Despite the ongoing stalemate over the state budget, legislation supported by the real estate and home building industry continues to make progress in Raleigh. Over the past few weeks, Governor Cooper has signed into law a variety of bills supported by the North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA), the North Carolina Realtors®, NAIOP North Carolina, and other trade groups. Here’s a summary of some of the key laws that will benefit the residential and commercial real es

The bill would require all general contractors, home builders, and anyone with an unclassified licence to complete eight hours of continuing education annually. Two of those hours would have to be a mandatory course approved by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors, while the remainder can be approved electives. HB 162 has been referred to the House Regulatory Reform Committee, but no hearing has yet been scheduled. There is also a companion Senate bill, SB 55 Con

The key legislation for the real estate and building industry are summarized below: HB 252 (Building Code Regulatory Reform) Status: On Governor’s Desk One of the top priorities for the North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA), HB 252 passed both chambers by near-unanimous votes, and was delivered to Governor Cooper, who is expected to sign it into law. The bill refines and clarifies several provisions in legislation which NCHBA sought and which passed in 2015 (S.L.

The North Carolina General Assembly is starting to take a close — and skeptical — look at the development Impact Fees charged by local governments across the state, and some big changes could be on the way in the months ahead. Last week, the House State and Local Government I Committee heard two bills dealing with impact fees.  Representative Sarah Stevens (R-Surry) introduced two bills in March regarding impact fees which were authorized by the General Assembly more than 30

The NC House of Representatives today gave final approval to a 44-page Regulatory Reform bill that contains several critical provisions for residential and commercial developers. SB 131, ‘Regulatory Reform Act of 2016-2017’, was approved by the House on Thursday by a vote of 84-27, and now heads back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. Among the dozens of reforms it contains, two are of particular interest to developers: Energy Efficiency Code Exemptions – Section 1.4 of th

NCHBA lobbyists Steven Webb, Mike Carpenter and Tim Minton on the floor of the State Senate as the General Assembly’s Short Session draws to a close.                      (Photo Credit – NCHBA) No single piece of legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly this year will have a bigger impact on home builders and remodelers than HB 1030 (2016 Appropriations Act).  The finance portion of this legislation contains a number of important tax law changes that modify t

NCHBA lobbyists Steven Webb, Mike Carpenter and Tim Minton on the floor of the State Senate as the General Assembly’s Short Session draws to a close.                      (Photo Credit – NCHBA) No single piece of legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly this year will have a bigger impact on home builders and remodelers than HB 1030 (2016 Appropriations Act).  The finance portion of this legislation contains a number of important tax law changes that modify t

Source: North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA): Another busy legislative week in Raleigh was capped off with the House officially voting not to concur with the Senate’s budget plan.  On Wednesday, the full House voted unanimously to reject the $22.2 billion plan which will send the measure to a conference committee to work out the differences in the two chambers’ versions. There seems to be a sense of cautious optimism that a deal can be struck in a reasonable amoun

Source: North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA): Another busy legislative week in Raleigh was capped off with the House officially voting not to concur with the Senate’s budget plan.  On Wednesday, the full House voted unanimously to reject the $22.2 billion plan which will send the measure to a conference committee to work out the differences in the two chambers’ versions. There seems to be a sense of cautious optimism that a deal can be struck in a reasonable amoun

Home Builders from Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties with Representative Charles Jeter earlier this week in Raleigh. Home builders from Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties joined their colleagues from around the state this week in Raleigh, to promote the priorities of the building industry to legislators at the General Assembly. The meetings were part of the North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA)’s annual Legislative Conference, which featured a unexpected visit by Go

Home Builders from Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties with Representative Charles Jeter earlier this week in Raleigh. Home builders from Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties joined their colleagues from around the state this week in Raleigh, to promote the priorities of the building industry to legislators at the General Assembly. The meetings were part of the North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA)’s annual Legislative Conference, which featured a unexpected visit by Go

Members of NAIOP Charlotte meet with House Speaker Tim Moore in Raleigh Members of the Charlotte chapter of NAIOP traveled to Raleigh this week for the commercial development association’s annual Day at the Capitol, and participated in a highly successful day of advocacy that included meetings with key members of the General Assembly. Meeting with Representative Bill Brawley In meetings with Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger, House Speaker Tim Moore, and numerous legislato

Members of NAIOP Charlotte meet with House Speaker Tim Moore in Raleigh Members of the Charlotte chapter of NAIOP traveled to Raleigh this week for the commercial development association’s annual Day at the Capitol, and participated in a highly successful day of advocacy that included meetings with key members of the General Assembly. Meeting with Representative Bill Brawley In meetings with Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger, House Speaker Tim Moore, and numerous legislato

The curtain finally came down this week on a 10-month General Assembly session that delivered the real estate industry some of its biggest legislative wins in decades. When legislators adjourned shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, they concluded an historic session that saw the passage of key bills to spur economic development, cut regulation, and protect consumer choice. Here’s a summary of the biggest legislative wins for home builders, Realtors®, commercial and multifa

The curtain finally came down this week on a 10-month General Assembly session that delivered the real estate industry some of its biggest legislative wins in decades. When legislators adjourned shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, they concluded an historic session that saw the passage of key bills to spur economic development, cut regulation, and protect consumer choice. Here’s a summary of the biggest legislative wins for home builders, Realtors®, commercial and multifa

The state budget that Governor McCrory signed into law last week is as notable for what it does NOT include as for what it does. After weeks of speculation over provisions dealing with sales tax redistribution, economic development incentives and regulatory reform, the final product that finally emerged from a House-Senate conference committee is a surprisingly balanced spending plan with a number of big wins for Charlotte’s business and real estate communities. Here are some

The state budget that Governor McCrory signed into law last week is as notable for what it does NOT include as for what it does. After weeks of speculation over provisions dealing with sales tax redistribution, economic development incentives and regulatory reform, the final product that finally emerged from a House-Senate conference committee is a surprisingly balanced spending plan with a number of big wins for Charlotte’s business and real estate communities. Here are some

Representatives Jason Saine and Bill Brawley (at podium) join other House members last week at a bipartisan rally to oppose the Senate’s Sales Tax Redistribution proposal. The North Carolina House last week overwhelmingly rejected a Senate substitute to HB 117, the ‘NC Competes Act,’ because of language that would redistribute a larger portion of locally generated sales tax revenue statewide, likely forcing metropolitan counties like Mecklenburg to raise property taxes and fe

Representatives Jason Saine and Bill Brawley (at podium) join other House members last week at a bipartisan rally to oppose the Senate’s Sales Tax Redistribution proposal. The North Carolina House last week overwhelmingly rejected a Senate substitute to HB 117, the ‘NC Competes Act,’ because of language that would redistribute a larger portion of locally generated sales tax revenue statewide, likely forcing metropolitan counties like Mecklenburg to raise property taxes and fe

Senate leaders yesterday unveiled and approved a new Finance committee substitute to HB 117, the ‘NC Competes Act,’ with a new proposal for a 50/50 Sales Tax Distribution between point of sale and county population (the original bill redistributed 80% of local sales taxes statewide, compared to 25% under current law). The new ‘compromise’ language represents an effort by the Senate to reach a budget agreement with the House, after nearly three weeks of largely unproductive ne