Looking Out for Our Members:

Looking Out for Our Builders and Developer Members – Transfer Tax Economic Impact Survey
 
Builders and developers, please respond to the email we sent August 10, 2017 for sales prices and development costs.  We need this data so that the economists at NAHB can prepare studies on the economic impact new home construction contributes to the local economy in Delaware and the negative impact of the increased transfer tax. If you missed the email, please email us and ask for another survey form at info@hbade.org
 
 
 
 
Looking Out for Our Members – Cluster Mailboxes in New Communities
 
Coming soon, postal authorities will be implementing requirements that all new home communities will be required to use cluster mailboxes; and that existing home communities will be polled to see if they want cluster boxes. Apparently studies show that fewer letter carriers can deliver more mail faster using cluster boxes.
 
While we presume existing communities will not have to pay for the cluster boxes,  new home community builders and developers certainly will.  We understand there could be a couple options. One, if a set of cluster boxes is at the end of a street, then it could be placed alongside the road.  However, if the builder decides to have one location for all cluster mailboxes in the community, they will likely need to configure their site to provide for a vehicle pull-off area, concrete sidewalks to the boxes, and so forth.
 
NAHB will be submitting a letter to Congress when they return to session, to allow builders and developers to petition for waiver to allow curbside delivery.  Until this happens, builders should check with their local postmaster for guidance.
 
It sounds like these postal regulations have been in place for a number of years, but not implemented quite at the same speed.  We will post the regulations on our website when we receive them, but builders and developers should check with their local building officials or consulting engineers until then.