Builders Outlook 2012/7

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2012/7

Lieutenant Governors call on president, congress to address housing crisis NAHB - The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) commends the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) for approving a resolution that underscores the importance of homeownership and calls on Washington policymakers to take action to shore up the nation’s housing markets to achieve a long-lasting economic recovery.

“The nation’s lieutenant governors understand that Americans deeply value Barry homeownership and Rutenberg that it is essential to get the housing sector back on firm ground to achieve solid job growth, build healthy communities and move our economy forward,” said NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg, a home builder from Gainesville, Fla. “Resolution sponsors Brian Krolicki (R-Nev.) and Timothy Murray (DMass.) have taken a leadership role in working to keep housing atop the national agenda.”

The resolution recommends that “the President and Congress act with a sense of urgency to address the nation’s housing crisis in a meaningful and responsible manner, while avoiding any legislation or regulatory actions that will inhibit the recovery of the home building industry.”

It also spotlights “the role the home building industry must play in helping citizens achieve the American Dream and fueling our country’s economic recovery.”

“Preventing foreclosures will continue to be a priority for the National Lieutenant Governors Association,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray, who was named chair of the NLGA during the association’s annual meeting this week. “I was pleased to join Lieutenant Governor Krolicki to cosponsor this resolution as we work in collaboration with all lieutenant governors in addressing the housing crisis and supporting the home building industry to spur economic development opportunities across the country.”

“Nevada was hit particularly hard by the housing crisis, and we look forward to finding solutions to fix this

“This broad support for government policies that encourage homeownership comes at a time when the American dream is under attack under several fronts in Washington. Proposals to tamper with the mortgage interest deduction, mandate 20 percent downpayments on home loans and to end federal support for affordable mortgages would prolong and aggravate the housing downturn, lead to more job losses and substantially raise the cost of buying a home -- particularly for younger households and first-time home buyers.” complex issue,” added Lieutenant Governor Krolicki. “Bringing housing issues to the forefront is long overdue and we are proud of this bipartisan effort and pledge our continual support in turning the housing market around in Nevada and across the country.”

This broad support for government policies that encourage homeownership comes at a time when the American dream is under attack under several fronts in Washington. Proposals to tamper with the mortgage interest deduction, mandate 20 percent downpayments on home loans and to end federal support for affordable mortgages would prolong and aggravate the housing downturn, lead to more job losses and substantially raise the cost of buying a home -- particularly for younger households and first-time home buyers.

The lieutenant governors also noted that home builders face a lack of credit for housing production loans and that potential home buyers are stymied because they cannot obtain mortgages, which is further hampering the housing recovery.

Prudent lending to home buyers and home builders who need credit to build viable projects in

communities that want and need them would go a long way into pumping life into the tepid recovery.

Recognizing the importance of the nation’s home building industry in spurring and sustaining economic growth, the lieutenant governors highlighted that constructing 100 homes creates more than 300 fulltime jobs, $23.1 million in wage and business income and $8.9 million in federal, state and local tax revenue.

These tax dollars are desperately needed to help local governments to provide essential services such as schools, roads, and police and firefighter protection.

“There is pent up demand for homes in many parts of the country and America’s home builders stand ready to do their part,” said Rutenberg. “However a full-fledged housing and economic recovery will not take hold until Washington policymakers recognize that housing and homeownership must remain a national priority.”

inside > President’s Message Guest Columns EPAB on the scene Membership News Industry News Committee Reports

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2012/7

Builders Outlook

President’s Message | This month has been quite busy across the board. Home sales seem to have picked up a bit yet we remain a little below our average in permits. Our developers are going gang busters in all areas of town making sure that they are prepared for the coming months as things improve. We hope that all of our President, El Paso Association members are doing better and that the of Builders economy will improve so as to get home building back on the good track.

Locally politics is on the move and the move is to dismantle city hall and The Insights museum. The thinking is that dismantling City hall will be leaving some departments, especially permitting and planning, in a little bit of disarray.

Our friends at the inspections department are just now getting their feet on the ground with new rules and staff changes, and now they are being asked to move again. Some of the boxes haven’t even been emptied yet from the first move, now maybe another one? With all the talk about the Insights museum being torn down the association is also left with a decision on the fire safety display we’re trying to help build there. I’ve put a hold on that until we know whether or not the building will be razed since it makes no sense to put something up only to have to tear it down in a few months. We are still committed but again we’ll wait to see the direction from the 10th floor on the future of the building.

Monsoon season is bringing much needed rain to the area. Thank God! East Texas has gotten some rain as has South Texas. But between here and Dallas, like Lubbock, Midland, Amarillo little or none has fallen. Continue to pray for rain to help those areas overcome the drought.

It’s political season and once again we’re being asked to help this candidate or another. I have to remind you that our Build PAC is the political voice we support, so get involved and join. We have a good way for you to become active with as little as a hundred dollars. Join now so that we know what you think about the candidates and the positions Build PAC takes.

Have a great August. Get selling and be careful.

Frank Arroyos

El Paso Disposal

772-7495

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Builders Outlook

Perspective

2012/7

|

It’s about the economy; it’s about being all you can be Ray Adauto, Executive Vice President EPAB

There’s a lot of talk in and out of the media concerning the rebuilding of downtown and whether or not it’s this or that. Positions about whether or not certain items should be or shouldn’t be seemed to have lost sight of what it’s really all about: the economy. Let me explain why in my view.

I recall my parents talking about having survived the Great Depression, a time that changed their lives forever.

The depression also saw some of the most stoic and beautiful building projects ever to grace cities, including El Paso. Hardship brought about the need to look forward and to begin significant projects to ensure the future. Buildings represented that future and entrepreneurs and government funded many of those.

Fast forward to 2008 and the beginning of what many are calling the Great Recession (that is unless you lost everything then it was the Great Depression II). The idea of being able to have someone with a vision and

deep pockets to take on great projects is especially important when a community like ours is faced with a future of sameness or greatness. El Paso has seen the future and it is bright because of great people. Our homebuilding industry has not been given enough credit for keeping El Paso in the relatively good financial footing during the recession. Our homebuilders didn’t follow the trend of massive overbuilding, and our lenders didn’t succumb to the easy profits of subprime loans. We were also blessed with a group of well-heeled locals who never gave up on El Paso and invested in her.

The ability to own property at a price that allows for upgrades and refurbishing is something that is risky and not for the faint of heart. It’s expensive and fraught with minefields as the chance of a money pit is more likely than success. Yet through this we have community members with the financial ability to invest and try to make a success out of past failure.

Visionaries see something and find hope while others just see despair and ruin. Our industry is full of visionaries and people who take calculated risk every day. We understand risk and we also understand the politics of risk.

Downtown redevelopment carries a lot of both and in spite of the risk we have business people willing to invest to fulfill that vision.

Critics complain that the developers will make money. That isn’t the guarantee, but that’s what Capitalism is about. Risk must have reward in order to be able to afford the risk.

Rebuilding downtown has started and the remaining pieces to the puzzle are the buzz about town. Stadium, hotels, city hall, museums and San Jacinto Park are just pieces to the economy of making downtown work. Transforming it isn’t easy or cheap. I think we all want to be all we can be, borrowing

ome Your New H eva

from that great Army commercial.

What we absolutely must have is trust among all parties, but especially when taxpayer money is involved.

Messieurs Foster and Hunt have done due diligence rest assured. We trust that our city has done the same. I trust Joyce Wilson, and if she says we are ready then we are. After all is said and done downtown could be the catalyst for future economic growth. It really is about the economy and being all you can be.

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Builders Outlook

Builders Tell Congress Inefficient Regulations Harm Housing, the Economy Washington Watch

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress that an unwieldy federal regulatory process is hampering the housing and economic recovery.

“Housing serves as a great example of an industry that would benefit from smarter and more sensible regulation,” NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg, a home builder from Gainesville, Fla., told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

For example, the Dodd-Frank Act required significant changes to mortgage lending practices, including an “ability to pay” provision that requires lenders to establish that home buyers have a reasonable chance of paying

back the loan at the time that a mortgage is written. The law states that certain high-quality, low-cost loans known as qualified mortgages (QM) are presumed to meet this standard.

The new QM standard, which is currently being developed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, will define the mortgage market for years to come, Rutenberg said. For that reason, NAHB supports regulatory changes aimed at more rational lending practices, greater lender accountability and improved borrower safeguards.

“However, it is critical that such reforms are implemented in a manner that causes minimum disruption to the mortgage lending process,” he cautioned. “New reforms should not limit consumer financing options, increase the cost of financing or reduce the availability of mortgage credit.”

Overly restrictive rules for the forthcoming QM standard will prevent creditworthy borrowers from entering the housing market even as owning a home remains an essential part of the American dream, added Rutenberg.

Another key factor in housing’s current depressed state has been an ongoing lack of acquisition, development and construction lending.

“Our members are caught in an ‘argument’ between banks and federal

regulators, who take turns pointing fingers at one another when we try to determine who is to blame for the serious lack of lending to the construction sector,” said Rutenberg.

Regardless of who is at fault, with many housing markets now showing signs of recovery, Rutenberg said it is essential that Congress works with regulators and financial institutions to encourage banks to provide sound construction loans so that builders can construct viable home building projects in communities across the land that want and need them.

“Restoring the flow of credit to home builders will not only help to put America back to work, it will help provide badly needed tax revenues that local governments need to fund schools, police, firefighters and other public services,” said Rutenberg.

Meanwhile, changes to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule have constrained small businesses in the home building and remodeling industry. The final rule, which went into effect on April 22, 2010, requires renovation work that disturbs more than six square feet in a home built before 1978 to follow new leadsafe work practices supervised by an EPA-certified renovator and performed

by an EPA-certified renovation firm.

“Poor development and implementation by the EPA has resulted in excessive compliance costs and has hindered both job growth and energy efficiency upgrades,” said Rutenberg.

In 2010, the EPA removed the “optout” provision in the RRP rule that allowed remodelers working in a home built prior to 1978 to forego more expensive work practices according to the owner’s wish if no children under the age of six or pregnant women were living in the home.

By removing the opt-out provision, the EPA more than doubled the number of homes subject to the RRP, and the agency has estimated this will add more than $500 million in compliance costs to the remodeling community in the first year alone, without making young children any safer.

Moreover, the EPA has not approved reliable lead testing kits, and in many cases consumers are needlessly paying additional costs for work practices that are unnecessary, he added.

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Builders Outlook

Housing Starts Rise 6.9 Percent

Nationwide housing production rose by 6.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 760,000 units in June, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the fastest pace of new-home construction since October of 2008.

“This good report is in keeping with the results of our latest builder confidence survey, in which many of our members said that they are seeing an influx of more serious buyers to the new-homes market this summer,” observed Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Gainesville, Fla. “What’s especially encouraging is that, as consumers realize the advantages of purchasing a newly built home while prices and interest rates are so favorable, builders are able to put more crews back to work on construction sites across the country. This in turn is helping spur local economic growth, and policymakers need to be very careful to not take any steps that would derail the beginnings of such a positive trend at this crucial time.”

“This is one more piece of evidence that housing is starting to take back its traditional role of leading the nation out of recession, and tracks with our forecast for continued

improvement in new construction through the end of this year,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “While many challenges continue to weigh down the housing recovery – including those related to builders’ and buyers’ access to credit, poor appraisals and the number of distressed properties in certain markets – production of single-family homes is now the strongest it has been since 2010 due to rising consumer demand brought on by improving market conditions."

Single-family housing starts rose for a fourth consecutive month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 539,000 units in June, their fastest pace since April of 2010.

Meanwhile, multifamily starts rose 12.8 percent to 221,000 units, in keeping with the solid pace of demand for rental units.

Regionally, combined single-and multifamily housing starts rose 22.2 percent in the Northeast and 36.9 percent in the West, but fell back 7.3 percent in the Midwest and 4.2 percent in the South in June. However, the declines were entirely due to monthly volatility on the multifamily side, as single-family starts posted gains across every region in June.

Issuance of new building permits, which can be an indicator of future building activity, fell 3.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 755,000 units in June following a large increase in the previous month. While single-family permitting posted a marginal, 0.6 percent gain to 493,000 units, multifamily permitting fell back 10.9 percent to 262,000 units from an above-trend pace in the previous month.

On a regional basis, permit issuance rose 2.9 percent in the West and held unchanged in the Northeast, but retreated 0.8 percent in the Midwest and 8 percent in the South in June.

2012/7

2012/7 New Research Shows Baby Boomers Aren’t Confining Themselves to Traditional Regions of the Country Despite popular belief, a recent analysis of government data by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reveals that the geographic distribution of households headed by someone age 55 or older is fairly even across most of the country, with more than 30 percent of all households in every state meeting this description. The study sheds valuable light on a key statistic for housing demand among active adults, as NAHB's long-term forecast indicates that the share of 55+ households will grow every year through 2019, when the 55+ category will account for nearly 45 percent of all U.S. households.

“As more baby boomers approach retirement and the average age of the U.S. population increases, many businesses—including home builders— are showing increased interest in designing products that appeal to customers 55 and older,” said Paul Emrath, NAHB’s vice president of survey and housing policy research. “This

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Builders Outlook research shows that 55+ developments should be possible in every state where population density is sufficient to support new communities of a size that can provide a variety of attractive amenities.”

The data show 43.9 million households are headed by someone 55 years old or higher, accounting for nearly 38 percent of all U.S. households. Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the share of households ranges from 31 to 45 percent.

West Virginia tops all states, with 45 percent of its households headed by someone 55 or older, followed by Florida at 44 percent, Hawaii and Maine (each at 43 percent) and Pennsylvania and Montana (at 42 percent). At the other end of the scale, Utah and Alaska are the only states where less than one-third of the households are 55+.

For 97 percent of all 3,143 counties, the share of households age 55 or older is more than 30 percent. At the high end, 44 counties have a 55+ household share of over 60 percent. Mineral County, Colo., and Sumter County, Fla., are the highest ranked counties in the U.S. with 77 percent of their households headed by someone 55 or older. Sierra County, N.M., follows closely behind at 74 percent, while both Esmeralda County, Nev., and Wheeler County, Ore., come in at 71 percent each.

“The demographic that 55+ builders and developers are focused on is the largest growing group of buyers that we have ever seen in this age group, and it continues to grow,” said NAHB 50+ Housing Council Chairman W. Don Whyte. “It is also a group that is radically different from what it was only a few years ago. The customers are fitter, more computer savvy and plan to live an entirely different lifestyle from what they might have thought previously, or what we would have aimed at providing for them.

Builders and developers in the 55+ housing industry have a unique opportunity to create communities that address the specific needs of the baby boomer population.”

Truck Sales Swell as NewHome Building Hits Four-Year High

By Mike Ramsey For more than a year, Mike Harwood held off buying a new pickup truck for his landscaping businessbecause of the slumping housing market.But in the past few months, more lots have been cleared for construction and his phone has been ringing more frequently.So in June he

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went out and bought a new Chevrolet 2500 diesel truck with a backup camera and a hands-free Bluetoothphone link.

"There is a lot more steady and consistent work," said the 30-year-old Mr. Harwood, whose company Broadleaf Landscape,in Damascus, Md., does a lot of work at new homes. "I was more comfortable with buying a new truck at this point in timebecause of the market change."Mr. Harwood's optimism bodes well for Detroit auto makers. Home construction is the most important driver of light-trucksales, and pickups are big profit makers for General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC.In the first half of this year, sales of full-size pickups made by the Detroit Three increased 13%, to 707,175 vehicles.Analysts believe such trucks on average generate between $8,000 and $10,000 in operating profit.

By comparison, profit onsmall and midsize cars can be just a few hundred dollars.Auto makers are encouraged by the latest housing indicators. In June, the rate of new-home construction rose to the highestlevel in four years, on pace for 760,000 on an annual basis. A continuing recovery in home construction should translate intoeven faster growth in truck sales in the second half and in 2013.Kent Pecoy is one of the people who could help. The owner of a construction company that builds and remodels homes inMassachusetts and Connecticut, he has 30 trucks in his fleet and badly needs to replace several of them. Now that the home business is perking up, he says he may just do that in the fall."I know guys running trucks with well over 100,000 miles on them that are patched together with rubber bands and bubblegum," he said. "We are all looking to see if it is going to sustain itself, but everybody is so reluctant to plunge in until they aresure. I can certainly see where there is going to be a run on trucks and vans, and excavating equipment for that matter.

"Economists at GM and Ford say the nascent home-building recovery makes them more confident about their prospects forthe next few years."We have been waiting for [a housing recovery] for a long time," said Sue Yingzi Su, a senior economist at GM, which holdsa nearly 30% share of U.S. light-duty-pickup sales.

"Housing right now is just like the auto industry. We haven't beenbuilding houses for a long time," creating pent-up demand, she said.A boost in truck sales in the U.S. could increase profits enough to balance out falling sales in Europe and South America.Ford, for example, recently warned it expects a second-quarter loss in overseas operations of roughly $570 million, threetimes wider than its overseas loss in the first quarter.

But Barclays Capital analyst Brian Johnson points out that sales ofbetween 10,000 and 11,000 additional F-series trucks could boost Ford's North American profit by $100 million. Ford hasalready sold 301,141 this year, and truck sales are typically higher in the second half of the year.GM, which will launch a new generation of pickups later this year, sold 267,453 trucks through June. Chrysler, which ismajority-owned by Italian auto maker Fiat SpA, has sold 138,581 Ram pickups. Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. andNissan Motor Co. also sell fullsize pickups, but in much lower volumes than the Detroit companies.Auto sales overall are being buoyed because many vehicles on American roads are on their last legs. The average vehiclein use is now more than 10 years old, according to industry researcher R.L. Polk & Co., the oldest they've ever been.Most auto makers now expect sales of about 14.2 million cars and light trucks in the U.S. this year. That would be thehighest level since 2007, although it is still below the 16 million to 17 million vehicles a year auto makers were selling adecade ago.

Builders

utlook on the scene |

During our 65th anniversary year we’d like to take a look at some of our more recent history with pictures from the last few years. Take a close look and you might find someone you know!

2012/7

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View more photos on our facebook page: elpasobuildersassociation

10 Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Getting Receivership Contingency Plan

By Meera Louis and Clea Benson Bloomberg News The U.S. regulator overseeing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks has hired a consulting firm to create contingency plans for taking the mortgage-finance firms into receivership, according to contract documents.

The plan is part of “ordinary regulatory activities” and does not indicate that the Federal Housing Finance Agency intends to take the companies or the banks into receivership, agency spokeswoman Denise Dunckel said. Receivership would involve winding down the companies and selling off their assets.

“This planning activity is routine and does not indicate any condition of the current status of the regulated entities,”Dunckel said.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (FMCC) (FMCC) have been operating under U.S. conservatorship since September 2008, when investments in risky loans pushed them to the brink of insolvency. Under conservatorship, as opposed to receivership, the two taxpayer-owned companies continue to operate while having drawn almost $190 billion in aid from the U.S. Treasury.

The FHFA in May signed a contract with New York-based PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to “recommend guidelines, procedures and other protocols the FHFA should have in place prior to placing any regulated entity into receivership,” according to the document.

The document said PricewaterhouseCoopers will “develop a framework for the FHFA to use in building the capacity” to liquidate Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or any of the 12 regional U.S. Home Loan Banks.

Uncertain Future The fate of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is in limbo. Private financing for mortgages evaporated in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, and the two companies now own or guarantee about 60 percent of residential mortgages.

President Barack Obama’s administration and members of Congress called for shrinking the government role in the housing market, but have not taken action.

Edward J. DeMarco, acting director of the FHFA, has said the agency will do what it can to prepare for the future of the government-sponsored enterprises in the absence of a plan from Congress and the White House to wind them down or otherwise reorganize them. The FHFA is working on plans to build a single platform for securitizing home loans and to set standards for how those loans are managed.

The FHFA released the PricewaterhouseCoopers contract to Vern McKinley, a financial consultant working with the Washington-based legal organization Judicial Watch, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

“Conservatorship is kind of this limbo they’ve been in since 2008 and receivership would be more aggressive toward liquidating Fannie and Freddie and putting them out of business,” said McKinley, who has filed other FOIA requests with the FHFA seeking to find out why Fannie Mae (FNMA) (FNMA) and Freddie Mac weren’t dissolved in 2008.

“They’ve never taken any steps in that direction.”

Staff from the FHFA and PricewaterhouseCoopers have met since May with staff from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to discuss the receivership plans, the documents show.

PricewaterhouseCoopers will deliver the receivership plans by Oct. 1 and will be paid $757,000, the contract says.

Builders Outlook

2012/7

2012/7

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Builders Outlook

Guest Column

Getting the economy back on track

Francisco Canseco Texas Congressman

As a former small business owner, I understand how important the health of our entire economy is for the success of a business, regardless of the size. Those who make their living as home builders are no doubt feeling the heat of our struggling economy and the uncertainty created by the passage of legislation like the President’s health care law. That, combined with the overwhelming number of regulations coming from the current administration, makes it difficult for such an industry to plan for the future, hire workers and make investments.

As a member of the House of Representatives, I’m working to clear

away some of this uncertainty in our economy and get rid of the most burdensome regulations that impair industries from growing. This is not just talk: during my time in the House of Representatives, we have passed numerous pieces of legislation that would make cuts to the federal budget, ease the regulatory burden, and assist the small businesses of America in expanding and creating more jobs. I believe that while the federal government has a responsibility to ensure a fair playing field for individuals and businesses to compete with one another, it should not pick winners and losers. However, over the past few years, through laws like

the President’s health care law and the Dodd-Frank financial regulation law, the federal government has begun doing just that.

My goal as representative of the 23rd District of Texas is to make sure that industries that provide crucial jobs and revenue for our state, like home builders, are not flooded with federal burdens that keep them from successfully maintaining operations, hiring workers and supporting local communities and economies.

In taking care of such industries and small businesses we can ensure they thrive and make a positive impact to our economy as a whole.

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2012/7

utlook on the scene |

Associates Council Meeting Associates gathered at the EPAB offices on July 11 to network and formulate the projects for the remaining year. The Chairman, Sam Shallenberger, greeted new associates and welcomed them into the association. A quick review of events and topics of interest to the new members were discussed. The enthusiastic group vowed to get involved in projects for the association and to grow some of the proposed events. Committees are being formed for the Bowling Blast August 22; the upcoming Associates show-tell-sell tent event September 29 and a potential tail gate party at UTEP.

Council to host associate trade show The Associates Council has formed a committee to bring to life an associates show and sell event scheduled for Saturday, September 29.

Members of the committee originally looked at doing a simple Associates Only Speed Networking event but the opportunity to do something bigger entered the picture.

Initial planning has begun on what could turn out to be an opportunity for our members to showcase their products and services to guests at an outdoor tent event.

Sam Shallenberger, Associates Chairman told The Outlook about his plans.

“First and foremost we’ve wanted to do something to bring attention to our members and their products or services, and doing a speed networking event sounded like an ideal solution,” Sam said. “Once we got talking in the committee we turned a simple table top event into a bigger showcase by opening the event to the public,” he continued.

The committee is looking at doing a tent sale that would attract our members plus the public. “What a great idea to harness the traffic that comes by the EPAB office so that we can show and sell to the public,” said showcase chair Chuck Gabriel of Carpets West. “We can do a product show and sell while offering something different for the show going public, like our food contest,” Gabriel said. The committee is working on what could be El Paso’s first Gourmet Hot Dog making contest.

“Can you imagine the possibilities when you combine a food cooking contest into a selling show, you can’t go wrong.”

While this issue of Outlook goes to press the details of the show and sell are being finalized and members will have an opportunity to participate on a first come first served basis.

2012/7

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Builders Outlook

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UPCOMING EVENTS | August 15

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Cliff Anthes

Cliff Anthes, Jr., El Paso business man and Life Member of the El Paso Association of Builders passed away on July 11, 2012. Mr. Anthes was born in Cranford, New Jersey on November 30, 1935. His nickname at birth was “Sonny Boy”, and he was particularly interested in trains, the Scouts, history and industrial design.

A veteran of Korea the Eagle Scout married

Audrey and her five children: Meril, Ellis, Linda, Darin and Daril, then they added Sheri and Cliff III to the clan. Mr. Anthes built homes and got into development here in El Paso. He was involved in the El Paso Association of Builders for many years, loved politics and even served as Chairman of the Airport Board.

Cliff never lacked for interests and he love adventure and travel. Both Audrey and Cliff

retired in 1990 and commuted between Washington and El Paso, but most of all loved Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico. They had their little tugboat, Little Buddy, and made lots of friends there. Audrey passed away in 2011.

Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Cliff Anthes, Jr. He lived life to the fullest and always found a way to give back to the communities and friends he loved.

Jaime’s Courier Service,Inc. 915-549-4533 or 915-478-2404 Bonded, insured for your peace of mind.

11395 James Watt, Suite A-11 79936 915-633-8002

14

Builders Outlook

2012/7

Associates Council

Sam Shallenberger Western Wholesale Supply

Hi everyone, I hope things are going well for each and every one of you. I would like to thank everyone that showed up for the Associates meeting on July 11th. We appreciate the participation and the folks that signed up for committees. If we can keep this sprit up we should have a tremendous team and a great year end.

We have bowling coming up on August 22nd at Fiesta Lanes. You get 5 person teams for $125.00 banner displays for $100.00 and we could use some door prizes for our raffle. This is a fun time for all and no one cares how you bowel. Just come on out and have a good time.

The next fun project coming up for the

Associates is our Associates Showcase which will have a new name soon. It has turned into a full blown Trade Show, County Fair and Big Pachanga (party for those of you not from El Paso). The tentative date is the 29th of September and there is no UTEP home game that Saturday. The Miners will be playing Wisconsin at Wisconsin. Wishing them luck.

Last but not least will be a Pro- Am golf tournament in November at Painted Dunes.

That is correct, a PRO-AM where each team will have a Sun Country PGA professional golfer playing with your team of four. You must have a current Sun Country Handicapped player to enter this tournament.

Only 24 teams will have a chance to earn the win on this tournament. We think it is a great addition to our year of sporting opportunities and one that the serious golfer shouldn’t miss. We are starting to sign up teams and tournament advertisers. Like always, don’t delay in getting your team in on this one.

We’re confident a sellout is a sure thing.

Make plans to attend the General meeting August 15 at the El Paso Club, then come have some fun bowling.

Have a great month.

Get Sporty! Purchase your limited edition EPAB t-shirts today The association has on hand a limited number of new EPAB t-shirts with front pockets and special EPAB inspired print on the back. The shirts are American made 90-10 preshrunk cotton poly. The front of the shirt has the traditional El Paso Association of Builders logo above the pocket, while the back sports the trademark “Building El Paso’s tomorrow, today”.

Shirts come in dark blue with white logo on the front or steel gray with black logo above the pocket. These handsome rugged t’s come in sizes M-3X to accommodate the size that fits most comfortable. Available for a limited time the t’s are $15 on a first come, first serve bases.

At press time the EPAB also

They don’t show up with big trailers full of lighting and sound equipment. No RV’s for the stars or makeup people. No catered lunches on the set. As a matter of fact they look like any other person out looking at homes on any given day. But when all is said and done the quality of the work done by Christopher Jones of New Hero Productions makes El Paso Homes TV look like a big time Hollywood production.

El Paso Homes TV is a production of First Choice Realty headed up by Rene Gonzalez, a REALTOR® and Rick Snow the Broker for First Choice Realty. Rene is a life-lone El Paso resident and Rick is an Army transplant coming to El Paso in 1999 for his final assignment before retiring from the Army in 2003. They met in 2006 and came up with the idea for the show in 2009.

El Paso Homes TV is a 30 minute show about El Paso real estate that currently airs on KVIA Channel 7. “The focus”, says Gonzalez “is on new home builders in El Paso and on buyer education. The builders that are showcased get a segment on the show where we discuss their building techniques, floor plans and special incentives they may be offering at the time. We also have a segment dedicated to informing buyers about things like finding a mortgage or home inspections.”

“We try to make sure the show is entertaining as well as informative”, says Snow.

“We have a good time with it. When we describe a builder’s product we try to hone in on benefits to the buyer as opposed to the features of the homes. People don’t buy ceiling fans and granite counters, they buy things that affect their lifestyle. So we describe the way the house flows or how the family members are able to interact with each other through design features.”

Various sponsors are integrated throughout the show to create a finished production that flows together almost like a story instead of like a commercial. Initially some resale homes were included but over time the emphasis was focused on the builders. The show has evolved into more of a storyline now. They are following a couple through the home buying process and viewers will get to watch them all the way through to closing.

“It’s a way to get viewers to come back and watch the nest episode. Let’s face it, since we don’t have car chases or things blowing up we have to come up with different ways to get people coming back”, says Jones.

El Paso Homes TV provides and affordable marketing message to the consumer for new home builders that simply hasn’t been tapped into before in this way. It provides an opportunity for people to see and experience their homes before they come out and look in person. For more information visit: elpasohomestv.com

announced that a new shipment of the ladies golf shirt (Sport Tek) in the fast selling raspberry color that sold out fast earlier this year are now available in limited supplies. Breathable fabric fits our lady members in a sharp looking and great feeling EPAB logoed shirt. Only $25 and available at the office while supplies last.

Showroom: 2131 Missouri 915 • 533 • 6045

fax • 533• 6096

Thomas R. Brown, Owner

Builders

utlook

EL PASO

ASSOCIATION

years

OF

BUILDERS

B U I L D I N G E L PA S O ’ S F U T U R E S I N C E 19 4 6

www.elpasobuilders.com www.epbuilders.org 6046 Surety Dr. El Paso, TX 79905 915-778-5387 • Fax: 915-772-3038 ■ execuTive oFFicerS Frank Arroyos - President Cisco Homes edmundo Dena - vice President Accent Homes Frank Torres - Secretary/Treasurer GMF Custom Homes Sam Shallenberger - Associates council Western Wholesale Supply Greg Bowling - immediate Past President Tropicana Homes ray Adauto - executive vice President El Paso Association of Builders

■ TAB STATe DirecTorS Doug Borrett, Karam Co., Life Director Randy Bowling, Tropicana Homes ■ NATioNAL DirecTorS Bobby Bowling IV. Demetrio Jimenez

NATioNAL ASSociATioN oF Home BuiLDerS (800) 368-5242 TexAS ASSociATioN oF

■ couNciL/commiTTee cHAirS Affordable Builders council Bobby Bowling IV Associates council Sam Shallenberger Build PAc Randy Bowling Desert Green Building council Javier Ruiz industry Promotions Greg Bowling Land use council Vacant Young Designer Award John Chaney remodelers council Rudy Guel membership Drive Mike Santamaria Finance committee Kathy Carrillo education committee Frank Spencer ■ ADviSorY To THe BoArD J. Crawford Kerr, Attorney, Firth, Johnson & Martinez

BuiLDerS (800)252-3625

2011 Builder member of The Year Greg Bowling Tropicana Homes 20110 Pat cox Award Kathy Parry Hunt Communities 2011 Associate of The Year Sam Shallenberger Western Wholesale Supply John Schatzman Award Bob Bowling III Tropicana Homes ePAB Special Award Rudy Guel Guel Construction

Honorary Life members Brad Roe Cliff Anthes Wayne Grinnell Chester Lovelady Don Henderson Anna Gil

■ BoArD oF DirecTorS Joe Bernal, Joe Bernal Insurance Doug Borrett, Karam Co. Kathy Carrillo, Pioneer Bank John Chaney, Passage Supply Sergio Cuartas, BIC Homes Ted Escobedo,Snappy Publishing Art Garcia, El Paso Door Juanita Garcia, ICON Custom Home Builders,LLC

Past Presidents committed to Serve 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

Samira Gonzalez, Edwards Homes Lorraine Huit, Cardel Design Group Walter Lujan, Dawco Home Builders Sal Masoud, Del Rio Engineering Bruce Meyer, JDW Insurance Edgar Montiel, Palo Verde Homes Kathy Parry, Hunt Communities Javier Ruiz, Senercon & Border Solar Frank Spencer, Aztec Contractors Henry Tinajero, Bank of the West Linda Troncoso, TRE & Associates Ken Wade, El Paso Building Materials Adam Winkler, MTI Ready Mix Paul Zacour, Zacour & Associates

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. © 2012 Builder’s Outlook is published and distributed for the El Paso Association of Builders

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