• The Charitable Foundation. This year we gave $52,000 to children of members for college scholarships in 2011. We also built a home for the Denny Family. Our membership donated nearly $200,000.00 in service, materials, and cash to make this possible. I have attached this link for you to learn more. http://lagniappeproject.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/long-overdue-photo-update/#gallery-7-slideshow

• Legislative issues. It seems like someone in government is always coming after our industry for money, more rules, laws, and regulations. Our staff and our lobbyists combined their effort with our membership to stop these attacks and protect the freedoms of persons to own affordable homes as part of the American dream. We had our day at the capital both here and in Washington. I was amazed how well we were greeted by our congressman and representatives and how engaged they were with us in finding real solutions to the problems that our industry has. We combined our efforts with the REALTOR Association, our employees and families, and we represent nearly 30,000 votes! A special thanks to our Political Action Committees which is how we show our support for those seeking election that support the common sense goals of affordable housing.

• Networking. I will quote my daughter who has been in the business for 8 years and is one of the market leaders in new homes sales and marketing manager: “Most of the quality people I have met in my recruiting and in my business relationships I met through HBA and SMC events”. ‘Nuff said. HBAGC is what the member makes it. It is a way to meet and grow with the highest-level professionals in the industry.

• Community. Our HBA staff, key members, and our lobbyist, work with all the cites, counties, and municipalities, to be sure that processes are followed properly and that changes to policy, ordinances, and laws will not have a negative impact on codes, permits, growth, or jobs.

• Staff. We are blessed. We are nationally known for having one of the best staffs among all the HBAs nationwide. While attending a leadership conference in New Orleans last year, several people commented on this. Our membership numbers, budgets, and reserves show that this is not just a perception, but also a reality!

• Now, I haven’t even mentioned the Parade of Homes, Tour of Homes, two Home Shows, plus the summer outing, fishing tournament, HBA Golf Classic………… and well, I will run out of paper and your attention if I go further. But you do get the picture. There is something for everyone in the industry at the HBA. If you’re not a member join, if you are a member recruit!

In closing, I would like to say I don’t really feel like the leader of this organization, it’s hard just to keep up! We should all follow the example of our members who serve and participate and make this a great industry and organization to be a part of!

Blessings,

Wade McGuinn

2011 HBAGC President

Wade McGuinn says a Camden bank recently turned him down for a loan to build up to 30 homes in Kershaw County.

That is 90 jobs people don’t have, he said.

Those jobs are the reason homebuilding needs to grab more attention in the national debate on how to revive the battered economy, said Barry Rutenberg, chairman-elect of the National Association of Home Builders, who was in town this week to speak to Midlands-area builders.

“Every home that’s built is three jobs,” said Rutenberg, a builder and remodeler in Gainesville, Fla., adding jobs are critical to an economic recovery, as jobless rolls remain bloated nationwide.

But so far, even historically low interest rates that recently dipped below 4 percent for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage have not been enough to motivate potential buyers. Home buying and home building rates are down at least 40 percent from the peak in 2007 in the Midlands.

Meanwhile, builders face competition from increasing numbers of home foreclosures and short sales, in which the bank accepts less money than is owed on a home.

“The ‘American Dream’ is not dead. It’s gotten dented,” Rutenberg said. “It will come back.”

New housing inventory nationwide is down as home builders have pulled back or been forced out of business because they can’t get loans, Rutenberg said.

McGuinn, a longtime Midlands builder, said it is time for regulators to ease up on banks so they can lend more money to help stimulate the economy. Otherwise, more builders are going to fail, he said, and eventually consumers will have fewer options.

At the height of the housing boom, credit was easy to come by for builders and buyers. But as the overheated real estate market crashed and plunged the country into the worst recession in a lifetime, banks that survived tightened lending standards and many builders were forced into bankruptcy.

Banks need to find a middle ground, Rutenberg said.

He has been pushing a bill in Congress – the Home Construction Lending Regulatory Improvement Act of 2011 – that his organization says would ease lending standards enough to get housing and the economy flowing again.

Mike Crapps, president and chief executive of First Community Bank in Lexington, said many community banks like his are lending to builders. But the hurdles banks have to jump to approve an application are higher than they were five years ago.

Crapps said his bank consistently has considered three criteria when lending to small businesses: the borrower’s ability to repay, backup collateral and the future of the line of business.

Home builders can be hurt when lenders consider the future success of their proposed projects if there is a big inventory of similar homes already in the area or they are building homes outside of the typical price range that sells in the area, he said.

“The regulatory environment is not going to lead all banks to make the same decision,” Crapps said. “Regulators aren’t saying to us, ‘Don’t make loans to a particular industry.’ ”

But reforms are needed, small business experts say.

At a Federal Reserve conference Wednesday designed to help small businesses, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke, a Dillon native, called on banks to ease overly tight lending standards.

The Fed has been holding training sessions to ensure that banks are meeting the needs of creditworthy business borrowers while maintaining appropriate lending standards, Bernanke said. Many small businesses have complained their banks have made it too hard to get loans.

“Small businesses have played an important role in fueling past economic recoveries,” Bernanke said. “We need to think carefully about how … our nation can best provide small businesses and entrepreneurs with the support they need to expand job opportunities.

The Associated Press contributed

Read more: http://www.thestate.com/2011/11/10/2040992/home-builders-dogged-by-tougher.html#storylink=addthis#ixzz1dLmZRwEX

McGuinn Homes a local builder located in the Midlands of South Carolina offering home buyers at truly unique experience when it comes to building their new home. Being a home builder that truly thrives on customer service McGuinn allows the purchaser to basically design the base plan to fit their wants and needs in their new home. Beginning with the selections, you choose from a gallery of included features, then the buyer can opt to choose from McGuinn’s various upgraded options to give their home the exact look they are looking for. One of the most exciting aspects of building with McGuinn Homes is the ability to tweak the floor plan the way you want it. Want to move that 1/2 bath to the other side of the house? No Problem. Want to have the kitchen on front of the house instead of the back of the home? No Problem. Does the plan you like only offer a 1 car garage lets make it a 2 car. Having the ability to build “Your Home Your Way” makes your new home the way you dreamed it would be, at the same time keeping it in the budget you set because the best part about “Your Home Your Way” is that some of these examples add no cost to the price

Looking to build the home you have been searching for then let the search stop! Contact us today and lets start working on your new home making it “Your Home Your Way”.

McGuinn Homes is in the process of starting construction on their model home located in “The Ponds” in Centennial at Lake Carolina in the next few weeks. McGuinn will be offering a impressive line of single family homes that will fit the needs of just about anyone searching for their first home to the step up buyer all the way to family looking to downsize. With plans starting from $127,900 with 1347 square feet and going to 2914 square feet for only $169,900 there is sure to be a plan and price what you are looking for. McGuinn is also offering a select number of lots located on the water feature in “The Ponds” section of Centennial at Lake Carolina.

The Villages at Lakeshore offers community amenities such as community pool, playground and that friendly neighborhood feel. McGuinn is offering many floor plans ranging from 1217 to 2914 and prices starting at $107,900. We are sure we will have the plan and design you are looking for while keeping it in the price range to fit your budget.

Visit us at http://www.mcguinnhomes.com/home and tour our community page or you can contact Eva Langston 803.603.1372

Home prices dipped to a four-year low in the Columbia area this year as sellers – particularly in upper-end markets – struggled to sell their homes.

But with more people buying real estate in the last few months of the year, industry experts expect the demand to help home prices stabilize in 2010.

Home sales have skyrocketed in the last quarter of the year as first-time buyers have taken advantage of an $8,000 tax credit, historically low interest rates and lower prices.

http://ipubviewer.com/publication/?i=73855&p=26

Wade McGuinn video blog about real estate agents managing their presence on the web. How are Columbia S.C. agents marketing themselves on the world wide web, do you have a website? Do you manage your website? Are you active on social media?

Wade McGuinn goes over knowing who your team is in your business. Who helps you everyday with helping you complete the task that make you more successful. Lawyers, Inspectors, Admins, etc. Know Your Team…………….