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Week of March 10, 2003

Front Page

President's Message

* Welcome to NBN Online

Housing Forum

* Tell Builders Where the Owls Are

Regulation

* INS Withdraws Rule That Would Have Clouded Foreigners' U.S. Vacation Plans
* California Lawmaker Tackles Regulatory Barriers to Housing

Housing Politics

* Economy Needs Boost From Bush Tax Plan, Builders Say
* Lumber Talks Hit a Bump in the Road
* Bankruptcy Reform Housing Provisions Supported
* Congress Approves Housing Spending Measures
* Government Procurement an Opportunity for Home Builders

Smart Growth

* Federal Involvement in Land Use Decisions Blasted
* Builder Appointed to Land Use Council

Housing and Economics

* Spotlight on: Columbia, SC

Sales & Marketing

* Manufacturers Can Be Rewarding Partners
* Winners of The Nationals Represent New Marketing Trends

Codes and Standards

* Building Codes Merger a Big Plus for Builders
* Action Kit Helps Fight Floodplain Regulation Changes

Construction Safety

* Toolbox Talk: If Your Home Owner Needs Railings, So Do You

Environment

* Clean Water Bill Fails to Address Wetlands Concerns

Labor

* Female U.S. Veterans Pursue Careers in Housing
* HBI a One-Stop Resource for Work Force Needs

Multifamily

* Effort Seeks Increase of Affordable Rental Housing Supply

For Consumers

* High Ceilings Increasingly Popular

Building News Coast To Coast

Association News & Events

* More ‘Building Homes of Our Own’ CD-ROMs on the Way
* Calendar of Events
* 2003 NAHB Leadership

NBN Back Issues

 

Spotlight on: Columbia, SC

Local HBA:
    Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia  
President:
    Andrew D. White, CEO of Palmetto Traditional Homes
Executive Officer:
    Earl McLeod, BIAE 
Membership:
    1,123

By Earl McLeod, EO of the HBA of Greater Columbia

Vital Stats:

  • Metro population:  536,691
  • Price range for starter homes:  $90,000-$115,000
  • Price range for trade-up homes:  $135,000-$300,000
  • 2002 housing permits:
    • 4,422 single-family detached units
    • 364 multifamiy units 


Outlook for 2003:

Early indications are for a good-to-strong market, about even with production totals from last year or possibly down just a hair.


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Biggest source of concern for area home builders:

We have two major concerns. There is a lack of new jobs in the Columbia economy. Also, there are increased government regulation and fees as a result of growth management plans.

Market trends:

A big push to build active-adult communities in the last year now seems to be winding down. The starter homes market is very strong — first-time buyers make up about 60%-65% of the marketplace. Meanwhile, homes in the upper price ranges are moving slower. Traditional homes are very popular here, with lots of brick exteriors — which makes sense because we have two brick manufacturers in the area. We’re seeing more vinyl siding on homes in the lower price ranges.”

Infill development (making use of unused or underused properties in close-in neighborhoods and other already-developed areas) is very limited. But where builders have managed to make it happen, it has been quite successful. However, neighborhood resistance is high, especially resistence to higher density building such as attached homes and apartments.


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