Regulatory Affairs
TAB staff continuously monitors regulatory changes and new rule postings. When changes are proposed, TAB staff and members participate in the process by providing comments and testimony in an effort to keep the industry free from excessive regulations and fees.
Topics/Resources
Lead Paint Enforcement Alert 
EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) has released an Enforcement Alert about the lead pain rule, which goes into effect in April. The alert describes the dangers of lead paint exposure, the purpose of the regulation, and the requirements of contractors under the regulation. Download the alert from this link: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/newsletters/civil/enfalert/leadpaint.pdf.
For additional information about lead paint based rules and regulations go to http://www.epa.gov/region6/6pd/lead/
If you have not been lead safe certified, find a trainer here.
Low Flow Plumbing Fixtures
Texas became the second state in the nation to require high-efficiency toilets (HETs) on June 19, 2009 when Governor Rick Perry signed into law Texas House Bill 2667. A coalition led by the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI) helped Texas continue its leadership role in water conservation efforts…..read more.
The EPA has posted its proposed changes to the 2011 ENERGY STAR for Homes Program.
The changes are a result of the input it received from the first round of the public review and comment process. EPA has opened a second round of public review and comment process through December 16, 2009. To view the proposed revisions, revised quality checklists, EPA's response to the first round of comments, register for an online seminar about the changes or access an online form to submit your comments on the proposed revisions go to http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.nh_2011_comments
The EPA plans to have the final ENERGY STAR 2011 guidelines posted by the first quarter of 2010.
The ENERGY STAR 2011 guidelines will go into effect on January 1, 2011.
The Housing Tax Credit has been expanded and extended
If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, and weren’t eligible for the first-time home buyer tax credit, here’s some good news: the housing tax credit has been expanded and extended.
On Nov. 6, President Obama signed into law the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which enables many more Americans to take advantage of new government incentives to buy a home. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimates that close to 70 percent of all potential home buyers should now qualify for some form of the housing tax credit.
The new law extends the popular first-time home buyer credit, which more than 1.4 million taxpayers have already claimed, through April 30, 2010. Buyers who have signed a sales contract by that deadline have until June 30 to close on the home. First-time home buyers—who the IRS defines as someone who has not owned a home in the three years preceding the purchase—can qualify for a credit of 10 percent of the cost of the home, up to $8,000.
Existing home owners, or those who recently sold their home, may also now qualify for a tax credit of up to 10 percent of the cost of a new principal residence. This new credit is capped at $6,500. “Repeat” home buyers must have been living in the home they currently own (or previously owned) for five consecutive years out of the eight years prior to buying the new home.
Many buyers in markets with a higher cost of living didn’t qualify for the earlier tax credits due to the income limits. Those have been increased and now single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples earning up to $225,000 may be eligible for a full credit. Home buyers earning up to $20,000 more than the limit may be able to claim a partial credit.
Both first-time and repeat buyer credits can only be used with the purchase of a home that will be the buyer’s principal residence. It cannot be claimed for the purchase of a vacation home or property to be used as a rental. Homes purchased for more than $800,000 are not eligible.
NAHB has created a Web site at www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com to provide information about the housing tax credits. It provides basic information about the first-time and repeat buyer credits, detailed question and answer sections, and links to additional home-buying resources.
The new tax credits, combined with today’s near record-low interest rates and competitive home prices, make it an ideal time to buy if you’ve been considering moving up, downsizing, or just moving into a home more suited to your current lifestyle.
Contact your local home builders association office to find a professional builder in your area. To see the list of offices click here.
