Home Builders Association of Jackson
Transcription
Home Builders Association of Jackson
Met ro HOME BUILDE R S a publication of the home builders association of jackson | Vol. 11 /no. 1 BEST IN SHOW 179 GREENGLADES DRIVE | BRIDGEWATER II JONMARK JORDAN, PORTICO HOMES Curved, Custom & Standard Mouldings l Cabinet Doors & Hardware Cabinet Posts & Legs l Dove Tail Drawer Boxes l Corbels l Mantels Ceiling Medallions l Specialty Hardware LAKELAND DRIVE l FLOWOOD, MS l 601-992-5546 l 800-636-2096 l LAKESIDEMOULDING.COM CONTENTS Volume 11 Issue 1 2 EO Message 3 President’s Message 3 NAHB Life Directors 5-6 Going Back To Basics II: Indemnity Agreements, You Really Cannot Live Without Them 7 The Storied Salvage Company... A Diamond In The Rough 8 Concrete... Flexible & Creative 9-17 Stages Special Feature: The Home Show Designer Challenge 18-19 Spring Parade of Homes Winners 20-22 Best In Show 23 The Little Light House 24 Member Spotlight: Cheryl Mitchell 25 Market Update HBAJ OFFICERS HBAJ BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Steven G. Smith, CPB Jodie Adams Gary Lyles Carl Sandberg Vice President Todd Seymour Robert Blackmon Loretta Davey Martello Todd Seymour Secretary/Treasurer Carl Sandberg Jim Carney Neal Mashburn Joe Shanahan Builder Vice President Shane McLendon, CPB, CAPS Christian Cowan Shane McLendon Scott Shoemaker Associate Vice President Kevin Kinkade Walter Cummins Albert Moore David Smith Eddie Duran Diane Neyland Steven G. Smith Irvin Ellard Tom Parry James Swanner Marvin Freeman Uriel Pineda Nick Thomas Mike Gray Tim Prevost John Travis Tripp Harkins, III Wade Quin Susan Upton Terry Hughes Billy Ray Richard Werhan Rita Jensen Bobby Rayburn Terry Williams Kim Jent Terry Reeves Todd Williams Jon Mark Jordan Joe Robertson Kevin Kinkade Jeff Salmons Immediate Past President Jeff Salmons, CPB HBAJ STAFF Executive Vice President Vicky Bratton Director of Marketing l Finance l Events Brandy Martin Director of Communications l Education Spence Tribble Membership Representative Amy King The Home Builders Association of Jackson is located at 195 Charmant Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157 601.362.6501 l hbajackson.com METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE 1 EO Message MAKE NO MISTAKE in thinking that the Home Builders Association of Jackson is an autonomous staff, WE WORK FOR YOU. F From finding information about a member’s new products to promoting the Association as a whole, our staff works for each and every one of our members. This year’s Officers and Board of Directors are doing an outstanding job of communicating the issues that are important to them. Each Board Member represents a portion of the membership as a whole. They discuss issues and vote on various things throughout the year based on views for all of our members. If you have an issue or concern, our Officers, Board and staff want to hear from you. The ideas for future growth of the Association come from our members. Our Board of Directors has taken the staff to an entire new level of service. In the last 2 years, we have added a Builder/Developer Roundtable, added HBAJ events at Home Builders State Convention, added a golf tournament, added After Hours to an every month event, added new ideas for events including Casino Night, etc., added a Summer Party for brand new members and their sponsors, added our First Annual Dove Hunt for this year, began giving charitable donations to local organizations, paid our outstanding credit line, and are still trying to stay abreast of technology to be more efficient in the work we do every day. Your membership makes a difference. You are the reason why we are here. Executive Officer, Vicky Bratton Home Builders Association of Jackson Gold Key Club Members 84 Lumber HouseWorks AmFed Lakeside Moulding Assurance Financial MMC Materials Atmos Energy Mississippi Housing Institute BancorpSouth Mississippi Roofing Supply BankFirst MSI BankPlus Old South Brick & Supply Bonded Builders Home Warranty Paul Davis Restoration of Central MS Builders Marble Prassel Lumber Co. Capitol Building Products ProSource Wholesale Floors Climate Masters RE/MAX Alliance Constress, Inc. Sherwin Williams Cowboy Maloney’s Electric City Southern Bath & Kitchen Elcon Electrical Contractors Sutherland Electric H.D. Lang & Associates Trustmark National Bank 2 METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE CONGRATS TO JONMARK JORDAN, PORTICO HOMES, ON YOUR BEST IN SHOW AWARD! President’s Message It’s almost mid-year so I would like to review Association activities thus far. We have had many projects and activities and have much more planned for the second half of the year. W We opened the year with a panel of professionals discussing the Economic Forecast in our area. In a nutshell, the building economy seems to be on an upswing as housing industry sales continue to rise in our area and the US as a whole. One of the challenges that I foresee in regards to our members is lack of building opportunities due to limited lot availability in metro Jackson. IBS Las Vegas was also held in January and reflected the same economic upswing and positive outlook regarding the building industry around the country. Membership numbers are increasing indicating many new members joining our Association. Staff members, Board of Directors and Membership Committee members continue to strive to increase those numbers. We hope to continue increasing membership to further strengthen our Association. New this year to our activities is the Builder/Developer Roundtable. Held quarterly, these meetings are designed to allow builder and developer members the opportunity to share and discuss current building issues and topics. All builder and developer members are invited to attend. February and March were spent preparing for our largest project, The Home Show. We had record numbers of exhibitors and attendees this year. Attendance reached 6,000 and exhibitor space was sold out in the main bay. The Home Show exceeded expectations in regards to budgeting. We are hoping that momentum continues throughout the year. 2015 HBAJ President Steven G. Smith, CPB, presenting a $1000 check to The Little Lighthouse Spring Parade of Homes was held in April. Marketing for this event has been updated to include social media advertisement, a free downloadable Parade Craze app with home photos and information, and our own Parade publication. The Spring Parade came up short to budget numbers given that many builders had smaller volumes in inventory and less spec home inventory. Historically, the Spring Parade has had more entries in comparison to the Fall Parade but those numbers are now beginning to shift slightly. Keep the Fall Parade in mind if you have any inventory that will be complete by September/October. There is no better place to market your home as cost-efficiently as the Parade. Our Annual Reeves/Thomas Draw Down and Crawfish Boil was such a success with a large crowd and all 200 draw down tickets sold prior to the event. This yearly event brings out many members, friends, and prospective new members. This year’s beneficiary of a portion of proceeds is The Little Lighthouse, a tuition free developmental center for special needs children. The key to the success of our Association as well as our events and projects is YOUR involvement. You are the reason why we are promoting new construction – to keep you and other construction businesses IN BUSINESS. Our Association is made of members like you and we are here to serve YOU. It’s been an exciting first half of the year and I look forward to serving as your President for the second half. Please let me know if there is a specific construction issue that we can use our Association to help. I hope to see you all come out and show your support at our upcoming events. Steven G. Smith, Charter Builders, LLC 2015 HBAJ President Life Directors HBAJ Members Elected As NAHB Life Directors T The Board of Directors for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) elected Joe Robertson, Senior Vice President of BancorpSouth, and Scott Shoemaker, CPB, CGP, CAPS, President of Shoemaker Homes, as Life Directors at the Association’s IBS Board of Directors’ Meeting in Las Vegas, NV., held January 22, 2015. “The success and scope of NAHB is largely due to the dedication and hard work of members of its board of directors such as Joe,” said NAHB Third Vice Chairman Granger MacDonald. “By giving up time with their own businesses and families, NAHB’s Life Directors are instrumental in helping further NAHB’s work to advance housing opportunities for all Americans.” Joe Robertson and Scott Shoemaker both served as a voting director for NAHB for 10 years. Joe Robertson (left) and Scott Shoemaker (right) were both elected as NAHB Life Directors at the 2015 IBS Board of Directors meeting held in Las Vegas. Congratulations on your achievement Joe and Scott! METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE 3 Build It. Bridge It. Buy It. Bridge loans ... Equity Credit loans ... Construction and Mortgage Lending. Building a home can be complicated. But it doesn’t have to be. The people at BancorpSouth provide excellent service and competitive rates along with local decision making, closing and servicing of loans. We’re Right Where You Are... To Find the Nearest Jackson Area Location, Call: 601-354-4500 Infoline: 1-888-797-7711 BancorpSouth.com NYSE: BXS Personal Banking | Business Banking | Online Banking | Mobile Banking | Home Mortgages | Credit Cards Going Back To Basics II: Indemnity Agreements, You Really Cannot Live Without Them By Clyde “Trey” Copeland, III, ESQ., Jernigan Copeland & Anderson, PLLC O One of the things that we see time and time again in insurance policies is the requirement that there be a written indemnity agreement between the general contractor, homebuilder, and his subcontractors. So what is an indemnity agreement, and why is the insurance industry so keyed-up on the construction industry having them? What is an indemnity agreement? An agreement to indemnify one party from another is an agreement to pay the debts of that party. In the construction world, we cannot require one party to pay our own debts, at least, those debts that we have caused ourselves through our own negligence, or our own actions, but we can require others to indemnify us from debts and obligations that we incur, but which they should, rightfully, be responsible. This is the essence of an indemnity agreement. At law, there are two types of indemnity agreements, written indemnity contracts or common law indemnity obligations. The first is simple, at least on the surface. A written indemnity agreement is one typically made by an owner to the general contractor, general contractor back to an owner, or a general contractor to a subcontractor that provides that the obligated party, let’s say as between a general contractor to a subcontractor, the subcontractor, agrees, in writing, to indemnify, the general contractor, who we will call the “indemnitee” for actions caused by the subcontractor, who we will also call the “indemnitor”, that result in liability to the general contractor. How does this happen, and how does it work? Typically indemnity agreements are contained in construction contracts or subcontract agreements. In a typical example, a subcontractor performs work for a general contractor, and does something to result in a defect or a loss, and indemnity agreement within the subcontract would be helpful to the general contractor. For example, a framer miss-sizes spans while framing the second floor to a house, resulting in a structural instability in the house. Homeowner makes a claim against the general contractor, because the homeowner’s contract was with general contractor, and the general contractor carries the warranty on the workmanship for the house. Homeowner may not even know who the framer is, and for all practical purposes, may not care. If there was an indemnity agreement between the general contractor and framer, the general contractor would make a claim on that indemnity agreement, depending on the language in the indemnity agreement and seeking reimbursement from the subcontractor. Clyde “Trey” Copeland, III, ESQ.,with Jernigan Copeland & Anderson, PLLC, is Chair of the 2015 HBAJ Education Committee. subcontractor to follow. Under traditional common law indemnification, which we will discuss below, any contributory fault by the general contractor, indemnitee, would result in nullifying any rights to indemnification that the contractor would have. Again, a benefit of having a written indemnification agreement would be that the parties can agree that in the case of shared liability, each party would contribute up to his percentage of fault, and would indemnify the other party to the extent that other party was being called to pay the claimant more than his contributed share of fault. Again, only in a written indemnity agreement does such a right exist. No such right exists at common law. Lastly, written indemnity agreements provide a very important defense to the Statute of Repose. The Statute of Repose is the same thing, or similar to, a statute of limitations for construction projects. The Statute of Repose runs six years after completion or first use of a building. The Statute of Repose, under its own language, also cuts off common-law indemnity Continued on pg. 6 There are many nuances involved in this process. First, the wording of the indemnity agreement needs to be fairly particular. It needs to not only seek indemnity for the acts of the indemnitor, but it should be broad enough to capture not only his negligent or inadvertent acts or omissions, but his intentional ones as well. The indemnity agreement should also permit, in this case, the general contractor to seek indemnity, not only for his actual liability, but for claims and contingent liabilities as well. Unless put in writing, under Mississippi law, an indemnitee, like our contractor here, cannot seek indemnity from an indemnitor, like our subcontractor, unless the obligation from which the Indemnification is being sought is an obligation at law, or what the law calls “under legal compulsion.” In other words, unless there is a specific agreement between the parties to the contrary, if the contractor settles the claim while denying any liability for the claim, he cannot seek indemnity from the subcontractor, even if it is purely based upon the subcontractors work. This is called the defense of “voluntary payment.” The way to get around this is for the general contractor to put in his written indemnity agreements that the duty to indemnify applies not only to actual liabilities, but contingent claims, including claims that have been voluntarily settled. Another important provision to have in any indemnity agreement is the right of contribution. Contribution, unlike indemnity, allows parties to share liability. In our example above, say the general contractor has 15% of the blame for the subcontractor’s mistake, because the general contractor was actively involved in measuring spans and providing some design for the Free background information available upon request. METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE 5 Going Back To Basics II: Indemnity Agreements claims that are not made within that same six years. Therefore, a real injustice can occur if a general contractor is sued by an owner on the very cusp of the running of the six-year Statute of Repose, such that he does not have the time to third-party in the at fault subcontractor, or from the subcontractor standpoint, the at fault sub-subcontractor. If there is a written indemnity agreement in place, the statute of repose provides that the indemnity claim is saved from the statute, and is not subject to its bar. If there is no written indemnity agreement, the indemnity claim is barred before it would ever even be able to be made. Therefore, written indemnity agreements are vitally important, if for no other reason to simply provide a vehicle to preserve the right to make and indemnity claim, if necessary. More than just f loors... Like, so we talked about written indemnity agreements, what about common-law indemnity agreements? Can the general contractor in our example make an indemnity claim against his subcontractor without a written indemnity agreement? The short answer is yes. However, his right is limited. The general contractor may make a successful claim for indemnification from the subcontractor, indemnitor, where the subcontractor is 100% actively at fault, compared with the fault of the general contractor. While the general contractor may have fault, he can only be passive, as opposed active. This is known as the “active-passive dichotomy”. What is active negligence? Active negligence is the actual act or omission resulting in the harm. Passive negligence occurs when a party is charged with oversight of the activity causing the harm, but not the actual activity that causes the harm. It is easy for a general contractor, acting as a construction manager, to only have passive liability. If his responsibilities are to merely oversee the work, contract with subcontractors, manage and approve the work, then a strong argument exist that his liability for any defects or claims is passive only. It is when the general contractor actually engages, himself, in the work that his liability becomes active. Under Mississippi common law, if the general contractor only has 1% of active fault, then he has no right to seek indemnification from the subcontractor, even if the subcontractor has 99% of the active fault. This is a huge drawback to merely relying on common-law indemnification. In addition, as indicated above, the general contractor, in order to seek common-law indemnity from a at fault subcontractor, must also show that the claim that he wishes to pass on to the subcontractor, by way of indemnification, is a claim that is enforced on him and he is legally compelled to pay. As stated above, unless there’s a written indemnity agreement to the contrary, the general contractor cannot voluntarily settle a claim and then try to seek indemnity for that claim against the at fault subcontractor or supplier, or whatever the case. If the general contractor does this, and has no written indemnity agreement, he is simply “out of luck.” Lastly, as discussed above, with the Statute of Repose, a general contractor who does not have a written indemnity agreement, and is relying on the common-law to provide him the rights of indemnification against the subcontractor, is at the mercy of the Statute of Repose. If a general contractor is sued on the day before the running of the Statute of Repose, but is served with the lawsuit 30 days thereafter (a claimant has up to 120 days to serve a lawsuit once it has been filed), the general contractor has no right to seek common-law indemnity from the at fault subcontractor. His common-law right of indemnification has been barred by the operation of the Statute of Repose. Therefore, we go back to a common theme: The importance, no, the vitality of having good written contracts, not only between general contractor and subcontractor, but also between general contractor and owner. Indemnity agreements need to exist not only between general and sub, but also between general and owner for the same reasons discussed above. Our Lowest Price Guarantee Convenient, In Stock Selections New and Stylish Interior Options Designers on Staff 24/7 Access to the Showroom l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l DO BUSINESS WITH A MEMBER. 6 METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE The Storied Salvage Company. . . A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH M Most builders are looking to add aged, antiqued, eclectic materials in their new homes to add character. After “window” shopping at one of our newer members, The Storied Salvage, on Wesley Avenue, builders would be like kids in a candy store. The Storied Salvage Company, an architectural salvage with a story retail store, was founded by Chris Hoar and Chad Schwarzauer. In 2014, they were working together to restore a home in Enterprise, MS, and it became apparent that materials needed to keep the restoration authentic were not to be found. Their solution to the problem was to purchase salvage rights to several local properties of a similar age as the home they were restoring. After deconstructing several properties, they had more materials on hand than what they needed and they decided to sell those materials, including reclaimed longleaf heart pine, white oak beams, colored bead board, etc. The Storied Salvage Company joined Home Builders Association of Jackson this year. Chris Hoar states, “We are interested in working with home builders to find a home for these products that add uniqueness and character to their homes.” original building gives the name to their business, The Storied Salvage Company. Chris adds, “We have taken the process a step further than other salvage businesses. Our staff provides the service of cleaning, wrapping and cutting the material to the size specifications of our customers. So, when a customer walks in our doors, we are interested in what they need and the purpose of their project. We want to find a great home from these products of history.” The Storied Salvage Company is located at 140 Wesley Avenue, Jackson, MS 39202. Chris and Chad continue today to sell and stock an extensive selection of reclaimed building materials, also including, reclaimed brick, tin, glass and barn doors. They also sell many architectural elements such as windows, doors and beams. The also carry unique vintage items from local signage to cherished Southern heritage pieces. Their materials are salvaged from homes that are at least 100 years old that they deconstruct themselves. Part of their philosophy of business includes providing their customers with the “story” of the material’s history. Either providing photos in its original state or information regarding the 601.559.4792 !%$* ONE HUNDRED FOURTY WESLEY AVENUE JACKSON, MS 39202 storiedsalvage.com METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE 7 Concrete... Flexible & Creative Is there an alternative to granite countertops? I It has become standard in the speculative market, however, there are custom home customers that are demanding something different. What better way to fulfill a customer’s uniqueness than allowing them to choose the design, color, texture and style of their countertops? After attending a decorative concrete surface exhibit at a 2001 trade show in Orlando, FL, Rob realized that his creative background and his degree in Construction Management from Mississippi State University, was the perfect fit for establishing his own concrete surfaces company. Rob Stevens founded Stevens Concrete & Surfaces in 2004. He currently designs and installs counters for commercial and residential markets. Most recently, you will find his work at a new restaurant in Madison County, County Seat Livingston. Rob constructed the counters from scratch on-site. Rob creates unique pieces of art based on customer’s desires. Last year, Rob’s kitchen and bathroom counters were featured in a Thomas Builder’s home that won Best in Mississippi. Also, Rob built a bathroom countertop in a home for Terry Hughes, Hughes Builders, where he earned a Certificate of Merit – Best Overall Bathroom Feature – Concrete Countertops – in the guest bath. The countertop is shown among this article. Rob worked with Lori Horton, Interior Designer for Hughes Builders, in creating something unique with Concrete counters at her specifications, a countertop the new Madison County similar to travertine. He also creates restaurant, County Seat countertops in the image of wood in Livingston. and mantels to mirror cast stone. The reason this works for the customer is because of the flexibility and creativity in creating it. It is also durable for exterior kitchen areas. Concrete counters can be classified into stained, colored/dyed, or aggregate. When you choose stained, he is able to create a unique texture and pattern by applying acid. With colored or dyed concrete, he is able to create a continuous color and then add accents or contrasting colors by a veining process. Last, aggregate is the most custom and flexible application. There are unlimited glass, rocks, coins, etc., that can be hand placed into the concrete and polished in the final stages. To accommodate a discriminating home buyer, the flexibility and creativity is endless. Rob continually researches and regularly attends educational opportunities across the country. He stands behind his work and strives to tap into the possibilities for his customers, both home builders and home buyers. When we asked what the future holds, Rob laughs, “I try to take each project one step at a time. I want to make sure that the customer I’m working for today is completely satisfied.” 8 METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE ...bringing beauty to concrete COUNTERTOPS l FLOORS MANTELS l SINKS Rob Stevens stevenscrete.com FIND US ON COURTESY OF COURTESY OF COURTESY OF T The Spring Parade featured 64 homes throughout the Metro Jackson Area. The award for Best in Show went to JonMark Jordan with Portico Homes, for his home located at 179 Greenglades Drive in Bridgewater II. Special thanks to Corporate Sponsor, Atmos Energy. Up to $200,000 1st Winners 2nd 506 Greenfield Ridge Dr. | Greenfield Station 145 Greenfield Ridge Dr. | Greenfield Station Southern Style Construction Services | Carl Sandberg & Travis Brandt Southern Style Construction Services | Carl Sandberg & Travis Brandt $201,000 - $250,000 1st 133 Meadowcreek Dr. | Edgewood Mulchatna Homes | Melinda Welch $251,000 - $350,000 1st 407 Huntington Pt. | Huntington Lake IKON Homes | Jim Harris, CPB, AJ Harris & Diane Harris 18 METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE 2nd 120 Clearview Dr. West | Northwind Hilton Properties | Marty Hilton 2nd 126 Grace Dr. | Abundance Pointe IKON Homes | Jim Harris, CPB, AJ Harris & Diane Harris 3r d 960 Willow Grande Cir. | Willow Grande of Castlewoods Wade Quin Builder | Wade Quin, CPB 3r d 963 Willow Grande Cir. | Willow Grande of Castlewoods Rainey Construction | John Michael Rainey 3r d 8 Enclave | The Enclave at Towne Center Shoemaker Homes | Scott Shoemaker, CPB, CGP, CAPS $351,000 - $450,000 1st 411 Huntington Pt. | Huntington Lake IKON Homes | Jim Harris, CPB, AJ Harris & Diane Harris $451,000 - $500,000 1st 113 Anna Cv. | Klaas Plantation Cedarstone Construction | Todd Carter, CPB Over $500,000 1st Best In Show 179 Greenglades Dr. | Bridgewater II Portico Homes | JonMark Jordan 2nd 102 Genoa Dr. | Fontanelle Renaissance Builders | Tim Prevost, CPB, CGP 2nd 704 Amber Way | Latter Rayne Lyles Signature Homes | Gary Lyles & Wayne Lyles 2nd 213 Fredricksburg Pl. | Klaas Plantation Lister Homebuilders | Tommy Lister 3r d 165 Brisco St. | Hatheway Lake Chris Cook Construction Co. | Chris Cook 3r d 150 Caroline Club Cir. | Lake Caroline Fairmont Homes | Collin Fahrenkopf 3r d 200 St. Charlotte Ct. | St. Regis Sundance Homes | Jack McCabe, CPB 2015 FOUNDATION LEVEL SPONSORS | $10,000+ COMMITMENT THE ASSOCIATION IS MADE UP OF OUR MEMBERS. THE FOUNDATION IS BUILT BY OUR SPONSORS. METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE 19 BEST IN SHOW 179 GREENGLADES DRIVE | BRIDGEWATER II JONMARK JORDAN, PORTICO HOMES Bringing the outdoor environment as close as you can to the inside is the main theme for this Best in Show Fall Parade 2015 home. T The judges commented, “This home was created from a fantastic plan, including one of the best kitchen space plans that we have seen. Also, using a fashionable white color scheme with natural wood accents, beautiful cabinets, unusual tile patterns and a high score for quality construction, were the reasons why this home scored the highest points to earn Best in Show.” JonMark Jordan, a second generation home builder, is an HBAJ member that has literally grown up in the business. He began his career quest at Mississippi State University pursuing a degree in Construction Management & Land Development. After graduation, he joined W. G. Yates & Sons Construction where he was a project manager on several “mega” projects, locally and throughout the southeast, ultimately starting Portico Homes in 2010. JonMark adds, “I enjoy the ability to express my creative side through home building with the talent of highly skilled tradesmen and vendors. The Portico Homes’ business motto that JonMark inherited from Yates Construction is to be “One time, within budget, and to exceed the customer’s satisfaction.” JonMark adds, “I find it most rewarding to have a truly happy client at the end of the project.” 20 METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE JonMark Jordan, with Portico Homes, won Best in Show in the Spring Parade of Homes for his home located at 179 Greenglades Drive in Bridgewater II. BEST IN SHOW This Best in Show home is located at 179 Greenglades Drive in Bridgewater II, Ridgeland. It holds 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and the key to the naturalistic state of the home is that it is on a private lot that backs up to mature hardwoods. Every room in the home not only retains a natural feel from the color scheme but also overlooks the natural foliage of the lot and surroundings. This floorplan is one of JonMark’s personal favorite features of the home. The French Acadian style exterior has a stately presence, naturalistic color scheme including Zurich white painted brick, mushroom color shutters and timber beam accents. The front door is also white with glass inserts for view and wood panels at the foot of the door for longevity. There is a private dining room located off the foyer, unique antiqued and glass beaded fixture, and large picture window that leads to front manicured lawn and landscaping. ample assistance to any home chef and were purchased from Cowboy’s Kitchens. Marble counters do not go unnoticed in the kitchen, and subway tiles behind the cooktop are displayed to the ceiling. The continuation of shiplap siding revisits as the focal point for the kitchen island. A clear modern light fixture screams with character down to its Edison bulb. Unique features that need to be mentioned include the friendship door to small gathering patio, natural sliding custom barn door, antique pantry door with original paint, free standing soaker tub in the master bath, wet bar with stainless steel back splash, exterior sconces used in perfect interior space near the wet bar, 3 separate patio areas for privacy and/or social gatherings when needed, just to name a few. When you enter the keeping room, you will notice the custom built furniture-style armoires. A simple, yet elegant fireplace with ceiling height shiplap siding and marble trimmed opening expresses a clean appearance. The heart of pine floors add character and color to the simple white color scheme. Accents above door frames and archways are solid wood exposed beams. The living room is open to the kitchen revealing breathing room. A picture window leads to the woodsy view and outdoor pavilion with cathedral painted ceiling and exposed rafters, not to mention extensive outdoor cooking area. The professional grade appliances inside and out, provide Install High-Effciency Natural Gas Appliances and Save Money! Mississippi homebuilders can now receive rebates from Atmos Energy’s SmartChoice program when installing high-efficiency natural gas appliances. Your homebuyers will appreciate the comfort, reliability and energy savings of natural gas appliances. To take advantage of homebuilder rebates, call 877-616-6267. Rebates available for eligible equipment for Atmos Energy homebuilders in Mississippi until December 31, 2016 or while funds are available. Rebate form must be submitted within 90 days of purchase. METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE 21 BEST IN SHOW The Alarm Company installed a combination security and home automation platform system manufactured by Honeywell Security which is the latest technology along with Proficient Audio speakers throughout the home. The master bedroom allows for sitting room next to the picturesque window view – again, a nature trail could only be a few feet away. An exposed beam signifies depth and character. There is also a private access to the outside from the master. The master bath quarters continue marble counters, inset cabinets, free standing soaker tub, octagonal shaped flooring tile in shower, bench seating in shower. The builder spared no expense in making the master’s quarters phenomenal. The home boasts a guest bedroom downstairs and 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and a sitting lounge upstairs, complete with quality construction as is prevalent on the first floor. A special mention to Cowboy Kitchens, The Alarm Company, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Ridgeland Specialty Hardware, Sunbelt Lighting, Buckridge Specialty Woods, Carr Plumbing, David Glass & Mirror, Central MS Countertops, Old South Brick, ProSource Wholesale Flooring, Lakeside Moulding and all the highly skilled and dedicated subcontractors for working with JonMark to earn this award. Congratulations on the Best in Show award! Contact Information: JonMark Jordan, Portico Homes Phone: (601) 856-0009 Email: [email protected] www.jonmarkjordan.com BUY ANY RANGE – OR ANY COOKTOP AND ANY WALL OVEN HOT APPLIANCES. COOL SAVINGS. GET FREE DISHWASHER ONE-TWO-FREE® JUST GOT MORE PERSONAL. Buy any range or any cooktop, plus any wall oven, and we’ll give you a FREE dishwasher. Add selected refrigeration to your purchase and we’ll now give you the freedom to personalize your kitchen with more FREE products or upgrades than ever before. From cooktops to refrigerators to wine coolers, you can choose from a suite of our premium products to create countless combinations, all of which mean a savings of up to $6,097 toward your dream kitchen. *PROMOTION VALID ONLY ON SELECT THERMADOR MODELS. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FREE APPLIANCES OFFERED IN THIS PROMOTION, ALL OTHER APPLIANCES MUST BE PURCHASED AT THEIR REGULAR PRICE, IN ONE ORDER, AND AT THE SAME TIME. PRODUCTS MUST BE PURCHASED AND DELIVERED DURING THE PROMOTION PERIOD OF JANUARY 1, 2015 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2015. NO SUBSTITUTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED. PLEASE SEE SALES ASSOCIATE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. ©2015 BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 1313 Harding Street Jackson, MS 39202 601-948-5600 22 METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE 1107 Highland Colony Pkwy The Township Ridgeland, MS 39157 601-707-5378 APPLIANCE GALLERY 645 S. Pearson Rd Pearl, MS 39208 601-932-6900 The Little Light House Home Builders Association of Jackson chose the Little Light House as our charity of the year for the Draw Down event. A portion of each Draw Down ticket benefits the Little Light House. F Founded in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Little Light House opened its first satellite school in Central Mississippi in January 2006. Located at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, the Little Light House is a Developmental Center that has been making a difference in the lives of hundreds of children with special needs. On top of that, the Little Light House is a tuition – free facility in order to help the families who have children with special needs. Serving children from birth through 6 years old, the students of the Little Light House come from a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds. Each student has been diagnosed with developmental delays resulting from physically and mentally challenging conditions which include: Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Hydrocephaly, Autism, and a range of other disorders. The Little Light House strongly feels that they should never take on debt. They raise all their operating capital through donations, including 4 major fundraising events each year: the Tees for Tots Golf Tournament, the Spring Garden Party, Laps for Little Ones 5K & Fun Run, and Struttin’ Their Stuff. They are very appreciative of each donations, regardless of amount. Gifts from $10 to $25,000 have all come together to make everything possible. With the portion of ticket proceeds benefiting Little Light House, HBAJ will give each child, and their family a gift of hope. Website: www.llhms.org When the Little Light House first opened their doors, they started with 6 employees (including 3 therapists), a few volunteers and 5 students. In 2014, they grew to 14 employees, many devoted volunteers and 32 beautiful students. Helene McDonald’s granddaughter attended the school when it first opened. Helene McDonald said, “They were a God send to us! The Little Light House was so needed, there was nothing like it in Mississippi. We were so lucky when my granddaughter, Ella, got in. It is a wonderful school, and has allowed Ella to progress so much. When we go back to visit the school, Ella still remembers her teacher, Ms. Tammy. She now attends Northwest Rankin.” The Little Light House provides hope for the families and the students. METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE 23 Member Spotlight Honoring Cheryl Mitchell, CenterPoint Energy... C Cheryl Mitchell began her career with CenterPoint Energy (Entex, at that time) as a service “man” twenty-one years ago, where she read meters, trained for service work, and then started in the field, where she met her husband of 17 years, Mike, alias the “UPS MAN”. She recalls as a single mother, “I really needed a job to take care of my son, Luke, who was only 5 years old at the time.” After 4 years of working in the service area, she applied and received a job as a Marketing Consultant with CenterPoint Energy. Cheryl was very thankful to have the opportunity and is also appreciative to CenterPoint Energy for their support and training throughout the years. Cheryl has been a member of the Home Builders Association of Jackson since 1999. She has built great relationships over the years with not only our builder members, but also associate members and staff, as well. Cheryl did not just join the association, she has added membership relationships as a part of her daily work life. Over the years, Cheryl has served on the Parade of Homes, Associates Council and Building Green committees many times. She has served and continues to serve on the Board of Directors and was honored “Associate Member of the Year” in 2008 for HBAJ, as well as receiving “Associate Member of the Year” for HBAM that same year. Because of this award, Cheryl attended the National Home Builders Convention in Las Vegas, where President George H. W. Bush was the speaker! One of Cheryl’s highlights in her HBAJ tenure is her volunteer position with Scott Shoemaker’s Extreme Home Makeover project. Cheryl adds, “What a special honor it was when Brandy (HBAJ) called me “undercover” to ask me to work with her and the rest of the Shoemaker team. My boss, Tina Lakey, was very accommodating by letting me volunteer during work hours. I was proud to work with the entire team and I have the framed photograph that Scott presented me as a cherished memory of the project.” Cheryl Mitchell, CenterPoint Energy, with her 2008 Home Builders Association of Jackson Associate of the Year Award. When asked for individuals at CenterPoint Energy that have helped her along the way, Cheryl states, “Mr. Billy Bryant, now retired, had the foresight to hire a female in a service “man” position. I wanted to prove to everyone that I could do whatever the guys did. Also, Tina Lakey, who has been my immediate supervisor for many years, has been a wonderful Christian mentor/ supervisor. I have enjoyed working at CenterPoint Energy and will miss all my co-workers.” Cheryl has been a home builder member that has always stepped up to a challenge and has volunteered thousands of hours toward helping HBAJ in events and projects. HBAJ is a better organization because of Cheryl Mitchell’s efforts. When asked what the future holds for Cheryl, she answers, “I’m still praying for what God wants me to do next. I’m interested in volunteering and/or getting a part-time job. Maybe.” Congratulations to Cheryl Mitchell for many years of service to CenterPoint Energy and to Home Builders Association of Jackson! You will truly be missed! 24 METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE By Wally Cummins, Cummins Realty and Appraisals Market Update T The real estate market in 2015 has started out like I thought it would. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I have seen the signs of a demand economy coming for over a year. 2015 has started off on a very positive note for almost anyone that relies on the housing industry to make a living. Every supply and demand number for housing has shifted toward a demand market. The market in central MS is 100% on the side of a seller’s market. In the first quarter of 2015 we are seeing the shadow effect of a critical shortage of quality active homes for sale in the last half of 2014. The inventory levels are really low, especially in Rankin and Madison counties. There was a 1.1% increase in listings in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2014, but that is not enough to help us with the lack of inventory. There only being 1.1% more listings caused inventory levels to go under 7 months of supply for the 3 county metro area. The lack of inventory has caused prices to sky rocket. The average sale price increased 13.8% from $156,227 to $177,746 for the first quarter of 2015 compared to same time period in 2014. This is really simple economics. Demand is greater than the supply right now, and the difference is pretty drastic. It takes the market several years to really change like it has. This process started in 2011 when at one point early in that year there was almost 12 months of inventory. Inventory levels have fallen on a consistent basis every month from then until now. The market this summer is going to be on fire. Values are going to continue to climb, days on market are going to continue to decrease, and there will be many multiple offer situations. If you are a builder or Realtor reading this you need to refresh your education on how to legally handle multiple offer situations very soon because there is a good chance you will be involved in one. Get ready to work this summer because the business will be there for everyone. Contact Information: Wally Cummins, Cummins Realty and Appraisals, is also on the HBAJ Board of Directors. Wally Cummins, Cummins Realty And Appraisals (601) 540-7505 | [email protected] www.cumminsappraisals.com RESIDENTIAL LENDING Don’t just say it’s high quality construction...Guarantee it with a New Home Warranty. IMPROVED SALES with value-add products INCREASED SAVINGS by streamlining your operation INDISPENSABLE SECURITY with express written warranties Steve Roth 228.363.0192 [email protected] THE WAY YOU LIKE IT FHA, Conventional, RD, VA, Jumbo & Construction Loans Local Appraisers In-House Underwiting Unmatched Personal Service HUNTER LEE 260-4631 lendtheway.com NMLS# 40321 NMLS# 70876 METRO HOME BUILDERS MAGAZINE 25 PRESORTED STANDARD U. S. POSTAGE PAID JACKSON, MS PERMIT NO. 693 P. O. Box 1860, Ridgeland, MS 39158 Ilya Bath Collection STYLE THAT WORKS For product knowledge, selection and a logistics partner that keeps your building or remodeling project on track, count on Ferguson. In our showrooms, your clients touch, see and compare top-selling bath, kitchen and lighting products – and decide with confidence. Our consultants provide product and budget planning expertise, and even find the value-added opportunities your business needs. So you can take pride in your work on every level. 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