BUILDING INDUSTRY NEWS

Sierra Title Hosts Its 41st Annual Tamalada

Beautiful weather, great company, and delicious tamales were served at the 41st annual Sierra Title Tamalada on November 9. Hosted at the company’s main office in McAllen, Texas, visitors were delighted to participate in Sierra Title’s traditional Tamalada after being forced to cancel it last year due to the pandemic.

For more than four decades now, the Sierra Title Tamalada has signaled the beginning of the holiday season for the Rio Grande Valley’s real estate industry. It’s also an opportunity for Sierra Title to show its gratitude to the community and its customers for the support they’ve received.

Visitors showed up in droves, happy to once again mingle among themselves and Sierra Title’s staff and management personnel. The tamales, rice, and beans, the centerpiece of the Tamalada event, were to die for. Mother Nature even did her part, providing the beautiful weather.

As always, Sierra Title’s annual Tamalada was a great chance to kick back and enjoy a tasty lunch with coworkers, acquaintances, friends, and family. It reminds us how much we have to be thankful for, even after all we’ve been through together.

We’d like to take this moment to congratulate and thank Sierra Title for their ongoing service to the Valley community.

Matt’s Building Materials Groundbreaking

Nearly a year after a New Year’s Eve fire destroyed the iconic Matt’s Building Materials store in Pharr, Texas, the company broke ground on a new facility. On December 15, 2022, family, friends, customers, and local dignitaries gathered to celebrate the official start of a new chapter in the company’s history, which dates back to 1969.

Matt’s Building Materials—originally called Matt’s Cash and Carry—is a family-owned business with Danny Smith as CEO. When founder Ira Matt retired in 2001, he sold the business to Danny and his wife Diana. Upon taking ownership, Danny changed the corporate structure and gave two of his longtime managers and friends, Oscar Sandoval and Luis Mancillas, a stake in the business. He also gave some of his own share to his three sons: Jeremy, Isaac, and Ben. Each of the sons now manages one the company’s three stores in Pharr, San Benito, and Palmview, Texas.

The company has over 170 employees, many of whom lost their jobs because of the fire. “The fire was a devastating event for our employees and their families,” said Isaac Smith, co-owner and manager of the Pharr store. “We hope all of our employees are able to come back when our new facility is finished.”

The new 30,000-square-foot facility will include a new Matt’s Building Materials store, retail spaces for leasing, and an event center. It is projected to be finished by early 2024.

Over the past 54 years, Matt’s Building Materials has faced many challenges but has always adapted and overcome them. The fire will be no exception. It is their companywide commitment to responsibility that makes them successful— responsibility to their employees, customers, and creditors. As Danny Smith said: “If you are responsible, do things right, and make sure that your customers know you value their business and that they are the reason you are successful, only then can the business give back to you.” The groundbreaking in Pharr is proof of Matt’s Building Materials’ commitment to its customers. With the new facility, the company will continue to be the oldest lumber yard in the Rio Grande Valley.

Learn what HB 3215, passed during the 2021 Texas Legislative Session, and which took effect for all homes permitted after Sept . 1, 2021, means for Texas homebuilding professionals.

Mark Your Calendar!

Local HBA: _____________________

Mark Your Calendar!

Training Date: ____________________

• WHAT: Builder & Code Official HERS Index Training

• WHAT: Builder & Code Official HERS Index Training

• WHEN: Wednesday, April 5, 2023 / 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

• WHEN: Wednesday, April 5, 2023 / 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Training Time: ____________________

• WHERE: Edwards Abstract and Title Co.

•WHERE: Edwards Abstract & Title Co.

Training Location:

Fee (if applicable):

3111 W. Freddy Gonzalez Dr., Edinburg, TX

3111 W Freddy Gonzalez Dr Edinburg, TX FREE ADMISSION

FREE ADMISSION

RSVP To: Lunch will be provided thanks to our sponsor:

LUNCH PROVIDED - Courtesy of Sponsors:

LUNCH PROVIDED - Courtesy of Sponsors: