Green Home Council Chairman, Peter Fusaro.
(8-12-13) 2nd Quarter 2013 Market Report for CT (Members Only) - "Connecticut buyers are returning to ..."
(8-7-13) How Did Rich Connecticut Morph Into One Of America's Worst Performing Economies? - by Jim Powell, Forbes.
(7-10-13) CNBC's ranking of 51 measures of business competitiveness has CT at 45 out of 50 in its "America's Top States for Business 2013" - see 50 state breakdown.
(7-2-13) State agency regulations are now online: click here - result of Public Act 13-274
(6-27-13) HBRACT, DEEP and CT Fund for Environment settled cross intervention petitions challenging DEEP's construction stormwater general permit (SW GP). The new permit, issued July 1, 2013, is effective Oct. 1, 2013, and registrations filed during July and August 2013, and later of course, must come under the new GP. And, current registrations under the prior general permit MUST REREGISTER by February 1, 2014. See DEEP's Stormwater Management webpage. PowerPoint slides outlining the new SW GP.
(6-26-13) U.S. Supreme Court issues major property rights decision in Koontz v. St. Johns Water Management District. A huge victory for property owners, the Court held that the Constitution's Takings Clause can be violated in situations where a development permit is denied because the property owner refuses to accept extortionist permit conditions as well as when a permit is issued with such conditions attached. Also, the Takings Clause applies equally to both land and monetary exactions.
(6-19-13) PRESS RELEASE: Builder William A. Ferrigno Receives State Trade Association's Highest Honor
(6-19-13) PRESS RELEASE: Home Builders & Remodelers Association of CT Honors Three State Legislators
(May 2013) Connecticut Economic Outlook - "Connecticut’s economy is recovering slowly, very slowly, well behind national recovery. ..."
(5-13-13) CT is 45th Best State for Business in 2013 - A survey of 700 CEOs shows CT has a reputation for a good labor force and high quality of living but they cannot overcome adverse tax and regulatory nightmares for business
(5-6-2013) Reminder: Employers Must Use New I-9 Form After May 7 to Verify Employment Eligibility
(4-29-13) The Triumph of Suburbia - article by Joel Kotkin, New Geography ; Excerpt: "... A funny thing happened on the way to the long-trumpeted triumph of the city: the suburbs not only survived but have begun to regain their allure as Americans have continued aspiring to single-family homes."
(2-1-13) Housing Permits in CT through December 2012 released - while statewide 2012 experienced a 46% increase in permits over 2011, half of all new housing permits are for multifamily units, and many new permits were concentrated in a handful of municipalities, meaning most CT municipalities experienced little to no growth in 2012 ...
(1-23-13) ANSI Approves Next Generation of the ICC 700-National Green Building Standard - from NAHB
(1-22-13) Newly Published Qualified Mortgage Rule Strikes Good Balance - from NAHB
(1-14-13) Roger Kimball: This Metamorphosis Will Require a Permit - Wall Street Journal
(1-10-13) US EPA started mailing postcard warnings to home improvement contractors who have yet to be certified under the agency's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule
(11-28-12) Reuse Marketplace - "A free regional network to find, sell, trade, or give away reusable and surplus items that would otherwise be disposed as trash...."
Housing's Impact on CT's Economy (1 pg summary), presentation by NAHB's Senior Economist, Elliot Eisenberg, to CT's legislature; Presentation Slides; backup REPORT; COSTS
NAHB's Eye on Housing blog
Need help from our Builder, Remodeler or Associate members? Click this link to search for a member in your area
CT Market Reports (Members Only); CT Housing Permits
American made products list for homes
Learn more about Building Green Homes the right way, the cost effective way
Regulatory Hurdles & Opportunities
HBRACT's e-newsletter ("Punch List") exclusively for all members
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