Builders
utlook
www.elpasobuilders.com
2014: issue 7
Builder Confidence Surpasses Key Benchmark
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes reached an important milestone in July, rising four points to a reading of
Bipartisan Energy Codes Bill a Boon for Consumers
53 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released July15. Any reading over 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor. “This is the first time that builder confidence has been above 50 since January and an important sign that it is strengthening as pent-up demand brings more buyers into the marketplace,” said NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly, a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del. “An improving job market goes hand-in-hand with a rise in builder confidence,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “As employment increases and those with jobs feel more secure about their own economic situation, they are more
likely to feel comfortable about buying a home.” Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 30 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores from each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor. All three HMI components posted gains in July. The index gauging current sales conditions increased four
points to 57, while the index measuring expectations for future sales rose six points to 64 and the index gauging traffic of prospective buyers increased three points to 39. The HMI three-month moving average was up in all four regions, with the Northeast and Midwest posting a one-point and two-point gain to 35 and 48, respectively. The West registered a five-point gain to 52 while the South rose two points to 51. Editor’s Note: The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index is strictly the product of NAHB Economics, and is not seen or influenced by any outside party prior to being released to the public. HMI tables can be found at nahb.org/hmi. More information on housing statistics is also available at housingeconomics.com.
Bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and KurtSchrader (D-Ore.) would help promote savings in commercial buildings and residential homes through the use of more cost-effective energy codes, which set energy efficiency baselines for buildings, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “By requiring that any code or proposal supported by the Department of Energy has a payback of 10 years or less, the bill would allow home owners to invest in energy-efficient windows, lighting and other features that will significantly reduce their utility bills,” said NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly, a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del.
In addition to accelerating costsavings for home owners, the Energy Savings and Building Efficiency Act (H.R. 5027) stipulates that the Department of Energy would serve as a technical advisor in the development of energy codes and prohibit the agency from advocating for certain technologies, building materials or construction practices. “The agency’s strong suit is technical analysis and its calculations on payback and efficiency can help code officials make more informed decisions and result in cost-effective code change proposals,” said Kelly. “That transparency leads to better building.” Specifically, the bill would ensure that all Department of Energy code
change proposals are: • Made available to the public, including calculations on costs and savings; • Subject to the official rulemaking process, allowing for public comment; and • Taking into account small business concerns. “This bill will help ensure that new homes become increasingly energy efficient, but not at a pace that the market cannot bear,” said John Floyd, principal of Ole South Properties in Nashville. “Our buyers want to be assured that the additional cost comes with a reasonable payback so they can recoup the money they spent.”
There’s no place like the 2014 Parade of Homes for the Holidays! ASSo
uilD n of B c i AT i o
The El Paso Association of Builders proudly present the 2014 Holiday Parade of Homes
ERS
E D A PARof
o E l PA S
S E M HO open d
- decemb 5 r e b m ece
er
ving e luxury li ! c n ie r e p x E g it of givin & the spir
December 5-21, 2014 at Rio Valley Subdivision by Winton. This year, the Parade of Homes will feature a holiday theme and embrace the spirit of giving by sharing proceeds with local not-for profit organizations. There are many creative and fun sponsorship opportunities. The 2014 Parade of Homes is a perfect place to showcase your business!
21
Exclusive sponsorship opportunities available Don’t be naughty - be nice. Market your business at the 2014 Parade of Homes! Call Ray at 778-5387 today.
2
Builders Outlook
WE’RE PROUD TO SERVE THOSE WHO’VE SERVED US ALL.
2014 issue 7
2014 issue 7
3
Builders Outlook
President’s Message | Frank Torres President, El Paso Association of Builders
As your president I’m surprised how fast this year is going. While the building business isn’t as good as it can be there are signs that we could see improvement in the second half. First of all as Ray has reported to us the inventory of new homes has been a problem for us. As builders we want to build, not hold inventory. For our suppliers inventory is not a good thing either. Every new home has thousands of parts and those parts come from vendors and suppliers. When we have inventory on the ground we don’t need parts for them, they already have them. So when we see this much inventory our suppliers don’t get orders. For them it’s interesting because they sometimes report to their home offices located where building is going on like crazy. I mean when you see how Dallas or Houston is going it is hard for the bosses to see El Paso in a hold or not building as much. Also the resale market is not helping us either. You see that there are some 2900 plus resale’s on the market and that means our competition is huge. We consider resale housing as our competition because of the sales price and ability for people to buy a resale under
El Paso Disposal July is a time of reflection and action $100,000. Our costs for land and lumber, taxes and fees won’t allow us to do that anymore, at least not for a three bedroom new home. I hope things move along better in the second half of the year. Our political leaders need to see that we’re still struggling to come out of a bad four years and hopefully we can start that in the second half. We are also excited to get to work on the Holiday Parade of Homes™ coming to the upper valley this December. I know we have seven committed builders but number eight is just around the corner. Ray has some really good sponsorship opportunities for you to consider. We are also looking for our Home and Garden to be a huge success. The T.V. stars from Animal Planets “Tanked” will be the special guests. I have seen their show and its entertainment for sure but those guys are really good at making large fish tanks. We are looking for our Home show builder, a great marketing opportunity for one of our builders. Let me know if you are interested. Again, have a great July and see you in August.
772-7495
Showroom: 2131 Missouri 915 • 533 • 6045
fax • 533• 6096
Thomas R. Brown, Owner
it’s time to get serious about your retirement. The El Paso Association of Builders is proud to now offer an individualized retirement plan created for you.
ThE EPAB MEMBEr rETirEMEnT PlAn As an EPAB member, you have the unique opportunity to take control of your retirement investing. We understand the challenges of retirement planning. That’s why we have partnered with Employee Benefits of El Paso to offer you the opportunity to create an individualized retirement plan under the umbrella of the El Paso Association of Builders. • investments • irA’s • 401K now is the time to start planning for the next phase of your life. let your membership with EPAB help you get there.
Call (915) 542-0900 for more information today. Prior to selecting investment options for your plan you should consider the investment objectives, risks, fees and expenses carefully. For this and other important information, you obtain prospectuses for mutual funds, any applicable annuity contract and the annuity's underlying funds, and/or additional disclosure documents from the appropriate retirement plan representative. Read them carefully.There is no guarantee that participation in any retirement plan will result in a profit or that your account will outperform a self-managed portfolio. Please consult with your financial planner, attorney and/or tax adviser as needed.
4
Builders Outlook
2014 issue 7
Perspective
Ray Adauto, Executive Vice President EPAB
I had the pleasure of having a family reunion over the July 4th holiday. It’s an every three year event that brings about 250 members of our extended family together. I kid that we need this reunion to make sure we’re not dating a cousin and if we are to make sure we keep it on the downlow. In all seriousness this party brings some of the elders in contact with some of the younger set and frankly that’s important to us. I did have a opportunity to show my brother from McKinney some of the good things going on in El Paso and some of the haunts from his childhood. The new stuff really impressed him as he looked at the new stadium, the rebuild of downtown, and the expansion of El Paso out east and northeast. He was particularly impressed with all the action on the growth but was very concerned about putting the city’s treasure so squarely on downtown. As a fiscal and political conservative he has a good understanding of what he’s talking about. He has lived in Spain, Caracas Venezuela, Panama, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Chicago and traveled extensively
Housing moving upwards, good opportunities continue
in Central and South America plus Europe. He retired from Sears Roebuck and Discover, and was a principal in a Discover Card processing center that was highly robotic and secure. Discover cards were printed there as were payment processing. In a huge company like Sears, a giant when he started with them, the economy of the world was very much a part of the business. He told me in no uncertain terms that communities like to make downtowns a project where public money is the largest contributor, and where nine out of ten attempts end up costly mistakes. With the view from the private sector he thinks that the effort is valiant but probably will end up costing other parts of the city more in the end. His rationalization for this involves the mix needed to create a downtown that can support itself he told me. Housing, commercial, retail, banking, infrastructure all need a balance. Without one of the pieces the whole never really makes it. He gave examples like Providence, Rhode Island where public money spent there has not made significant progress.
Downtown is run down, and few new businesses are at the core. He also belives that public money can be used for good if the ratio of private investment is higher than that of the public treasury. In Atlanta for instance, the Falcons are getting a new football stadium with 80% private funds and 20% public funds. Oklahoma City raised the money first before embarking on a downtown remake. OKC went further in making sure each of the districts were supported first with improvements to schools, hospitals, infrastructure, then money was used for the downtown redevelopment. He is also sure that the state will one day make all the lanes on Loop 375 toll lanes as the pressure to keep the roads maintained will get harder and harder to do. So my visitor from Central Texas is forecasting some interesting things, isn’t he. Perhaps the view from outside is important as we move forward. I had an interesting survey come my way compliments of the Border Alliance, an organization of business people looking for ways to make the El Paso
metroplex more business competative. The survey was on the El Paso International Airport and what thoughts I may have on it. I was honest with that survey, letting them know that I firmly believe we’re going backwards there. Losing flights is not what a city wants or needs. Doing what appears to be little to ensure the loss isn’t huge bothers me as it should you. Housing is tied to many things, one of them business and commercial growth and getting people in and out of El Paso is paramount to securing them to the area. When we lose flights to Albuquerque, Denver, Lubbock, Amarillo, Austin and Los Angeles it’s the beginning of a bad sign. Not long ago we lost Frontier Airlines and the easy connections to Albuquerque and Denver and beyond. No one has seen a commercial flight directly into Mexico for how long? And having to travel to Houston to connect to Lubbock? Really? I hope someone starts the conversation on the airport, because I really think that we cannot afford to lose more flights and hope for a new El Paso.
2014 issue 7
5
Builders Outlook
Industry News Kevin Kelly: FHFA Proposal for Private Mortgage Insurance Companies Kevin Kelly, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del., issued the following statement on the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) draft eligibility requirements that private mortgage insurance companies would have to meet in order to insure loans sold to or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: “NAHB is concerned that this proposal could increase the cost and impede the availability of private mortgage insurance at a time when the housing recovery remains fragile. FHFA has provided 60 days to comment on this proposal and NAHB intends to respond. Credit conditions are already extremely tight for qualified home borrowers, particularly those who do not have pristine credit scores. FHFA needs to take great care that these changes are implemented in a
careful manner to avoid any unintended consequences that would shut creditworthy buyers out of the housing market.”
NAHB Applauds Senate Confirmation of Julián Castro as HUD Secretary Kevin Kelly, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del., today issued the following statement following the Senate confirmation of Julián Castro as the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: “NAHB applauds the Senate confirmation of Julián Castro as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. NAHB looks forward to working with Secretary Castro to promote policies that will strengthen the nation’s housing recovery and ensure a reliable and adequate flow of affordable credit for single-family and multifamily housing.”
Statement from NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly on Immigration Reform Kevin Kelly, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del., today issued the following statement following Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart’s (R-Fla.) announcement on immigration reform: “NAHB commends Rep. Diaz-Balart for his tireless leadership and commitment to fix our nation’s broken immigration system. Clearly, the issue is ripe for action and we strongly encourage the House leadership to reconsider its decision to place immigration reform on the backburner. The time to move forward is now.
A W A R D E D
TEXAS BUILDER OF THE YEAR 2013
We build so you can GROW
“NAHB will continue to remain engaged with lawmakers in both chambers and on each side of the political aisle to urge Congress and the Administration to work together on comprehensive reform. A modernized immigration system will bring greater economic certainty and ensure we have the workers we need, along with a secure border and a plan to address the status of the current undocumented population.”
NAHB’s BuilderBooks Launches Redesigned Website BuilderBooks, the book publishing arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), today revealed its newly redesigned website, BuilderBooks.com. The site recently underwent a makeover to improve its look, feel and functionality. The revamped site offers easy-to-navigate access to all of the BuilderBooks titles, as well as an improved search function. Other new features include mobile capability, the ability to compare products, social media tools like “Share with a Friend,” and wish lists. In addition to the site improvements, BuilderBooks continues to offer a variety of attractive services and discounts: Bulk Purchasing Discounts—Customers can purchase in bulk and receive even larger discounts. Plus they can customize the resources with their company logo by calling 800-368-5242 x8205. eDocs—BuilderBooks offers access to a variety of forms and checklists available for download. eBooks—Several popular BuilderBooks publications are available and can be saved to a PC, iPad, Android device or viewed and read online. eBooks are available at ebooks.builderbooks.com. NAHB Members Save 10%—Members save 10% on every item, everyday (member price). BuilderBooks continues to produce the products and publications, which have been specifically created to help housing professionals streamline their daily operations, better serve their new and existing customers, develop new strategies to safeguard their jobsites and, ultimately, build and sell more homes. Some of the industry’s best resources are published by BuilderBooks: • Social Media 3.0: It’s Easier Than You Think • Cost of Doing Business Study, 2014 Edition • Jobsite Safety Handbook, EnglishSpanish • Residential Construction Performance Guidelines, Contractor Reference, 4th Edition • 2012 ICC-700 National Green Building Standard™ What Home Buyers Really Want BuilderBooks is accessible online 24/7 365 days of the year, or by phone 800223-2665, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (ET).
6
Builders Outlook
2014 issue 7
5 Best Practices to Determine Financial Feasibility of Projects By Emily Study as reported on Seniorhousingnews.com A slew of new construction is in the works for the senior housing industry, but before committing to the projects, operators must determine if they’re financially feasible. Conducting a financial feasibility study is the first step providers should take to assess the risks and opportunities associated with new projects, according Lancaster Pollard, a firm that provides financial advice to senior housing and health care organizations. “A financial feasibility study is not only crucial to the decision-making process, but will help organizations maximize the success of their projects,” the firm writes in a recent article. Doing so early in the planning process will help operators avoid higher project costs and missed market opportunities. Consider five best practices to pursue: 1. Look at Debt to Establish a Framework Prior to investing in a financial feasibility study — which can be costly depending on the level of analysis required for the project — the provider should conduct a debt capacity study. This analysis is more limited in scope than a financial feasibility study and helps identify capital necessary for an organization’s success. A debt capacity study will help establish a framework for more detailed analysis by answering the question, “Will an organization’s or company’s balance sheet provide sufficient liquidity — cash and investment reserves?”
2. Focus on Key Services New projects come with new opportunities, but they may mean cutting back on existing services. Lacaster Pollard suggests identifying service lines that an organization may need to add or discontinue with new construction. “Service line goals are critical because whether adding or subtracting, the result will be organizational change,” the article states. “The question for providers is if patients/residents, staff and the community are prepared for the necessary adjustments.” For example, is a community prepared to make a necessary trade-off, such as letting go of a costly nursing home to provide the cash flow necessary for expanded memory care services? While new projects are exciting, managing change is an essential part of the expansion planning process. And providers must recognize this early in the financial feasibility process to accommodate change management. 3. Outline the Project Timeline Together with financial advisers, project managers and lenders, providers should establish time frames and deadlines for each step in the project. This includes identifying how long it will take to secure the land; the length of the architectural and construction contract process, as well as design iterations and value engineering; and above all else, securing funding, which will be determined by the desired financing structure. “To avoid delays and additional expense, a financial feasibility study should be pursued in conjunction with the overall project timeline,” the article states.
95% success rate in achieving
ProPerty tax reduction • Over 25 years of experience in property tax valuations and real estate appraisals • Property tax services throughout the USA • Specializing in commercial, industrial, vacant land • Residential and personal property valuations
PTP Valuation Services Mark Salazar
1551 Montana, suite 204, El Paso Texas 79902
915-542-3815
fax 915-542-0612
4. Be Realistic in Revenue Projections Successful projects require careful examination of the demographics and utilization information that will support a feasibility study’s revenue projections. Providers should focus on projects that have the greatest revenue potential. The key to assessing senior housing demand, Lancaster Pollard says, is being honest about the number of incomequalified senior households, utilization and penetration rates. 5. Include Staff as Key Expenses Though organizations often plan to maintain their existing full-time employee level post-construction, they fail to consider that the number of these employees tends to increase because
existing service lines do not immediately change. “Successful organizations understand staffing benchmarks and have adjusted them appropriately for project and operational impacts,” the article states. So with an imminent increase in senior housing demand, providers must consider these factors in order to accommodate residents and expand successfully. Lancaster Pollard is a senior housing Investment Advisory group.
2014 issue 7
7
Builders Outlook
Energy Efficiency ry edition h anniversa Special 65t
Reserve your advertising space in the 2014 edition of DREAM HOME
!
Is non-QM lending the future of housing? NAHB
Bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and KurtSchrader (D-Ore.) would help promote savings in commercial buildings and residential homes through the use of more cost-effective energy codes, which set energy efficiency baselines for buildings, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “By requiring that any code or proposal supported by the Department of Energy has a payback of 10 years or less, the bill would allow home owners to invest in energy-efficient windows, lighting and other features that will significantly reduce their utility bills,” said NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly, a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del. In addition to accelerating costsavings for home owners, the Energy Savings and Building Efficiency Act (H.R. 5027) stipulates that the Department of Energy would serve as a technical advisor in the development of energy codes and prohibit the agency from advocating for certain technologies, building materials or construction practices. “The agency’s strong suit is technical analysis and its calculations on payback and efficiency can help code officials make more informed decisions and result in cost-effective code change proposals,” said Kelly. “That transparency leads to better building.” Specifically, the bill would ensure that all Department of Energy code change proposals are: • Made available to the public, including calculations on costs and savings; • Subject to the official rulemaking process, allowing for public comment; and • Taking into account small business concerns. “This bill will help ensure that new homes become increasingly energy efficient, but not at a pace that the market cannot bear,” said John Floyd, principal of Ole South Properties in Nashville. “Our buyers want to be assured that the additional cost comes with a reasonable payback so they can recoup the money they spent.”
The El Paso Association of Builders exclusive magazine featuring the absolute very best in custom home building and luxury living.
Call Margaret today at 778-5387 E L PO CAISA OT I O N years
BUILDIN
OF
BUILDERS
ASS
SO’S G E L PA
FUTURE
uilders.com www.elpasob
46 S I N C E 19
Reserve your advertising space in the next edition of Your New Home/Su Casa Nueva The most complete home buying guide in both English & Spanish • Unmatched distribution and circulation • Unique dual language layout • Great advertising opportunity Call Margaret today at 778-5387
Your
Su CaNew Home sa Nu eva
NOW to bu is the be st y hom your ne time e in El Pa w so! Aho ra tiem es el p com o para p una rar c en E asa nuev l Paso a !
8
Builders Outlook
2014 issue 7
Products
Tool Test: 5-inch Random-Orbit Sanders Spin Control: Nine random-orbit sanders go pad to pad in our test By Michael Springer Photos by dotfordot.com
The workhorse sander for most tradesmen is the 5-inch-diameter random-orbit sander. Thanks to its ability to hog off stock with a coarse grit disk and leave a smooth, finished surface with a fine grit, this single tool has replaced the old progression of belt sander to half-sheet finish sander for many. It doesn't replace all sanders for all applications – but truth be told, it has replaced a lot of them over the past few decades. The random-orbit sander gets its wide range of capabilities from its action. The sanding pad is connected to a free spinning bearing, which is mounted off-center to a flywheel driven at full motor speed. This design gives the pad a full-diameter spinning motion along with a small wiggling action known as the orbit. The amount of orbital action is determined by how far off-center the pad is mounted and is called the orbit size. Under no-load conditions, the combined motion is relatively uniform, and a dot marked on the sanding pad often traces what looks like a spirograph pattern. But once the pad touches the work the equilibrium is broken and the tool moves more randomly, changing rotation speed and orbit shape in response to varying pressure from the user. Random-orbit sanders can remove material quickly because a lot of area is covered by the sanding disk every second; and they can leave a nearly swirl-free finish with the finest grits because their eccentric rotation doesn't follow the same
path, so the scratch pattern is truly random. A mechanical pad brake built into each tool adds enough friction to keep the pad from free-spinning up to full motor rpm; the brake is a wear part that eventually needs to be replaced. Earlier electric random-orbit sanders were made without pad brakes, similar to pneumatic models, but they were tricky to handle when lifted off the work surface. At rpm of 10,000 or more, a sanding disk could land on the work as aggressively as a grinder, and a free spinning disk was apt to fly off the pad violently and could nearly jerk the tool out of your hand. Of the many random-orbit sanders on the market, we narrowed our test selections down to the newest 5-inch electric models with variable-speed settings, hook-and-loop sanding pads, and on-board dust-collection containers. The variable-speed setting lets you fine-tune the sander's performance for different materials and abrasives. Slower speeds, our testers noted, reduce heat when sanding plastics, decrease pitch buildup on disks when sanding knotty pine, and help the grit dig in better on oily woods like teak. For most sanding, though, our testers use the top of the speed range, occasionally making slight adjustments down from the maximum to improve troublesome vibration harmonics. All of our comparative testing was done at the highest speed setting for consistency, and as a result should be pretty accurate for the single-speed versions of these sanders too. Hook-and-loop sanding disk attachment is the most common system for electric randomorbit sanders. The disks are reusable and easy to change, and are said to run cool because of the slight air space between the disk and the pad. Some of these sanders can be fitted with a smooth pad for use with pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) disks, which are typically thinner and less expensive. When testing these tools side by side, we evaluated ergonomic concerns like switch
access, grip comfort, and vibration, as well as control and performance factors like how gently a sander "landed" on the work, how smoothly it tracked on the work while sanding, and the relative effectiveness of its dustcollection features. But the most important test result was sanding quality – how evenly and completely each pass of the tool actually sanded the wood. Evenness can be described as the density of the scratch pattern created by the sander, and completeness as how effectively that pattern was spread by the entire disk surface. When these two elements – evenness and completeness – are well coordinated, the sanding grit contacts every last bit of the work surface uniformly and blends its scratch pattern in fewer passes, making the work ready for the next-finer grit sooner and helping that finer grit cover and remove the previous coarser scratches completely. Yes, random disk movement is essential for a fine finish, but a more consistent scratch pattern is easier to blend and cover in fewer passes than one with wild
looping arcs. Viewed this way, sanding quality equals sanding efficiency. Winners Porter-Cable turned in the best sanding results consistently, with the fastest and most uniform finishing. A strong new motor design gives the tool a body shape that took some getting used to, but the results cannot be denied. Festool took second with very refined but slower performance in a comfortable lightweight tool. Bosch earned third place with all-around high-quality sanding, comfort, and features. Competent sanders by Makita, Milwaukee, and Hitachi occupy the middle tier, followed by the less preferred DeWalt and Ridgid models. And trailing them all is the Craftsman sander. Karsten of Karsten Balsley Woodworking and Kerry Stoen of Westwoods of Boulder contributed to this test; both are career custom woodworkers in Boulder, Colo.
Give your customers the ‘option of the sun’ Now more than ever, El Paso home buyers are planning for the future.
Border Solar can help you offer your customers solar power as a sensible alternative.
Crossing to Clean Energy
7365 Remcon Circle El Paso, TX 79912 (915) 613•4168
www.bordersolar.com
The future starts today. follow us on twitter and facebook: BorderSolar
2014 Issue 7
9
Builders Outlook
www.elpasobuilders.com www.epbuilders.org
Membership News UPCOMING EVENTS | JULY 23-25 SUNBELT SHOW San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
AUGUST 5-8 NAHB LEADERSHIP TRAINING ST. LOUIS, MO
AUGUST 13 BOARD MEETING 11:00 GENERAL MEETING 12:00 MARRIOTT HOTEL
SEPTEMBER 3-5 NAHB FALL EOC MEETING PHOENIX, AZ
SEPTEMBER 10 BOARD MEETING EPAB OFFICE
RENEWALS | WINSOR DOOR LLC, INC.
ALBRITE ELECTRIC CO., INC.
AC REFRIDGERATION
ALL PRECISION SHEETMETAL WORKS
CONSOLIDATED SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES
RASSETTE HOMES
FIRTH, JOHNSTON, MARTINEZ, PC
CASA FORD & CASA NISSAN
BIC HOMES
WRIGHT & DALBIN
UNITED BANK OF PASO DEL NORTE
DISPLAY SERVICES
CHAPARRAL MATERIALS
HARDWARE SPECIALTIES
ADAMS MOULDING
NOVA BUILT LLC.
DUNN-EDWARDS WELBORN PAINT
CULLERS & CALDWELL
POLAR HEATING & COOLING
ICON CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
NEW MEMBERS | MARK WINTON INC. CONTACT: MARK WINTON 8001 N. MESA, E-118 EL PASO, TEXAS 79932 915-867-7461
SODA SPONSOR | October 17-19
Thanks to our JULY SODA SPONSOR: PALO VERDE HOMES
Reserve your booth today! Jaime’s Courier Service,Inc. For the latest updates & event information, visit: elpasobuilders.com
915-549-4533 or 915-478-2404 Bonded, insured for your peace of mind.
We are excited to announce our Celebrity lineup for the Fall El Paso Home & Garden Show will be Brett and Wayde from Animal Planet’s hit TV show, “Tanked”. Don’t miss the BEST HOME AND GARDEN EVENT OF THE SEASON or your chance to greet THOUSANDS of qualified customers FACE TO FACE. Please call EPAB with your size requirements so we can get you the very best availalable WE can send you the floor plan with pricing and an application for your review.
WHERE: EL PASO CONVENTION CENTER EL PASO, TEXAS WHEN: October 17-19, 2014 Call EPAB today! See you at the Show! 915-778-5387
10
Builders Outlook
2014 issue 7
Associates Council
Sam Shallenberger Western Wholesale Supply
I hope you’re having a good summer. I only know it’s hot and muggy. As the Associates Council Chair we are gearing up for August through December, my final six months as your chairman. I am “retiring� from the post I’ve had for four years, turning it over to the next Associate. We have had a couple of good suggestions for whom that will
be and will announce that choice in November for consideration. We’re getting our stuff ready for the surplus sale sometime around late August or early September. Hopefully we’ll have some cool stuff to sell and help you get rid of the junk you just need to get rid of. I’d also like to ask you to get a booth at the Home and Garden show coming our way
October 17-19 at the convention center. I can’t wait to see those goof balls from Tanked the TV. show. I am looking forward to seeing lots of people come and buy from us or at least see some of our great product and services our associates offer. Get ready for these two events. I’ll be calling on you to participate.
Trends
David De Rego Hardware Specialities & Glass Co., Inc.
If you’ve ever designed or remodeled a kitchen, you know there are an overwhelming number of decisions to make with regard to cabinets. Keep the old, or buy new? Reface or repaint? Adjustable or fixed shelves? One question seems to lead to another! Even once you’ve made what may have seemed like a million decisions, there’s still one more consideration: the hardware! Cabinet hardware is the ultimate accessory that can impact your room style. It’s the hat, shoes, and handbag of the kitchen (or any other room for that matter). The knobs and pulls you choose can send the design of your space in one direction or another, or they can bring styles together to make them work. For instance, the simplicity of Shaker cabinets allows them to work well within many different design styles. Oversized, tubular hardware in a brushed nickel finish makes a white Shaker-style cabinet feel
distinctively modern, while glass knobs would give very similar cabinets a vintage flair. Pair white Shaker cabinet doors with oiled bronze pull cups and knobs, and you might as well be in a Tuscan villa. Your hardware selection or selections can help bring mixed styles together, a very popular move in contemporary kitchen design. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see different hardware types and finishes side by side. Brushed nickel bin pulls complement gold-patterned and mercury glass knobs for a fantastic modern-vintage mix in a painted gray-and-white kitchen makeover. While you’re making your decision, make sure to attend to practical
matters as well as aesthetics. Traditionally, knobs are used for doors, pulls for drawers. But a beautiful knob is useless if it doesn’t fit in your hand so that the door opens easily. Make sure the hardware feels good. And if knobs just won’t work for you, don’t be afraid to use pulls on everything. Also, keep in mind the type of maintenance your hardware will require. Textured pieces are more difficult to clean, and some finishes (e.g., brass) require more upkeep. So pull out the catalogs, visit your local specialty hardware store or surf the internet; choices abound, and there’s nothing to hold you back. Whether you’re buying new cabinets or sprucing up old ones, your hardware can do a lot of design work for a considerably small amount of your project budget. If in two years your tastes change, you can always switch your hardware out for something that gives you a different look—a new hat and handbag for your kitchen!
The options builders asked for are right here. Developed with the backing of the strongest insurance carriers serving the Texas building industry, the exclusive TAB endorsed insurance program offers new flexible options and rates that are more competitive than ever before.
Program Highlights t i"w SBUFE BENJUUFE JOTVSBODF DPNQBOJFT TFWFSBM PQUJPOT BWBJMBCMF t (- PĂŞFSJOH DPWFSBHF GPS QSPQFSUZ EBNBHF UIBU SFTVMUT GSPN GBVMUZ defective, or poor workmanship in your work t (- MJNJUT PG VQ UP NJMMJPO BOE IJHIFS BWBJMBCMF t &YQBOEFE QPMJDZ GPSN GPS DPNNFSDJBM QSPKFDUT t #VJMEFS T 3JTL NBTUFS QPMJDJFT NPOUIMZ SFQPSUJOH BOOVBM BOE POF TIPUT t 8PSLFST $PNQ UXP IJHIMZ DPTU FĂŞFDUJWF QSPHSBNT t &YDFTT -JBCJMJUZ GPS DPNNFSDJBM HFOFSBM DPOUSBDUPST t $PNNFSDJBM 6NCSFMMB
Contact your local approved agent today! El Paso, Permian Basin and Surrounding Area )6# *OUFSOBUJPOBM *OTVSBODF 4FSWJDFT -BODF 7BO %FNBO $-$4 www.builderagentnetwork.com www.hubinternational.com
Builders
utlook
www.elpasobuilders.com www.epbuilders.org 6046 Surety Dr. El Paso, TX 79905 915-778-5387 • Fax: 915-772-3038 ■ execuTive oFFicerS Frank Torres – President GMF Custom Homes edgar montiel – vice President Palo Verde Homes carlos villalobos – Secretary Treasurer Palo Verde Homes Sam Shallenberger – Associates chair Western Wholesale edmundo Dena - immediate Past President Accent Homes ray Adauto – executive vice President El Paso Association of Builders Jay Kerr -Attorney of record
■ couNciL/commiTTee cHAirS Associates council Sam Shallenberger Build PAc Randy Bowling Desert Green Building council Javier Ruiz Land use council Sal Masoud Young Designer Award John Chaney remodelers council Rudy Guel membership retention Mike Santamaria, Greg Bowling Finance committee Carlos Villalobos Women’s council Lorraine Huit ■ ADviSorY To THe BoArD J. Crawford Kerr, Attorney, Firth, Johnston & Martinez ■ BoArD oF DirecTorS Beverly Clevenger, Automated Division 6 Builders, Inc. Leti Navarette, Custom Dream Homes Kathy Parry, Hunt Communities Edgar Garcia, Bella Vista Custom Homes, Inc.. Bud Foster, Southwest Land Development Services Juanita Garcia, ICON Custom Home Builder, LLC Walter Lujan, DAWCO Home Builders Joey Najera, Joseph Custom Homes Rigo Mendez, Mission Homes Nick Bombach, Casas de Leon, LLC Lydia Mhouli, Crown Heritage Homes JJ Vasquez, Pacifica Homes Dan Ruth, Millenium Homes Ken Wade, El Paso Building Materials Ruben Orquiz, MTI Ready Mix Kathy Carrillo, Pioneer Bank El Paso Henry Tinajero, WestStar Bank Chuck Gabriel, Carpets West Ted Escobedo, Snappy Publishing John Chaney, Passage Supply Joe Bernal, Employee Benefits of El Paso Linda Troncoso, TRE & Associates Orlando Rodriguez, Mass Media Advertising, Inc. Bret Thompson, Foxworth Galbraith Lumber Chris Worm, City Bank Texas Sal Masoud, Del Rio Engineering
■ TAB STATe DirecTorS Randy Bowling Greg Bowling
■ NATioNAL DirecTorS Bobby Bowling IV. Demetrio Jimenez NATioNAL ASSociATioN oF Home BuiLDerS (800) 368-5242
TexAS ASSociATioN oF BuiLDerS (800)252-3625
2013 Builder member of The Year Edmundo Dena Accent Homes 2013 Pat cox Award Sam Shallenberger Western Wholesale Supply 2013 Associate of The Year WestStar Bank Larry Patton, Burt Blacksher and Henry Tinajero
Honorary Life members Wayne Grinnell Don Henderson Chester Lovelady Cliff C. Anthes Anna Gill Brad Roe Rudy Guel E H Baeza Past Presidents committed to Serve Greg Bowling Kelly Sorenson Mark Dyer Mike Santamaria John Cullers Randy Bowling Doug Schwartz Robert Baeza
Bobby Bowling, IV Rudy Guel Anna Gil Bradley Roe Bob Bowling, III E. H. Baeza Hershel Stringfield Pat Woods
ePAB mission Statement: The El Paso Association of Builders is a federated professional organization representing the home building industry, committed to enhancing the quality of life in our community by providing affordable homes of excellence and value. The El Paso Association of Builders is a 501C(6) trade organization. © 2014 Builder’s Outlook is published and distributed for the El Paso Association of Builders by Ted Escobedo, Snappy Publishing ted@snappypublishing.com El Paso • Texas • 79912 915-820-2800