Source: National Association of Builders (NAHB) From May through December, the number of new residential construction jobs that were created offset the total amount of jobs that were lost earlier in 2020 due to the …
PPP Rules Updated as New Loans Begin on Jan. 11
Source: National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) The Small Business Administration and U.S. Treasury Department have released new regulations on the expanded Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as amended through the $900 billion coronavirus relief package …
City of Houston Opens Applications for Small Business Relief Fund
The City of Houston has begun accepting applications for its recently announced $15 million Small Business Economic Relief Program (SBERP) with the application period running until September 4. The program is funded through the federal …
Renewed Focus on ‘Home’ Sees Sales, Remodels Surge
Happy August everyone! Seems like just yesterday I was penning this column for June and by the time you read this summer will be two-thirds over. Of course, from a weather perspective, the worst is …
How to Obtain an SBA Loan and Have it Forgiven
Source: National Association of Home Builders In recent weeks, Congress has adopted three bills aimed at stabilizing the economy, with more to come. The most notable of these was the $2.2 stimulus package (the CARES …
Viral Economic Stress: Impacts of the Coronavirus
NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz provided the following overview on Friday, March 20, 2020 It has been a dramatic week given ongoing aggressive government action to slow the spread of the coronavirus. While concern is …
Resources for Businesses Amid COVID-19 Threat
In an effort to keep our members informed on the latest news, resources and information during this unprecedented time, we’d like to share some practical guidance for maintaining safe work practices, preventing the spread of …
Do Economic Recoveries Die of Old Age?
The U.S. economy is clearly slowing. After adjusting for inflation, GDP grew by 2.9% in 2018, and by an even better 3.1% in 19Q1. But growth slowed to just 2% in 19Q2, is expected to …
What Will Cause the Next Recession?
The Great Recession of 2008 is firmly in the rearview mirror. We are now enjoying the longest recovery in U.S. history, the unemployment rate is near a 50-year low, wage growth is pretty good, inflation …
Residential Lot Banking: Alternative Financing to Fuel Homebuilding Growth
Home to four of the top 10 fastest growing cities in the country, the Texas homebuilding market continues to heat up. One challenge homebuilders face in this hot market is how to maintain capital to …
Give This Article to a Kid You Want to Help
Our nation continues a great economic boom. We have historically low unemployment, the stock market is at record highs, and yet many of today’s youth entering the workforce are just surviving instead of thriving. There are …
China is Slowing and it’s Their Fault
Over the last several years, the economic data coming out of China has not been particularly good. GDP growth in 19Q2 was 6.2%, a three-decade low. While the Chinese publicly say that the trade war …
Modern Monetary Theory is Voodoo Economics Redux
There is currently widespread frustration with the performance of the global economy. Traditional policy approaches are not delivering the economic results they have in the past. In the U.S., Millennials are poorer, have lower incomes, marry …
That’s a Wrap: Texas Legislature Adjourns Sine Die
On January 8 at noon, members of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives gathered in their respective chambers at the Capitol to convene the 86th legislative session. That began the 140 day countdown to …
Texas Legislature Passes Historic Flood Control Legislation
The GHBA is a founding member of Houston Stronger, a coalition of development stakeholders from around our region. The group’s initial purpose when it formed shortly after Hurricane Harvey was to push for what became …