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Local Home Builders Association Promotes Local Home Builders By REBECCA WATTS

The Bryan-College Station Home Builders Association is making the best of the best available for public viewing as they open over 50 homes to the public during the Spring Parade of Homes. The Parade of Homes offers local and potential residents the opportunity to see a variety of home layouts and subdivisions, as well as the work of area home builders. But the services the HBA offers extend beyond the Parade of Homes. Members are not only builders, but local businesses that are associated with all aspects of the building community; everything from appliances and windows, to accounting and printing services.

Dawn Bowers, Customer Advocate for University Title Company, said, “We like to support industries that support our industry, which makes University Title and the HBA a nice fit. It also gives us the opportunity to contribute to an industry that’s working for our builders.”

The HBA strives to promote and protect the building industry in the six counties it serves: Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Madison, Robertson and Washington counties. It’s a local trade organization whose mission is to promote a positive environment to build homes in, while working to keep costs down and maintaining quality for home buyers.

Being a member of the HBA offers plenty of benefits. Discounts on GM vehicles, Dell computers, shipping services, payroll services, and storage facilities are only a few. The HBA holds classes scheduled as needed that allow associate members to market their products and services and Bowers said the networking opportunities alone are a reason to join.

“The networking is huge,” Bowers said. “My boss’ theory is that people do business with people that they know. The HBA has offered us that opportunity to get to know people and do business with them.”

The HBA also lobbies at the local, state and federal level in conjunction with the Texas Home Builders Association and the National Home Builders Association. Two of the primary functions of the organization is to provide education and resources on codes and regulations builders are required to meet and through their state and national involvement, track legislation to make sure new codes and requirements are fair and balanced for both home owners and home builders. Keith Ellis, the 2008 HBA President and owner of Ellis Custom Homes, said unnecessary legislation raises the costs of homes for home buyers.

“For every $1,000 a house goes up, you cut a significant portion of the population out of the market to buy a home,” Ellis said. “You look at a lot of the issues with the regulation and zoning requirements and parkland dedication fees, they all impact the cost of homes.”

Last month several HBA members traveled to Washington to speak with Congressman Chet Edwards concerning EPA regulations, green building, and mortgage legislation, during the HBA National Rally Day; a day designated for HBA members from all over the nation to discuss issues that affect the housing industry.

The HBA is comprised of 420 volunteer members that are either home builders or businesses affiliated with the building industry. Each builder member must be registered with the Texas Residential Construction Commission and pay annual dues of $415; associate members, those that are not involved in the remodeling or construction of home, are required only to pay the dues. The organization is governed by a 17-member Board of Directors selected by HBA members, which sets policies for the year. The Board then selects several committees to preside over various events organized throughout the year. Keith Ellis, HBA president and owner of Ellis Custom Homes said membership is available to everyone.

Kim Jacobs, executive vice-president of the HBA, said: “Our voluntary members are the backbone of the Association. As board members, chairs and vice-chairs, our members exhibit true leadership qualities by focusing the energies and talents of a diverse group of members. No less important are the members who serve as committee members or volunteer at our events, taking time away from their professional responsibilities and contribute selflessly to our Association’s success. Our members see their roles as encompassing a wider scope than just their business and we are all better for it.”