President’s Message

May 2022, Vol. 59, No. 5

6100 S. 58th Street, Suite C Lincoln, NE 68516 (402) 423-4225 www.hbal.org • info@hbal.org The Lincoln Business Builder is published 12 times per year by the Home Builders Association of Lincoln. The Lincoln Business Builder is sent to all members of the HBAL. The Home Builders Association does not accept responsibility for or endorse any statements or claims made by advertisers or authors of any articles.

Executive Committee

Ward Fred Hoppe, President Lori Wellman, CKD, CGR, CAPS, President Elect Beau Daffer, 1st Vice President

Perry Haralson, 2nd Vice President Ryan Trausch, Secretary Bob Bryant, Treasurer

Matt Kinning, Immediate Past President Michaela Schwarten, Executive Vice President Board of Directors

Megan Dreyer Matt Firestone Kenny German Kelly Krueger Dave Lakin Hayley Lane

Dan Loeck Jereme Montgomery Blake Pittack Tyler Reynolds Brett Sundberg Sam Swartz

Remodelers Council

Tim Zeng Past Presidents

Jerry Boyce Jim Christo Steve Fulton John Hoppe, Jr. Justin Johnson Bo Jones Mike Kinning Dan Klein, Sr. Matt Kleinschmit Rick Krueger

Dan Kubr Sam Manzitto Mike May Herb Reese Roger Reynolds Mike Rezac Dick Robison J. Greg Schwinn Bob Stephens Denny Van Horn

HBAL Staff

President’s Message

Fred Hoppe, HBAL President

April is the cruelest month they say and the April wind has been cruel. But not only the weather. Home building has plenty of wind in our face: no truly affordable lots; rising prices for everything (labor and materials); rising interest rates. But thankfully no rain to slow us down. And even that will be a problem probably. County Assessor, Rob Ogden told me the other day that single family homes are 71% of the Lincoln real estate valuation. That means the taxes from single family homes pay for 71% of the City’s planned spending. That alone tells me “housing pays for itself”. And what is the point of economic development focusing on jobs --- to grow a city, right. But the true point is to grow who lives and spends money in the city. And that means housing. Lincoln has to have housing for all those employees. So fellow homebuilders lets persevere and keep doing what we do. It is more important now than ever.

2022 HBAL President Fred Hoppe discusses housing with City Council Member and guest speaker, Bennie Shobe, at the Tribute To Youth Dinner on April 12.