Industry News & Press Releases
How Texas Avoided the Great Recession | Newgeography.com
(July 20, 2010, Newgeography.com)—Lately, Texas has been noted frequently for its superior economic performance. The most recent example is the CNBC ratings, which designated the Lone Star state as the top state for business in the nation. Moreover, Texas performed far better than its principal competitor states during the Great Recession as is indicated in our How Texas Averted the Great Recession report, authored for Houstonians for Responsible Growth.
Associate Council Scholarships Awarded to the Best and Brightest
The Mid-Year Forecast Luncheon was the venue for recognizing and awarding scholarships to deserving students whose parents are members of the GHBA. This year the council received $6,000 in donations from GHBA members and councils for 2010. Debbie Silver with DuPure International, the 2010 Associate Council Scholarship chairperson, announced this year’s winners. They are: Alaina Anderson, daughter of Jill and Richard Anderson; Skylar Simons, daughter of Renae and Bill Simons; Jenna VonHofe, daughter of Steve and LaDonna VonHofe; Casey Bemis, daughter of Leslie King with Greymark Construction; Hannah Ramirez, daughter of Sarah and Roland Ramirez; and Marsha Stripling, daughter of Sharon and Mark Stripling.
Special thanks to our scholarship donors, including: CenterPoint Energy, Chastang Ford, Chesmar Homes, DuPure International, Eric L. Davis Engineering Inc., Forest Financial Services Ltd., Grand View Builders, Greymark Construction Co., Newmark Homes Houston LLC, Swantner & Gordon Insurance Agency and Taylor Morrison Homes.
NAHB Applauds EPA's Decision to Delay Lead Paint Certification Enforcement
WASHINGTON, June 21--The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision to delay enforcement of the new Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule will provide much-needed time to get more remodelers and other contractors trained—and for EPA to get the word out to consumers about the importance of hiring a certified remodeler, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
“EPA listened to our concerns and did the right thing,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a builder and developer in
In revised guidance released on Friday, EPA acknowledged that remodelers in many parts of the country have been unable to obtain the required training to comply with the rule – a problem that NAHB has urged the agency to solve since the rule was announced two years ago.
While remodelers, electricians, heating and air conditioning technicians and other contractors must adhere to lead-safe work practices, including special equipment filters and a ban on open flames, EPA will not take enforcement action against firms that have been unable to obtain certification until Oct. 1 of this year.
“This rule potentially affects about 79 million homeowners. That’s how many homes were built before 1978, when lead paint was banned,” Jones said. “We need significantly more contractors certified than the 300,000 who have taken the training course, and we also need to make sure that affected homeowners understand the importance of hiring a certified contractor.”
Homeowners can find a certified firm at http://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/searchrrp_firm.htm. Remodelers can search for an EPA-approved training provider at http://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/searchrrp_training.htm or contact GHBA at 281.970.8970x161 to find Certified Renovator training sessions.
2010 Project Playhouse Comes to Bridgeland July 10
Baseball fans will be crying “Take me out to the Bridgeland community,” July 10 to see HomeAid Houston’s 2010 Project Playhouse, “The Vintage Astros Dugout” and enjoy a day of baseball-themed fun.The event, set for 10 a.m. to noon, showcases the playhouse, built in honor of the Astros’ 45th year as a ball club. It is the perfect getaway for the young baseball fan, including bench seating from the Astros dugout in Minute Maid Park (complete with cleat marks), a wall-mounted 32-inch HDTV, a Nintendo Wii, a DVD player and an 8,000 BTU air conditioner with remote control.
Bill Shaw Named NAHB’s July Remodeler of the Month
Bill Shaw with William Shaw and Associates Remodelers was recently named NAHB’s Remodeler of the Month for July. The NAHB received a number of excellent nominations and selected Bill after a stringent judging process by NAHB Remodelers leadership and staff who represent the best in the remodeling industry. The NAHB named Bill and his company the Remodeler of the Month for July because of his proven quality of work, excellent customer service, unwavering commitment to community involvement, and his dedication to furthering the industry.
The purpose of the NAHB Remodeler of the Month award program is to celebrate local, active remodelers who stand out within their industry. The winner, once selected by the NAHB Remodelers, is profiled in Qualified Remodeler magazine.
Green Building Initiative (GBI) to be Phased Out September 1. New GBGC Mandatory Verifier Training to be Held May 26.
The GHBA is launching a new green building program, Green Built Gulf Coast (GBGC), with a go-live date of June 1, 2010. Under GBGC, the association is now an adopting entity of the National Green Building Standard® ICC 700-2008. GBGC is a voluntary green building program in which all GHBA members can participate.
If you have been a participating builder in the GHBA Green Building Initiative (GBI), all homes that have started prior to June 1 and finish prior to September 1, 2010 will qualify under the GHBA GBI program. On June 1, the GBI program will no longer be a valid program for new home starts.
For those planning to transition to the new GBGC program, the first Verifier Training Education Course will be held May 26 at GHBA. This is a mandatory class for ALL Verifier Participants of GBGC.
HomeAid Dedicates First ANSI Gold Award Project in Texas
HomeAid Houston recently dedicated its Gracewood remodel project—the Promise House. The project was awarded the first Gold ANSI (American National Standards Institute) certificate for a green remodel in Texas. To complete the project, HomeAid partnered with GHBA member vendors and remodeler Brothers Strong, a pioneer in green construction in Houston.
Gracewood, a charity associated with Children at Heart Ministries, assists single mothers and their children who are experiencing hardship that could otherwise result in homelessness. Gracewood provides a safe, loving environment and assists in personal development through counseling, job training and educational classes. The 3,600 sq. ft. remodeled home will soon house four single mothers and their children.
Dan Wallrath & Operation FINALLY HOME to be Honored
The Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars has requested Dan Wallrath to be present at their national convention in Indianapolis, IN. He will represent Operation FINALLY HOME. The charity will be honored for its work in providing-mortgage free homes to America's war wounded.
Click here for more information on the event.
David Weekley Receives Ethical Leadership Award
For his selfless leadership, moral business acumen and unwavering level of social responsibility, David Weekley, chairman of David Weekley Homes, has been named the 2010 recipient of the Ethical Leadership in Action Award by the University of St. Thomas Center for Business Ethics.
McGuyer Homebuilders partners with Wheelock Street Capital
McGuyer Homebuilders Inc. ("MHI") of Houston, Texas today announced the formation of a joint venture partnership with Wheelock Street Capital to purchase and develop residential land for lot sales and homebuilding. Together, they recently closed on their first transaction, which included the acquisition of more than 3,000 homesites across eight communities in Texas originially from lender GMAC / RFC. The all-equity investment totaled more than $15 million, and is the first of what both firms expect to be a growing relationship. Together, the firms will seek to acquire single assets, portfolios and other homebuilders with the goal of investing in excess of $50 million. The eight communities are located in Austin, Dallas and Houston. The diversified portfolio will include product for buyers ranging from first time homebuyers to second time move up buyers.
Telfair Wins Three HBJ Landmark Awards
Telfair, a 2,018‐acre masterplanned community in Sugar Land, has won three Landmark awards from the Houston
Business Journal, including the award for best residential community and two awards for transforming a historic
state prison building into a poplar science museum.
Telfair took top honors in the Residential Development category, with the HBJ‐produced video that announced the
award stating that the four‐year‐old community had a 10% sales increase in 2009 a year when overall new home
sales in the Houston region were down by double digits.
BMC SELECT™ Names VP and Houston GM Dave Ondrasek to Chair Company's New Millwork Best Practices Council
BMC SELECT™, one of the nation's leading providers of building materials and construction services, has appointed
Dave Ondrasek, currently vice president and general manager of the company's Houston operations, to chair its
Millwork Best Practices Council. In his new role, Dave will work directly with each millwork operation to ensure they
all apply established best practices through a coordinated and consistent effort.
Although Ondrasek will remain based in Houston, he'll work closely with BMC SELECT's senior management and
corporate purchasing personnel to identify key strategic objectives for the company's two‐dozen‐plus millwork
facilities in eight states. Key areas to address include sales strategies, sourcing and vendor relationships,
equipment utilization, productivity, and expansion opportunities.
Lead Paint Certified Remodelers in Short Supply
Home owners planning a remodeling project this spring may not be able to find a qualified remodeler if a new regulation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) goes into effect as scheduled, according to the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA). The regulation aims to reduce exposure to lead paint that may occur when a home built before 1978 is remodeled.
As of April 22, the EPA will require all contractors working in homes built before lead paint was banned to be trained and certified under the Lead Paint: Renovation, Repair and Painting Rull (LRRP). Contractors subject to the rule include remodelers, carpenters, plumbers, heating and air conditioning workers, window installers and others.
Four Houston Communities Rank Among 2009's Top Sellers
Each year, Robert Charles Lesser & Co (RCLCO) invites more than 400 communities across the U.S. to participate in the survey. As in past years, a majority of the top-selling master-planned communities have been located in the southwestern region of the country, with the Houston market performing best overall.
Newland Community’s Cinco Ranch, with 887 net sales, was 2009’s top-selling master-planned community (MPC) in the U.S. according to Robert Charles Lesser & Co (RCLCO), an independent real estate advisory firm. This marks a 14% increase in net sales over 2008 (the third best year in the community's 19-year history).
The Woodlands Development Co's master-planned community ranked number two in the RCLCO Top 10, with 633 net sales. Hitting the charts at number four was Newland Communities' Telfair development in Sugar Land. Telfair saw a 9% increase over 2008 with 450 net sales. Sienna Plantation by The Johnson Development Co. rounded out the list at number 10, with 280 net sales.
Total number of net sales in 2009 for the majority of the top 20 best-selling MPCs dropped from 2008 levels, with sales volume declining by as little as 8% and as much as 84%. Newland’s Cinco Ranch and Telfair were a strong exception to this trend, posting increased sales for the third year in a row.
Newland Community’s Cinco Ranch, with 887 net sales, was 2009’s top-selling master-planned community (MPC) in the U.S. according to Robert Charles Lesser & Co (RCLCO), an independent real estate advisory firm. This marks a 14% increase in net sales over 2008 (the third best year in the community's 19-year history).
The Woodlands Development Co's master-planned community ranked number two in the RCLCO Top 10, with 633 net sales. Hitting the charts at number four was Newland Communities' Telfair development in Sugar Land. Telfair saw a 9% increase over 2008 with 450 net sales. Sienna Plantation by The Johnson Development Co. rounded out the list at number 10, with 280 net sales.
Total number of net sales in 2009 for the majority of the top 20 best-selling MPCs dropped from 2008 levels, with sales volume declining by as little as 8% and as much as 84%. Newland’s Cinco Ranch and Telfair were a strong exception to this trend, posting increased sales for the third year in a row.
David Weekley Homes Wins Department of Energy's Builders Challenge in Houston
By the middle of 2009, David Weekley Homes had qualified 280 homes – more than any other builder – for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Builders Challenge. They did this by building homes that scored an average of 67 on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS). By November 2009, the builder had an additional 600 homes ready for certification.
Dan Wallrath Honored as Hero of the Week by CNN
Dan Wallrath, a retired home builder and long-time member of the GHBA, was recently named a CNN Hero of the Week, a program that invites viewers to nominate individuals who are making a difference in the lives of others.Professional Designations Boost Companies' Bottom Line
Nationally recognized education courses are part of GHBA's program to enhance its members' marketability. Texas leads the country in the number of industry professionals who hold NAHB designations.
Million Dollar Circle Awards
Congratulations to new home sales professionals who topped the $1 million mark in 2009. See who was honored with the prestigious award.
2010 Industry Forecast Offers Mixed Bag
With the room filled to capacity, Metrostudy’s Mike Inselmann shared building industry trends and outlook for 2010. More than 900 guests attended the GHBA Forecast Luncheon held at the Westin Galleria on January 11, 2010.
2009 "Of the Year" Honorees Announced
The Greater Houston Builders Association recently announced “The best of 2009” Production Builder, Custom Builder, Developer and Remodeler of the Year winners. Awards were presented by Kevin Holland, incoming GHBA board president and Lisa Clark, outgoing president at the January GHBA Forecast Luncheon.
GHBA Installs 2010 Board of Directors
We invite you to get to know your association leadership. These professionals come from all sectors of the building industry.
Together they volunteer countless hours to the association, helping shape policy, drive growth, and lead the
charge for education and advocacy.
"Houston's Best" 2009 Announced at House of Blues
The Greater Houston Builders Association’s Sales & Marketing Council recently announced the winners of the 2009 “Houston Houston
GHBA's Benefit Homes Project Receives Outstanding Service Award
The Greater Houston Builders Association’s Benefit Homes Project has been selected as the recipient of the 2009 Outstanding Community Service Organization Award presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). This award recognizes the community service organization that demonstrates an outstanding commitment through community involvement and/or financial or in-kind support through philanthropic efforts. Texas Children’s Hospital, one of the beneficiaries of the 29 year old GHBA charity, nominated the Benefit Homes Project for this prestigious award.
Fix Housing First is Now History. Below are the Stimulus Package Highlights
In response to the economic decline over the past 18 months, leadership from the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) spent months in the early stages during 2008 meeting with representatives in Washington D.C., Austin and Houston. The goal was to emphasize the direct impact the housing industry has on the nation’s economy. The following is a list of just a few of the facts* shared with members of Congress and elected officials to emphasize our position.
Houston Builder First in Texas to Earn National Remodeler Award
Stephen Hann, of Hann Builders became the first builder in Texas to earn the Graduate Master Remodeler (GMR) designation, identifying him as one of the remodeling industry’s top professionals. Administered by The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), University of Housing, the GMR program is sponsored locally by the Greater Houston Builders Association.
2008 Builder, Remodeler, Developer and Associate of the Year Awards Announced
The New Year brought in a new venue as “the best of 2008” were honored at the February 2009 GHBA board of directors meeting at the GHBA offices. The guest of honor list was headed by incoming GHBA President Lisa Clark, vice president of Ryko Development, who was installed along with her 2009 Executive Committee and board of directors. Lisa’s daughter Melissa served as the installing officer, and Lisa’s son Jonathan and husband Randy were also on-hand to share in the honor.
81st Texas Legislative Session: What to Expect in 2009
The 81st Session of the Texas State Legislature begins on January 13, 2009, and this is going to be quite an interesting session. In the Texas House, the Republicans hold the majority, but with a narrow margin of just 76-74. And in the Texas Senate, the Republicans hold a 19 to 12 majority, with GHBA HOME-PAC supported candidate Joan Huffman winning the Senate District 17 runoff.
GHBA Remodelors Council Brings Home Three CADRE Awards
The GHBA Remodelors Council was awarded three CADRE Awards at the NAHB Remodelers annual gala at the 2008 Remodeling Show in Baltimore, Md. on September 11. Winning entries included: “Community Service,” “Remodeler of the Year,” and “Outstanding Council Coordinator.”
