Housing Affordability Increases in LA/Ventura Region

Housing affordability increased in the third quarter of 2010 in both the Los Angeles and Ventura County regions. The Housing Opportunity Index released this week showed increased affordability across California, including significant increases in the LAV area. A family in Los Angeles County could have afforded 40.3 percent of the new and existing homes that were sold in the third quarter, up from 33.3 percent the previous quarter. Meanwhile, a family in Ventura County could have afforded 55.9 percent of the homes sold in the third quarter, up from 46.9 percent in second quarter 2010. While the Los Angeles region is still one of the least affordable in the country, the Housing Opportunity Index has not been consistently this high since 2001-2. A complete history of the Housing Opportunity Index is available here.

Nationwide, 72.1 percent of new and existing homes sold in the third quarter were affordable to families earning the national median income, down slightly from 72.3 percent in the second quarter. Kokomo, Ind., was the nation’s most-affordable housing market with an affordability ranking of 96.1 percent, followed by Mansfield, Ohio, with a ranking of 95.7 percent.

Low Impact Development Technology Forum

A technology forum examining a variety of Low Impact Development best management practices is scheduled for December 14, 2010. This forum emphasizes how to evaluate and use LID BMPS in urban areas for managing a project's runoff and how to adapt to using the new BMP feasibility process that recently adopted MS4 permits include. The instructors will present design principles that must be
applied to most new and redevelopment projects.

Post-construction stormwater management is increasingly important for builders and developers as they work to comply with new Municipal Stormwater requirements. This forum is a must attend for those in the engineering, land planning, and public works fields. 

The forum is hosted by Los Angeles County and will be held at the Department of Public Works building at 900 S. Fremont in Alhambra from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm.

The forum features a stellar line-up of speakers and is sponsored by experts in the Low Impact Development field including Filterra Systems, Contech Construction Products, and Orco Block.

Contact Maile Imig at the BIA to register.

BUILDING INDUSRTY SHOW 2010!

Next week is the 2010 BIS Show at the Long Beach Convention Center Nov 18 and 19. Here are just a few things that you won't want to miss:

Green Pavillion - this area is dedicated to green related products and services in one convenient location

Design Pavillion - will offer insight from leading Architects, Interior Designers and Landscape Architects. Experts will be available to review your plans and offer suggestions.

Big Builder Breakfast - Friday morning you'll hear an active discussion between Adrian Foley, Mick Pattinson, Larry Webb and Liesel Cooper. They'll share their views on what we need to do as industry leaders as we forge into 2011.

P.A.S.S. Event - this year the P.A.S.S. event is being held on the exhibit floor and has become the New Produc Showcase. This cocktail mixer will provide trades an opportunity to feature what is new.

Golf Tournament - this year's tournament will be held on November 17 at the El Dorado Golf Course.

If you haven't registered yet, register today!

BIA/LAV Installation & Awards Dinner is Friday

The Annual BIA/LAV Installation and Awards Dinner will be held this Friday, November 5 at the Skirball Cultural Center and we hope to see you there! We will install the 2011 Board of Directors including President Jonathan Lonner of Burns and Bouchard. Thanks to our sponsors:

Bank of America                                             Lennar Communities

Hall & Foreman                                              Victory Homes

Hanley Wood Market Intelligence                    Watt Communities

Burns & Bouchard                                          Cerrell Associates

CityView                                                         Wells Fargo Home Loans

Creative Design Interiors                               Partners Capital Solutions

MetLife Home Loans                                       PPC Land Ventures

Mercury                                                           CDS Insurance

PCL Construction Services                              KFG Investment Company

SoCal Gas                                                        KB Home

Crawford & Bangs, LLC                                   California Home Builders

But this event is about more than just installing the 2011 Board of Directors. It'salso a chance to catch up with old friends and reflect on the year gone by. While many of us are ready for 2010 to end in hopes of an improving economy in 2011, BIA/LAV is very proud of its many accomplishments this year. Most notably, of course, is the successful resolution of the Ventura MS4 (stormwater) permit. When BIA appealed the permit last year, who imagined that there would be a new permit in place by now. Not only did the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board understand and agree with our view, amending the permit to allow more options for compliance, but we avoided costly and lengthy litigation. While the final 2010 permit will be difficult to comply with, the 2009 permit would have virtually stopped development by requiring so much land dedicated to stormwater management it made projects infeasible or extremely costly.

Another major initiative this year was the launch of Project Greenlight. This new initiative helps BIA Associate members connect with BIA Builder members and helps get future housing developments approved. That construction, in turn, puts our members back to work!

So we hope to see you on Friday night, where you'll hear about these successes and much more.

Welcome to the BIA/LAV Blog!

Welcome to the BIA/LAV Blog! We here at BIA/LAV are excited to introduce this new blog, which will be an easy place for you to keep up with everything you need to know about the BIA. Wondering when the next event is? Wondering whether the BIA is for or against the latest City regulation? You can keep up with current events here on the blog. All of your BIA/LAV staff will be blogging from time to time.

You can also follow BIA/LAV on your favorite social media. Whether you prefer to use Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter, you can find BIA/LAV! Use the links to the right to become a fan, group member, or follower of BIA/LAV!

Of course, you can always check in directly with your BIA/LAV staff whenever you have questions – this is YOUR association and we want to make sure you get the most value from your membership. We hope the new website design will make it even easier for you to get involved.

Happy Reading!