NAHB
Bolstered by affordable interest rates and low prices, nationwide housing affordability during the second quarter of 2009 continued to hover near its highest level since the series began 18 years ago, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) released today. ...More

NAHB
As signs of a housing recovery slowly start to emerge, stronger builders are begining to consider when they can safely begin putting money back into their business and re-invest their equity so they can position their company to take advantage of any upticks in the market. ...More

The registration fee for the Southern Utah Building Industry Conference goes up after September 7th! Register now to save money! Keynote speaker will be Attorney General Mark Shurtleff who will discuss sub-prime mortgages and the economic collapse, actions against mortgage companies, the free market and the rule of law.
 

What You Gain:

• Continuing Education: Contractors complete all your continuing education requirements in one day! State requirements must be met by November 30, 2009.
• Networking Opportunity: Get acquainted with your peers in the industry at breakfast, lunch, during classes, and at the popular Ultimate Home Expo. All of this is included with the conference fee!

• Only 15 SUHBA Scholarships Left! The first 50 SUHBA member companies to register and pay for the conference will receive a $50 reimbursement check after attending the conference! This will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited to one scholarship per company for full day registration. Don’t wait to register or you may miss out on this discount!  
• Send your employees for 1/2 off! Each additional registrant may attend at half price.

$175 registration fee goes to $200 after September 7th! Visit www.buildingconference.com and register today.

It is important to be "on top of mind" of your prospective customers and exhibiting is a great way to promote your company. How long would it take you to get thousands of potential customers to enter your place of business to see what your business has to offer?  The Ultimate Home Expo is an excellent event to display your products and services in front of thousands of attendees. This year SUHBA has stepped up their efforts to make sure this is a well attended event by offering the following:

• A billboard promoting the event.
• Adult and children's workshops.
• Special guest appearance by national presenter, Brian Santos, "The Wall Wizard".
• Additional advertising promoting the event.

Be sure to set yourself apart from the competition by exhibiting in this year's Ultimate Home Expo. You won't want to miss this opportunity! Click here for more information or call 674-1400. Click here to view the exhibit hall layout.

The Ultimate Home Expo is presented by SUHBA and The Spectrum.  Thank you to following for sponsoring this event. We sincerely appreciate their support of this community event.  Please consider these fine companies when in need of related services and products.

Hurry, ad deadline is Monday, August 31st. Promote your company in the Ultimate Home Expo tabloid and official program to reach 50,000 readers!  Increase your business exposure in 2009 as our economy is recovering by placing an ad in the tabloid and exhibiting in Southern Utah's premier home expo. Inform potential customers that you are open and ready for their business.  SUHBA members save!  Click here for more information or call (435) 674-6245 to place an ad. 

In order to attract many visitors to the Ultimate Home Expo, we are pleased to bring in a nationally known presenter- Brian Santos, The Wall Wizard. He is a seasoned home improvement pro, with more than 20 years experience in the industry. His seminars are fun and entertaining, taking a fresh approach to home improvement. Brian shares with audiences his magical ability to create stunning decorative effects, utilizing simple, quick, low-cost techniques that will have you saying, "I can do that!" For more information, click on the continuance below for showtimes! Sponsored by .

Since 1978, Jones Paint & Glass has been St. George's favorite paint store, offering top quality paint products from Devoe, Dunn Edwards, and Ralph Lauren, all the right tools and supplies, and expert, experienced help and advice. Jones Paint is now located at 122 South 1200 East. As a sponsor of the Ultimate Home Expo and Brian Santos "The Wall Wizard," Jones Paint & Glass will be offering a special 10% discount the remainder of the year on all paint products to customers. Simply tell us "the wizard sent me." We hope that many of you will be able to perform a little magic this year and give your home a new look for the holidays! ...More

Bring your family to SUHBA Night at the RoadRunners Baseball Game on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 7:00 pm, on Bruce Hurst Field at Dixie State College.  Enjoy a relaxing night of baseball, network with members, and watch our SUHBA Vice President, Mike Madsen throw the first pitch! SUHBA Member discount: Tickets are buy-one-get-one-free and cost only $7.00 (maximum purchase of 4 tickets, get 4 free). RSVP is required- Click here for a registration form.

Promote your company, products, and/or services for only $250 by being a sponsor at a SUHBA luncheon. Sponsoring gives you the opportunity to network, exhibit your products and service, stand up and get noticed, and promotes name recognition. ...More

Find your bat and glove and bring your best game, your family, and your crew to compete in the 1st Annual Builders vs Associates "SUHBA SOFTBALL SHOWDOWN"!
Builders will take on the Associate members and the winning team will have bragging rights plus a trophy displayed at the SUHBA office for one year. Grab your registration form now.

Monday, October 19
First game at 6:00 pm
Gubler Park Complex
Santa Clara

Sponsored by: Legacy General Contracting.
Team Sponsors: Workers Compensation Fund and Sapp Drilling and Blasting.
Presented by the SUHBA Membership Committee.

Would you like to be a Team Sponsor? We have 2 more Team Sponsorships available with 2 options:
1) You provide 10-15 baseball caps with your company logo plus pay $50 sponsor fee or,
2) Pay $100 sponsor fee and we order 10-15 caps with your company logo.
Contact kathy@suhba.com for more information or call 674-1400.

There are now nearly 4,000 Certified Green Professionals.  When combined with the cautiously optimistic analysis of our economists and the federal government,  this growth indicates what we have been saying all along: As our industry begins its recovery, it will be an increasingly green one.  Click here to read more.

The State of Utah, thanks in part to President Obama's stimulus package, plans to inject millions into the state's economy in the next few months repairing aging infrastructure. But some construction firms already busy mending Utah's roads and bridges were caught off guard when they received letters informing them of drastic changes in the state's health insurance guidelines that took effect July 1. ...More

Park City Area Home Builders Association Presents the finest in mountain homes and living at the 2009 Park City Area Showcase of Homes. The Showcase will feature homes throughout the Park City and Heber Valley area. We invite you to enjoy the clean alpine air, experience the luxury, meet the builders, and get inspired! The Showcase of Homes runs from August 22-23, and August 29-30, and September 5-7, 2009 and the homes are open from 10:00am-7:00pm. For tickets and more information click here.

The Building Industry Association of Iron County invites you to experience the Festival of Homes, September 4 thru September 7, 2009 and September 11 thru 13, 2009.  Tickets are available starting September 4, 2009 at Coldwell Banker Advantage and all State Bank of Southern Utah locations. Call 435-865-1113 for more information.

SouthWest Federal Credit Union will host a free Reverse Mortgage workshop and complimentary lunch on Thursday, August 27 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. The workshop will be held in the West Conference Room of the Visitors Center at 511 N. Main in Cedar City. Pre-registration is required to ensure adequate hand-out materials, seating and refreshments. Call Stephanie Donovan at 435-865-2790 for more information or to register. Registration is also available online at www.SouthWestFederal.com.

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is participating in the green building element by recycling and reusing building items. For every $1 spent at the Habitat's ReStore it is estimated to save 1 pound from the landfill. Help Habitat for Humanity by donating items at 267 E. 1400 S., St. George, or by calling 628-4041. Store hours are Tuesday - Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Visit the store on-line at www.stgeorgerestore.com.

To thank SUHBA members for their continued patronage, or to entice you to visit our nursery if you haven't yet, Plant World is offering an exclusive special to SUHBA members. During the month of September, SUHBA members will receive 25% off their purchase of plant material (one gallon or larger), furniture, fountains, tools, pottery, and sprinkler supplies. ...More

A bright spot in what had seemed like a disappointing day for Ashley Fabila last week has made her $1,000 richer. Fabila is the grand prize winner of the 2^nd Annual Golf Ball Drop at the Washington County Fair to benefit United Way Dixie, which raised more than $3,800 for the non-profit agency. ...More

At Home Technologies is now an authorized Generac generator distributor. To celebrate this new offering At Home Technologies has purchased a 60 kW, single phase, 120/240V generator that it is offering to any SUHBA member for $5,000 off list price. That means that this is $18,399 generator will be sold for $13,399 plus tax. This natural gas or propane generator is designed for large homes with multiple AC units and large power requirements. Installation and transfer switch sold separately. For more information please contact Ryan Richey at 435-215-5454 or email ryanrichey@ahtinc.us.

SUHBA members are encouraged to submit company event announcements, open house announcements, job announcements, education announcements and press releases for inclusion in the next News You Can Use by Monday, September 7, 2009. Please email the information to news@suhba.com.