Building Homes, Enriching Communities, Changing Lives
The Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland represents Northeast Ohio's network of craftsmen, innovators and problem solvers dedicated to building and enriching communities.
Latest News
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Alabama Building Camp Introduces Middle School Girls to the Trades
The Baldwin County Home Builders Association (BCHBA) recently completed its first Baldwin Girls Build Camp to introduce local girls to opportunities in the home building industry. The concept for the Baldwin Girls Build Camp stemmed from the chartering of a Professional Women in Building (PWB) chapter at BCHBA in June 2022. “Those members wanted to get more women involved in the industry and started thinking, ‘What can we do?'” shared Marsha Jordan, BCHBA executive vice president. “But instead of going after women, they said, ‘We need to start with younger girls' and decided to start a camp.” Jordan and local PWB Chair Nancy Grace requested space from the local school board — which has two technical facilities in the north and south areas of the county — to host the camp. The school board not only provided the facilities, but was also able to provide funding for the instructors, field trips, additional staff and materials. Local PWB members also sponsored the cost of food and snacks so that the HBA was able to provide the opportunity to the campers for free. The initial weeklong program hosted 18 middle school girls from rising 7th through 9th grades, with a goal to introduce them to the trades and provide them with a hands-on project that they could take home at the end of the week. The campers were able to construct a lamp from scratch, as well as create a toolbox and laser engravings. Speakers throughout the week introduced the campers to all facets of the home building industry, including skilled trades as well as areas such as home mortgages and insurance, and shared their journeys as women in the industry. “Our PWB volunteers were ecstatic with how much fun they had with these girls,” said Jordan. On day four of camp, the campers took a field trip to lumber supplier Swift Supply, two homes sites — one completed, one under construction — and the 2023 Parade of Homes Showcase Home by Lemongrass Construction, and a tour of Coastal Stone and Cabinetry, where they competed in a group-based bathroom design contest that was judged by the employees. Additional activities included an egg drop, scavenger hunt to identify the tools they had been working with, and a parent showcase on the final day of camp. Planning has already begun on next year's camp, which may coincide with the opening of Baldwin Preparatory, a new technical school in the county that will house a variety of trades both within and outside the home building industry. The instructors are eager to help get the program in place, Jordan said. “They enjoyed it as much as the kids did,” she added.
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Army Corps Official Signals Next Steps in WOTUS Rulemaking
During a June 22 congressional hearing on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) FY 2024 budget request, it was revealed that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Corps would use an administrative rulemaking process called “direct final rule” to expedite a new "waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) rule following the Supreme Court's Sackett ruling. Testifying before the congressional panel, Michael Connor, Assistant Secretary U.S. Army Civil Works, revealed the Corps and EPA plan to issue a new regulatory definition of WOTUS under the Clean Water Act (CWA) that will become effective soon after issuance, provided the agencies do not receive adverse comment. If the agencies receive adverse public comments, then they would proceed with the traditional public notice-and-comment rulemaking process for the revised WOTUS regulatory definition. While Connor did not specify the contents of this direct final WOTUS rule, it was understood that EPA and the Corps would issue a regulatory definition of WOTUS that the agencies believe is consistent with the Sackett ruling. Furthermore, as stated by Connor, the Corps has stopped processing requests for approved jurisdictional determinations (AJDs) and CWA 404 permits based on an approved jurisdictional determination. Notably, under the approach announced yesterday, neither the Corps nor EPA would issue any interim regulatory guidance directing the Corps districts to resume processing approved AJDs or issuing new CWA 404 permits until this rulemaking process is completed. The Corp and EPA are developing a rule to amend the final revised definition of WOTUS and intend to issue a final rule by Sept. 1, 2023. View NAHB's WOTUS webpage where additional information will be posted on the timing and content of this upcoming rulemaking.
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New Home Sales Jump in May
A lack of existing inventory coupled with solid consumer demand helped to boost new home sales in May to their highest level since February 2022. Sales of newly built, single-family homes in May increased 12.2% to a 763,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. “Demand for new homes is strengthening because of a lack of existing home inventory,” said Alicia Huey, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a custom home builder and developer from Birmingham, Ala. “And while builders continue to grapple with elevated construction costs, an encouraging sign is a big gain in home sales priced in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range. In May 2022, just 5,000 homes sold in this range and that total increased to 12,000 in May 2023.” “The lack of resale homes available for sale, at just a three months' supply, is supporting demand for newly built homes,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “New home inventory was 31% of total inventory in May. Historically it is typically 10% to 15%. Further, the pace of resales is down 20% from a year ago, while the rate of new home sales is up 20% from a year ago.” A new home sale occurs when a sales contract is signed or a deposit is accepted. The home can be in any stage of construction: not yet started, under construction or completed. In addition to adjusting for seasonal effects, the May reading of 763,000 units is the number of homes that would sell if this pace continued for the next 12 months. New single-family home inventory in May was 428,000, down 2.9% compared to a year ago. This is down to a more balanced 6.7 months' supply at the current building pace, despite tight existing home supply conditions. A measure near a 6 months' supply is considered balanced. The median new home sale price in May was $416,300, down 7.6% compared to a year ago. Regionally, on a year-to-date basis, new home sales are up 0.8% in the Northeast and 1.6% in the South. New home sales are down 2.5% in the Midwest and 20.7% in the affordability-challenged West.
Job Board
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Sales Consultant
So, you’ve earned your degree or maybe you already have great experience. How will you use your passion to reach your goals while potentially making six figures a year? At K.Hovnanian, our passion is to improve the lives of families, friends, neighbors, and community by building amazing new homes and communities. Our new homes help people from all walks of life achieve their dream of homeownership. They are where people will raise a family, share memories and traditions, and plot the course of their future. Over 300,000 families have put their dreams in our hands. And we want YOU to help us change the world for the better one home at a time.
What You’ll Do:
• You’ll greet and tour clients through model homes and quick-move-in homes demonstrating plans, features, and pricing
• You’ll connect and build relationships with Realtors to drive prospects and referrals; set appointments; and drive home sales
• You’ll Process purchase agreements and supporting documentation
• You’ll actively monitor competition and market tends including pricing, product details, sales pace and incentives for competitors and resale homes
• You’ll generate leads and prospects through social media and community events.
• You’ll perform all follow up to convert leads and prospects to sales and to ensure successful closings and client experience -
Procurement Coordinator
We know that BUILDING HOMES & COMMUNITIES BEGINS WITH BUILDING THE BEST TEAM!
How would you like to be a part of team that has been providing the American Dream of homeownership to families for more than 60 years?PulteGroup is a FORTUNE 500 company and one of America’s top residential builders. We put the consumer at the center of everything we do and we stand above the competition in our commitment to quality.
Our Vision is to Build Consumer Inspired Homes & Communities to Make Lives Better and we believe that success starts with having the right people.
At PulteGroup, we are committed to diversity and inclusion. We value the differences of each employee and understand that being consumer inspired means that we reflect the diversity of the consumers we serve.
A position with PulteGroup offers a rich, fulfilling and rewarding career across multiple geographies and brands. If you are interested in being a part of our team, let’s talk about your career with PulteGroup!
JOB SUMMARY:
Primary responsibility for administering budgets and contracts, generating reports, and other key administrative processes of community maintenance and contract administration.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
?- Set up all new communities, plans and vendors in the purchasing system.
- Input all plan budget information into the purchasing system and generate and distribute Schedule A contracts. Review and ensure accuracy.
- Maintain plan budgets through the contract change process. Ensure all budgets and affected lots are updated according to the contract change request.
- Administer color set up for all new communities. Maintain colors and color items in system for specified communities after launch.
- Track trade partner insurance compliance.
- Setup and maintain rebate tracking system for specified communities.
- Conduct a monthly review and submission of rebate tracking system data.
- Utilize enterprise Purchasing and Accounting systems to input received data and generate and distribute reports.
- Maintain the Pulte construction item catalog, if applicable.
- Support the vendor payment inquiry process through the review and validation of contract status and amount. Work in conjunction with the National Financial Services group and Division/Area teams.
- Perform record retention duties as assigned.
- Report generation as assigned.
- Performs related administrative/clerical duties as assigned.
SCOPE:
- Decision Impact: Individual
- Department Responsibility: None
- Budgetary Responsibility: No
- Direct Reports: No
- Indirect Reports: No -
Construction Manager
The Construction Manager is responsible for managing and overseeing the construction of homes in assigned community(s) to ensure cost, schedule and quality standards are met. Manages all construction activities for assigned homes, assists in the scheduling of homes, supervises trade partner’s work, maintains the overall community job sites for safety and appearance and is responsible for the customer experience throughout the building process.
Construction Managament Responsibitlies:- Oversee the scheduling and supervision of daily trade partner activities and evaluates the quality and efficiency of their work.
- Reviews and requests modifications to construction drawings when construction conflicts arise.
- Evaluates project schedules and will update and determine appropriate modifications to project schedule and resources to reflect project's needs as they arise to ensure timely completion
- Takes affirmative action to make sure each home is complete on schedule & ensures all contract obligations & safety protocols are satisfied. Stops any work that is not satisfactory or noncompliant with plans, specifications, or applicable code.
- Manage the customer experience throughout the entire construction process, including regular communications to keep them informed of progress and taking action and negotiating solutions to address any concerns.
- Interact with Community Sales personnel to manage community performance and customer activities.
- Complete daily inspections to ensure job sites adhere to state, federal and company safety and SWPPP standards. Take immediate action, including adjusting the construction process or shutting down work if necessary, to achieve a safe working environment and comply with requirements.
- Negotiate, create, and authorize field purchase orders for materials and labor resources as needed.
- Inspect and determine whether trade partner workmanship and product quality is completed on time and within defined scope of work. Authorize payment to trade partner when all standards are met.
- Collaborate with the Product Development, Process Improvement, Resource Planning and Purchasing teams to address areas of improvement on plan quality, schedule adherence and budgetary challenges.
- Evaluate work of trade partner to ensure work complies with local, state and federal building code requirements and company standards of workmanship.
- Participates in trade partner recruiting and vetting.
Level: Mentor / Coach / Feedback
Without Direct Reports
• Directs, schedules, evaluates, and manages the work of trade partners. Will provide recommendations for the dismissal or continued engagement of trade partners.
With Direct Reports
• Hires, terminates, and evaluates the performance of Assistant Construction Managers. Utilizes recruiting and selection tools/processes to build organizational talent
• Delegates work according to employee’s abilities and skills
• Evaluates employee’s performance and plans for compensation actions and promotions in accordance with that performance
• Provides developmental opportunities through identification of internal and external training opportunities
• Creates opportunities for employee growth
• Provides continuous coaching with regard to functional and leadership standards (technical skills and behaviors)
Scope:
(decision making, size of organization, budgetary etc.)
• Decision Impact: Community/Division
• Department Responsibility: Single
• Community Budgetary Responsibility: Yes
• House Budget Adherence Responsibility: Yes
• Direct Reports: Yes
• Physical Requirements: Position involves sitting, standing and/or movement, the ability to exert minimal force of up to 50 pounds and occasionally exert up to 80 pounds of minimal force to carry, lift, push, pull and otherwise move objects. Must be able to climb ladders, scaffolding and other means to reach and observe all areas of building.
• Ability to work in various weather conditions – heat, rain, cold, etc.
