EVENTS
BY DELANEY PUTHUFF COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Orange County REALTORS® hosted a public event on October 16 at the Lido House on all things housing which was sponsored by a grant from the National Association of REALTORS®. “I think this was such a great presentation, of course housing is so important to us but also to our future generations and how we develop as we and the county ages,” said Suzanne Gignoux, Branch Manager for HomeSmart Evergreen. With an array of highly regarded speakers, dedicated members, and a wonderful message put forth, the 2023 Housing Symposium was a wonderful event full of passion for all in attendance. One truly could not have asked for better weather, better attendees, or better speakers. Although we were incredibly sad to announce the absence of our originally scheduled Emcee, Lucy Dunn, as we wish her all the best in her recovery after a minor health scare, Jeff Ball, President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council, stepped up to the plate and did an absolutely incredible job. Beginning with an address from our 2023 President, Scott White, was a sentiment that reminded a buzzing room of passionate people, “it is important that we focus on the future of homeownership, and our expert speakers are here to show us how.” 42
NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2023
OC REALTOR®
Jeff Ball took the stage again to introduce Jeff Montejano, CEO of the Building Industry Association of Southern California, who had a presentation along with Eric Nelson, Vice President of Community Development for Trumark Homes, about the current impact of environmental bills on California housing projects, slowing to a crawl. “Our industry is changing by the day, changing by the hour. We saw legislature that ended the recession with a lot of housing bills, and that is what we are going to get into today,” said Montejano. This expert duo came armed with excellent visuals that truly got down to what it was that they were here to convey. Jeff and Eric discussed that our state has been through a lot during and since the 2008 recession, and this has greatly impacted how the industry functions. Many government initiatives promised California new builds, with no follow through. Builders have been fighting for projects to get homebuyers into new homes, with little avail, due to many regulations on where and what to build that kept changing. “We have these State blanket policies, that are making it more and more cumbersome… to solve the crisis,” explained Nelson. The presentation outlined how builders try to find areas for development but continue crashing into problems. Jeff Montejano elaborated, “I have talked to elected officials from all over. I would sit down to discuss and they would say, ‘I can’t have you building on open land, I am an environmentalist.’ Well that’s okay, how about we build downtown? ‘Oh no, no. I don’t like density.’ Then we will put it in existing neighborhoods. ‘No, my neighbors won’t like that.’ Well, where do you want me to put the house?” All of the concerns Jeff Montejano outlined are real and valid, but the argument still stands, the building difficulties still stand and something’s got to give.
