Contact Congress About Housing Stimulus Package
Congress is considering a bill that could stimulate a wave of home buying, help to reduce excess inventories and halt the erosion of home prices and mortgage credit quality. House Resolution 3221, the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, offers a number of components designed to boost the housing market. The center of the package is a first-time home buyer tax credit of $7,500 for the purchase of a home closed between April 9, 2008 and April 1, 2009.

The National Association of Home Builders has setup a free hotline to help members ask their senators and representatives to support the stimulus legislation by calling the NAHB Legislative Hotline at 1-866-924-NAHB (6242). For additional information on this legislation, including complete directions for the call to action, visit the Governmental Affairs page at www.kchba.net.

Final Day for Parade Early Entry Price
Those wanting to participate in this year's Parade of Homes have until 5 p.m. today to submit their entries at the bargain $995 early entry price. Entry forms are available online at www.kcparadeofhomes.com.

Contest entry forms for the Pick of the Parade and Distinctive Plan & Design contests will be mailed next week. Entry forms and judging criteria will be made available online at the Builders Information page of www.kcparadeofhomes.com. For more information, contact Cheryl Doria at (816) 733-2219.

Associates and builders alike can take advantage of premium advertising opportunities in the official 2008 Parade of Homes Guide. Members can get their homes, communities and products before thousands of serious new-home consumers by reserving their spot today. For more information, contact Lonny Cohen at (816) 733-2221.

Participants from from the Spring Homes Tour and MAME have until July 3 to pick up their blueprints and entries at the HBA office. Anything not claimed by next Thursday will be discarded.

Cities like Olathe are cracking down on signage posted in public streets. To help with this issue, the HBA is asking all builders on the Spring Homes Tour to make sure that their arrows have been removed to help comply with these cities' ordinances.

Around the HBA...
The HBA will hold a press conference and open house beginning at 10 a.m. July 10 to announce the launch of Build Green Kansas City, the HBA’s new green building program based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. The event is open to both HBA members and the public, and will take place at 3148 SW Grandstand Circle, the site of a home being built by Gale Homes using the national guidelines. For more information about the program’s launch, or to get involved with the Build Green Council, visit www.kchba.net/buildgreen.

The city of Shawnee Finance and Administration Committee will hold a public hearing on a proposal to adopt the 2006 International Building Codes at their meeting at 7 p.m. July 8 in the city council chambers. Their proposal is fairly consistent with other cities in Johnson County that have adopted the 2006 codes. Since several changes have been proposed, members are asked to review the summary of changes and let us know if you feel there is something we have missed. For more information, contact Dave Holtwick at (816) 733-2211.

Help us remain the voice of America's housing industry! The HBA is encouraging all members to return their 2008 Member Census from NAHB. Information garnered from this important survey goes a long way in helping our national association fulfill its critical mission.

Booth sales are underway for the 2008 HOME SHOW - Fall Edition, Oct. 31-Nov. 2. Complete details on exhibiting are available at www.kchomeshow.com. For more information, contact Vicki Lang at (816) 733-2214.

Help the Eastern Jackson County Builders & Developers Association with the Extreme School Makeover in Independence and Sugar Creek on July 11. Those who are not able to commit time can also make a much-needed donation. Click here for additional information.

Join HBA member Mark Irvin for a special presentation for industry professionals on "Lifelong Concepts for Your Home." This free aging-in-place seminar will be held at Longview Community College from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. July 15.