 (Houston Business Journal) – Houston is home to two of the country's five top-selling master-planned communities, according to John Burns Real Estate Consulting LLC.
The Woodlands ranked second based on 945 home sales last year, up from 786 sales in 2010. Cinco Ranch came in third with 862 home sales, up from 823 sales in 2010. The top spot went to The Villages in Orlando, Fla., which had 2,307 sales. Twelve of the top 50 master-planned communities in the survey are in Houston. A list is posted on the Houston Business Journal's website.
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The Associate Council is proud to offer the annual GHBA Scholarship Program, which benefits children of association members. These scholarships are made possible through the donations of generous members. All funds donated go directly to student scholarships. Awards will be presented at the GHBA Mid-Year Forecast Luncheon in June 2012.
Scholarship eligibility:
- Applicant must be the child of a GHBA member in good standing. (Every employee of a member company is considered a "member.")
- Applicant must be a high senior, or currently attending an accredited university.
- Applications should include high school/college transcripts and a one-page essay.
- Deadline to apply: May 1, 2012
Donors: All scholarship donors will be recognized at the GHBA Mid-Year Forecast Luncheon and in Houston Builder magazine. Contributors of $3,000 or more will have one scholarship presented in your honor, named for you and/or your company. You may also present an award on stage at the 2012 Mid-Year Forecast Luncheon. Download the donor form here.
A new benefit for members is the “Legal Tips” section on www.nahb.org that includes regularly updated postings from our Legal Research Program. During its 37 years of continuous operation, the Legal Research Program has responded to thousands of our members' legal questions covering a wide range of subjects related to residential construction and business operations for home builders, remodelers and associates.
The program strives to provide accurate legal information in plain language that is easily understood. Current topics include:
- Website images and copyright infringement
- Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreements
- Immigration law compliance and subcontractors
- Cancellation requirements for home improvement contracts
- Pre-contract language for protecting plans submitted with bids
Access "Legal Tips" by visiting www.nahb.org/legaltips.
Several of Houston’s top names will be ‘kicking it up’ on the catwalk at the premier Cowboy Catwalk event sponsored by the Women Contractors Association (WCA). Mayor Annise Parker; Dr. Jack Christie, Houston City Council; Kellie Vazquez, President of Holes Incorporated; Mary Ann Perez, HCC Trustee; Bette Moser, executive director of HomeAid Houston and Carlecia Wright, Mayors Office of Business Opportunity—to name just a few—will be modeling Western wear fashions by Pinto Ranch.
The Cowboy Catwalk is a kick-off to the WCA’s annual fundraiser, “Boots & Bling” to be held in the spring.
“Cowboy Catwalk is a fun way to bring attention to a very serious issue in Houston,” said Valerie Delafosse, executive director of WCA. “This mix and mingle/fashion show will bring awareness to the WCA’s commitment to ending homelessness in Houston. Our fundraiser in the spring, “Boots & Bling” raises money for HomeAid Houston, a charity that fights homelessness on a daily basis. We are honored to have the mayor and a host of other industry professionals on the catwalk for this important cause.”
The Cowboy Catwalk will be held February 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Arrangement at 1721 Post Oak Blvd. Entry is free, but space is limited.
As leaders in their industry, WCA is a non-profit organization composed of women owners and decision-making executives within or ancillary to the construction industry. The association is committed to the advancement of women in the construction arena through education, support and networking.
HomeAid Houston is a 501(c)3 charity sponsored by the Greater Houston Builders Association. Since 2003, HomeAid Houston has been building transitional housing for individuals facing homelessness. The WCA is assisting HomeAid in their mission. Last year’s “Boots & Bling” event raised proceeds that were used to fund the remodeling of Santa Maria Hostel’s lobby in the Spring Branch area. The facility is also being used to support and serve homeless female veterans.
For more information about “Cowboy Catwalk” and to RSVP (by Feb. 15), email Valerie Delafosse, call 713.807.9977 or visit www.womencontractors.org. For more information on HomeAid Houston visit www.homeaidhouston.org or call the GHBA at 281-970-8970. Please like HomeAid’s facebook at www.facebook.com/HomeAidHouston.
 HOME-PAC, GHBA's Political Action Committee, directs financial support of the homebuilding industry and is committed to protecting housing affordability and consumer choices. Through your contribution to HOME-PAC, we are able to pool our resources and unite to support the best qualified, pro-housing candidates for local and state office. Can you afford NOT to participate?
 As an added benefit, HOME-PAC trustees and sustaining members are invited to join their local officials at special events throughout the year at no additional cost. These events provide an exclusive opportunity to meet face to face with the decision makers in the Greater Houston area.
Pictured: HOME-PAC Trustees interview Jay Old (center), a congressional candidate for Texas' 14th District. Trustess, from left, are Ed Taravella, TARACORP; Mike Dishberger, Sandcastle Homes; Bob Stout, Stout Government Relations; and Jim Goettee, Goettee Interests, LLP.
Thank you to our 2011 supporters. Make your 2012 commitment today!
 “You’re not sitting around the house all summer. Get out there and find a job!” Dan’s father ushered him out the door and the rest is history. Dan wandered onto a nearby construction site in Champions and started framing and trimming out houses. Despite being made to throw 1,500 studs from the ground to the second floor subfloor his first day, he fell in love with homebuilding that day. By the summer of his senior year, Dan was remodeling with his own tools. Following an insatiable quest to buy more tools and write off the cost, he continued. Even college and law school at Baylor didn’t stop him. Dan remodeled for his professors, hoping it would boost his grades. It didn’t. But he made enough money to cover his beer, and even some books and tuition. Unlike many of his business owner peers who don’t “wear the tool belt” anymore, Dan still has many tools and uses them on the job (unless his trades charge him more for “helping out”).
Dan joined the association in 1990 and soon became the GHBA Remodelors Council (RMC) president. He thought it was a great honor, but actually, the other three people in the council had already served, and they were tired. He took on the job and went on to become the only remodeling specialist to serve as GHBA president—so far. Fellow remodeler Leslie King, CEO of Greymark Construction will soon be the second remodeler president of GHBA! The Remodelors Council grew quickly and has consistently been one of the top three councils in the nation (with over 300 member companies), winning a disproportionate share of national excellence awards for the last 16 years. Dan has steadily remained active in the RMC and rarely misses a meeting, networking event or charity project.
Dan’s adventures at GHBA include helping to build the current association headquarters the year he was president. In fact, you may not know that he personally set some of the insulated concrete forms that now comprise the walls of the GHBA building. Another highlight was working on the Extreme Makeover Home Edition in East Bernard, courtesy of KC Cox with Weyerhaeuser. Dan and his lovely wife Konne, became experts in screwing down subfloor and other tasks, working alongside other passionate GHBA volunteers.
In his non-work-related adventures, Dan enjoys skydiving with his daughter Katie, scuba diving with his wife and children, snow skiing in cow suits with rubber udders, playing jazz/blues trumpet and singing in musicals at the Hobby Center and the Wortham Center downtown, golf and racquetball. Life is good!
In 2001, Dan started the CAPS (Certified Aging in Place) designation for NAHB. CAPS is still one of the most popular education course offered to date, with its seats filled with new home builders, remodelers, ASID designers and health professionals. That led to writing and publishing opportunities, HGTV appearances, and articles in every national newspaper and national magazine you can think of, from the New York Times to Money Magazine. The three-day CAPS certification course teaches the unique opportunities of building and modifying homes for the over massive “over 55” segment of America’s graying population.
His biggest passion however, is teaching Universal Design and Aging in Place Design & Construction. Dan has taught the CAPS courses at GHBA since their inception, but he also teaches elsewhere around the country. He is regularly tapped to be the CAPS instructor at the International Builders Show every year. A popular instructor with his students, he was just informed that he’ll be recognized at the 2012 International Builders Show in Orlando, as the NAHB “Educator of the Year.” It will become official on February 7, 2012.
Dan still considers himself a raving fan of GHBA and says, “I will always treasure all the wonderful friends and strong relationships I’ve built with both members and staff over the last 22 years. GHBA is family to me.”
To learn more about Dan visit www.legaleaglecontractors.com.
Did you miss it?
Mark Dotzour's "Analyzing the 2012 Economic Environment" Forecast Available for Download
 On Tuesday, January 10, Dr. Mark G. Dotzour, chief economist for the Texas A&M Real Estate Center, offered a homebuilder's perspective on the economy at GHBA's annual Forecast Luncheon.
Nearly 700 members were in attendance to learn how global and national trends are influencing the normal growth and prosperity of the Texas economy. Other topics included the outlook for job growth, interest rates, home sales and new home construction.
Download the full presentation. And stay tuned for a complete recap in the February issue of Houston Builder magazine.
 Learn how to maximize your membership at the GHBA Membership Orientation & Networking Event!
Thursday, February 2, at 4 p.m. in the GHBA Education Center
Are you a new GHBA member? Have you been a member for awhile, but would like to get more involved? Would like to learn more about the many GHBA councils, committees or divisions? Do you need help determining what sponsorship opportunities will make the best use of your marketing dollars and put you in front of your target audience?
GHBA members have so many opportunities to network with industry partners, how do you know where to start? Come hear from representatives of the Custom Builders Council, Remodelors Council, Sales & Marketing Council and many others about how to get involved, and how they have made GHBA membership work for their companies.
Register online or contact Membership Director Lisa Pepitone at lpepitone@ghba.org or 281-970-8970 x110.
Can't join us in person? Check out the 2012 GHBA Marketing Guide for a comprehensive list of events, sponsorships, advertising opportunities, and other ideas for getting involved in the the association.
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