Building green

guest commentary by Dave Hughes, executive director of the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders

While some of us are digging out from the recent winter weather and dismal economic news that never seems to end, some of us are making plans for Spring 2010. A comeback, if you will, for those of us who are sick of the cold, the snow, the rain, and the never ending drum beat of negativism about our economy.

What better way to get geared up for Spring time than to put on a Home Show that features all the neat new products that are available to today’s home owner? This ritual of Spring isn’t new for us, we’ve felt this way for more than 50 years.

We, being the members of the Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders, believe it’s time to crawl out from under your winter blanket (even if it is still cold) and break out those house plans you’ve been sitting on for a while. It’s time to come downtown to the Fort Smith Convention Center exhibition hall, Feb. 26, 27, & 28, and tour the annual Home Builders Association Home Show!

This year’s theme is BUILDING GREEN SAVING GREEN. Catchy, huh?

Many of our exhibitors are bringing in products and services that weren’t available a few years ago. These products are designed to save the consumer money while saving our resources. You’ll find new, more efficient ways of heating and cooling your home, insulating the walls to provide more comfort for less money, and better ways to manage your energy budget.

We don’t want to minimize the “eye candy,” which is why most people attend the Home Show. We’ll have the newest products, colors, and textures for your home building or redecorating project, along with people who can answer the many questions you will have.

Many of our member home builders will have exhibits where you can discuss your home building ideas with them, and who know,s maybe meet the building professional who will construct your next new home or completely re-do the one you have now.

Looking forward, the local home building industry has come through a challenging year but not without reason to be optimistic when forecasting activity for 2010.

Fourth quarter 2009 numbers for new home building permits in Fort Smith were more than 50% higher than the same period for 2008. Some, perhaps a good deal of this activity, can be attributed to the federal tax credits offered to home buyers. All tax credit incentives will end this spring. Hopefully, the seasonally strong spring and summer months will lift new home construction starts to stronger levels than earlier in 2009.