WHA Attending the 2017 International Builders’ Show (IBS)

The 2017 International Builders’ Show (IBS) wrapped up on January 12th in Orlando, Florida. With more than 80,000 participants and 1,500 exhibitors filling the halls of one of the largest convention facilities in the world, you could truly say this show was “Yuge.” An underlying nervousness could be felt, however, in many of the presentations as the beginning of 2017 brings a heightened level of uncertainty emanating from Washington D.C. Economic models had envisioned a different outcome so the path forward is simply unclear.

The greatest concerns seem to be immigration policy, rising interest rates, the impact of the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and the appointment of the inexperienced Ben Carson as HUD Secretary. The homebuilding industry relies on immigrant labor (both documented and otherwise) who are also the occupants of our homes (particularly in the apartment industry). One speaker announced that in just the past few months, the cost of building in the Washington D.C. area has increased 36% in part due to immigration fears. Rising interest rates are an obvious factor for home sales, but the repeal of the ACA may require more income diverted to healthcare rather than to mortgage and rent. As for HUD, speakers felt confident that those underneath the Secretary would be able to maintain normality. Another aligned fear is the dismantling of affordable housing tax credits which most felt would ultimately be protected. Several speakers thought that 2017 might be a shaky period but stated, with confidence, that late 2018 would be very strong for the housing industry. Given that a new project might take two years from conception to fruition, now is the time for developers to prepare for the coming market! Many indicated that the long-anticipated and long-delayed Millennial market will finally happen in 2018.

Another main theme of the show was Home Automation. One panel had just (literally) arrived from the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES). One of the speakers noted that she has attended the CES for more than 25 years and always felt that the things they showed were “the future.” She said this year, for the first time, she felt that the future is now. All of these products are readily available, noting that in the past several years, the focus was on the retrofit of existing homes (because of the recession) but now, the focus is expanded to new homes.

The panelists indicated that the cost of “sensors” has dropped dramatically, so now, for example, a large number of new products are devoted to “Baby-Tech” (or “Mommy-Tech”) where a computer will constantly monitor a sleeping baby’s position, air quality, temperature, etc., perhaps to the point of too much information?

Voice-control of homes (through Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, and Siri) will only become more pervasive but they all will rely on advanced routers, enhanced WiFi, and much more sophisticated wiring of homes. They advocated strongly that conduit is provided because the types of cabling will change with time.

On the exhibit floor, many examples of “Smart Home” technology were available from smart showers, smart toilets, induction cooktops (in the near future, cooktops will become a thing of the past in that anywhere on your entire counter can be your cooking surface), and much more.

Even in apartments, a basic “smart setup” will be normal where the door locks, lighting, and temperature will be controlled from your phone and can be easily changed with tenant turnover.

For WHA, the highlight of the IBS was The Nationals Sales and Marketing Awards ceremony. Before a glittering crowd of 800 or so, WHA’s Placewright Design branding studio received two Gold Awards: Best Logo Design was presented to The Abigail for Bridge Housing, and Best Microsite/Website for an Associate or Supplier was presented to Thompson Building Materials. WHA also picked up a Silver Award for Pardee Homes’ Parkview in San Diego’s Ocean View Hills at Dennery Ranch, for the Best Architectural Design Detached under 2000 SF. Read More.

I also had a chance to visit The New American Home and The New American Remodeled Home in the community of Lake Nona, the NEXTAdventure 55+ Home by Taylor Morrison in Highland Ranch, and the beautiful, neo-traditional community of Baldwin Park near downtown Orlando.  Overall, an exhausting but informative three-day event.