Builders

utlook

www.elpasobuilders.com

2015: issue 9

WORKFORCE:
Construction worker pay
soars as homebuilders
hunt for labor
Its a good time to be in the field.
The shortage of construction labor is wreaking
havoc on homebuilders, but its welcome news for
workers in the field.
Companies like Shea Homes, Hovnanian
Enterprises Inc., and Beazer Homes USA have all
identified the scarcity of workers as a factor thats
causing an industry slow down. Meritage Homes
Corp. even lowered its forecast last week because of
rising labor costs and the difficulty its having finding
enough workers to finish projects, Bloomberg
reports. The worker shortage is so acute in Arizona
that Active Lifestyle Communities, part of Shea
homes, is telling customers that their homes may not
be completed for a yearabout twice the time it
usually takes.
There are a bunch of reasons why construction
workers are hard to find.
Many construction workers left the field when the
housing market collapsed during the recession. They
entered sectors that were healthier at the time, such
as trucking, and oil and gas production. Despite
housings rebound, the laborers arent returning, in
part, because the pipeline of talent has dried up as
schools have cut shop classes and two- or four-year
colleges attract would-be workers. Plus, increased
enforcement along the Mexican border could be
keeping foreign workers from entering the country

While thats bad news for

homebuilders52% of them told the
National Association of Home Builders
that they experienced a labor shortage
in June, up from 46% last yearits
good news for folks in the field or
those looking to enter it.
and seeking jobs in the field, Bloomberg says. The
fallout of those factors has come as buyers sign
contracts faster than they have since before the
housing crash.
While thats bad news for homebuilders52% of
them told the National Association of Home Builders
that they experienced a labor shortage in June, up
from 46% last yearits good news for folks in the
field or those looking to enter it.
The scarcity of workers in construction means
employers are paying higher to lure laborers to the
industry. As of August, average hourly earnings in

the construction industry were up 2.8% over the prior

year. Thats ahead of the wage growth across all
industries2.1% for the year in August.
Pay in the field may continue to rise since the
shortage of workers is unlikely to get better anytime
soon. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that
the United States will need 25% more construction
laborers by 2022a figure that far outpaces the
growth of the U.S. workforce overall. A similar
increase24%is expected for carpenters.
by Claire Zillman, fortune.com

Bill 505 that removed the dual credits cap, thereby

allowing students the opportunity to graduate from
high school with not only an industry or trade
certification, but with an Associates Degree. Home
building companies are excited about the opportunity
to welcome these skilled, educated graduates into
our industry to help ensure that we can provide
shelter for the citizens of our state.
The mission of the Texas Builders Foundation, the
charitable arm of the Texas Association of Builders,
is to support and develop the future of Texas'
construction workforce by providing scholarships to
students who are enrolled in construction related

programs in Texas' technical and trade schools and

colleges and universities. By designating October
2015 as "Careers in Construction Month," the
Governor has provided the Texas Association of
Builders and the Texas Builders Foundation with an
additional tool in their efforts to educate the youth of
Texas on the construction industry as a professional
career path. In 2014, the Governor issued a similar
proclamation, and we are honored that Governor
Abbott supports the need to continue to promote and
recognize the professional construction workforce in
Texas.

OCTOBER
Careers in Construction Month'
At the request of the Texas Association of Builders,
Governor Greg Abbott has proclaimed October 2015
"Careers in Construction Month" in the State of
Texas to increase public awareness and appreciation
of construction craft professionals and the entire
construction workforce. See the proclamation here.
The Texas Association of Builders, an affiliate of
the National Association of Home Builders, has 28
local home builders associations and nearly 10,000
members across Texas, representing over 702,500
jobs and more than $31 billion annually in the Texas
economy. For the last several years, Texas'
residential construction industry has faced a
shortage of skilled workers and over the next five
years, 20 percent of skilled laborers in the
construction industry will retire. According to the
Texas State Data Center, in 2014 an estimated 2,600
individuals moved to Texas every day, and as
additional individuals and companies continue to
relocate to our great state, the need for quality,
affordable housing will continue to be in demand.
In 2013, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill
5, the comprehensive education reform bill, that
gives high school students a choice in their postgraduation path, allowing them to prepare for
college, or choosing elective courses that prepare
them for employment immediately upon graduation
from high school by, for example, earning
construction industry or trade certifications. This
year, the 84th Texas Legislature passed and the
Governor signed into law, House Bill 18 and House

Builders Outlook

HEAT UP YOUR HOME SALES.

Football season is here. Its time to fire up the grill, mix the marinade and enjoy
an evening on the patio cheering on your favorite team with friends and family.
Natural gas can help. From grills and fire pits to lights and torches, building
outdoor living spaces equipped with safe, clean and efficient natural gas gives
your customers a chance to enjoy the big game from the comfort of home.
Let us help you plan for natural gas right from the start.
For more information:
ElPasoNewBusiness@TXGas.com
William Nieves: 915-496-6126
Jorge Sejera: 915-680-7216

2015 issue 9

2015 issue 9

Builders Outlook

Presidents Message

Spookiness Lurking On The Horizon

Trick Or Treat?

Edgar Montiel
President,
El Paso Association
of Builders

October is nearly upon us and with

that comes fall weather, ghosts and
goblins, and, this year, a big change in
our industry. The new CFPB/TRID
documentation and disclosure process
is finally here and closings will never be
the same. My understanding is that
contracts executed after October 1,
2015 will be the ones that fall under the
new disclosure regulations which tells
me that it will be late October/early
November before the builders feel the
full effect of the new rules.
Unfortunately,
banks
and
title
companies will be managing two
independent systems and sets of
processes as of October 1st. This will
be a learning experience for all of us
and one thing is certain, we will all
need to add at least an additional week
for our closings.
Another change coming our way
involves new codes and energy

regulations. As many of you already

know, the 2015 IRC and Energy Codes
will be adopted and enforced by the
City of El Paso in less than one year. A
select group from the EPAB will be
having meetings with the city over the
coming months to review the new
Energy and IRC Code. Keep in mind
that we are going to be adopting items
from the 2012 and 2015 IRC in addition
to the new Energy Code as we are
currently building to the 2009 IRC. Do
not hesitate to contact us for updates
over the coming months.
We are all well aware of increasing
costs in our industry and our
association is not immune to the
increasing costs. Our board recently
unanimously voted to increase dues for
all renewals and new applications from
the current $500.00 to $600.00. This
was done after talking to several
builder and associate members. Most,

if not all, agreed that the fact that dues

had not increased in close to five years
was amazing in itself. I thank every
single member for continuing to
support the association and we want
you to know that we are hard at work
representing you.
The association recently hosted
another successful Speed Networking
event. Thank you to the 14 builders
and 17 associated that participated in
the event. If you have not participated
in one of these, it is a great way to
showcase your product or service to
multiple prospects within a two hour
time window. It is definitely worth the
time and effort to participate in this
great event.
Join us at our next General Meeting
at the Marriott on October 14, 2015 at
noon. Thank you to the members that
are consistent and participate in our
General Meetings without fail. I invite

those of you that have not yet attended

a General Meeting to do so. I promise
that you will not be disappointed.
Im asking you to support the 2015
Fall Home and Garden Show October
9th through 11th at the Civic Center.
There are a couple of spots left if you
would like to participate in this years
event. Also, please support the
builders participating in the 2015 Fall
Festival of Homes October 10th
through the 25th as most are builder
and associate members of our great
association.
I dont say this enough but thank you
to everyone that supports us whether it
is through sponsorship, volunteering,
your donations, your time, your ideas,
or simply by attending our events. It
truly is an honor to represent every one
of you as your President. Now lets all
finish the year strong and on a high
note!

El Paso & Southern

So
outhern New Mexico

Insurance developed for builders.

inspiration ideas rresources

e
esour
ces

El Paso & Southern New Mexico

Su Casa,
bringing
you new
customers

summer
sippers:
wines +
cocktails

inspiration ideas resources

artistry

in adobe

Las Cruces hacienda

custom
closets

Developed for builders with the backing of the strongest insurance

carriers serving the Texas building industry, our insurance program
offers flexible coverage options and rates that are more competitive
than ever. As an authorized member of Builder Agent Network, were
dedicated to providing builders and contractors with the best-in-class
insurance programs, pricing, underwriting, resources and service.
Product Portfolio Highlights
t
A rated carriers, several available
t
(-
PFSJOH
Doverage for property damage that results from faulty, defective,
or poor workmanship in your work.
t
(-
-JNJUT
PG
VQ
UP
...
Bvailable
t
Expanded policy form for commercial projects
t
Builders Risk master policies, monthly reporting, annual and one shots
t Workers Comp - Two highly cost-effective programs
t
ExDFTT
-JBCJMJUZ
GPS
$PNNFrcial (eneral Contractors
t
$PNNFrcial Umbrella
El Paso, Permian Basin and Surrounding Area

modern makeover

Upper Valley farmhouse

The current edition of Su Casa is

available in over 150 locations and
online at sucasamagazine.com
CALL TOD
TODAY
DA
AY FOR ADVER
ADVERTISING
TISING INFO:

915-581-2300
550 South Mes
Mesa
sa Hills Drive, El Paso, T
Texas
exas 79912

sucasamagazine.com
suca
asamagazine.co
om

HUB International Insurance Services

-VJT
3PTBT
915-206-6047
www.hubinternational.com

www.builderagentnetwork.com

Builders Outlook

2015 issue 9

Perspective
Ray Adauto,
Executive
Vice President
EPAB

Change not always good or welcomed

but inevitable

Over the last few months the

Board of Directors has had a difficult
topic to deal with: dues. Simply put
the dues structure and the
restrictions in the by-laws have
complicated our financial situation
and required some adjustments to
be instituted. First and foremost the
change in when dues will be
charged, something that has single
handedly caused us significant
accounting nightmares because of
our twelve month membership.
From now on the dues are for a
calendar year beginning with 2016.
All members will now be billed for
renewal in December for payment by
end of January. For some members
this allows you to plan your yearly
budget much more effectively. For
others the renewal is at first a little
quick. It was a situation that the
finance committee struggled with but
decided there had to be a cutoff date
and that is September 30. Effective
October 1 the new dues structure
begins and we will be billing in
December for 2016 dues, no matter
what month youve renewed in the
past your new due date is January.

New members will pay for the entire

year regardless of when they join.
The association followed some best
accounting practices from other
associations, chambers, and clubs.
We anticipate that the majority of
you will understand and support the
new procedures and dues. As
always there will be a learning curve
for both of us so be patient and pay
attention to the emails we send your
way.
October is when we proceed to
the Civic Center to open the Fall
Home and Garden show, October 911. This year a new builder
member, Metro Homes LLC is
constructing the Home inside the
Home Show. My thanks to
Fernando Torres and all of Metro
Homes for working on this project.
Its not an easy thing to do and
Metro is going to have a beautiful
display for everyone to see.
Speaking of the Home and Garden
Show heres something for the first
ten readers of my column to win:
two VIP tickets to the show just by
emailing me at
ray@elpasobuilders.com. Again,

the first ten that I get will win a pair

of tickets. Support the Home and
Garden show regardless. Youll love
what the Wall Wizard will show you
as he takes you on a fast paced
demonstration on painting and wall
decoration on the main stage. Visit
the numerous displays and booths
and come find something you need
or didnt know you needed. See the
ads on tv or the newspaper for more
information on times and ticket

Su Casa

Your New Home/Su Casa Nueva

A homebuyers guide for English or Spanish Readers

best time
NOW is the
me
ur new ho
to buy yo
in El Paso

Pick up our latest edition!

Helpful advice for buyers in English and
Spanish
Unique, easy to use glossary of real
estate terms
Available all over town

el tiempo
Ahora es
prar
para com
El Paso
nueva en
una casa
Informatio

Finally this year is flying by and

with fall in the air lots of you are
attending games, shuttling children
here and there, and getting ready for
Halloween and beyond. Be careful
and drive safely. Watch for school
zones and other traffic work. Im
amazed by your continued support
for what we do and I assure you that
all our volunteers do it with love.

Available at the
Fall Home & Garden EXPO:

w Home
Your NNe
ueva

Mortgage

prices.

n de
Informaci
Hipotecas

H
View New

e
omes onlin

Call Margaret today at 778-5387 for

more information

2015 issue 9

Builders Outlook

industry
news
Builder Confidence
Continues to Rise
Builder confidence in the market for
newly constructed single-family homes
continued its steady rise in September with
a one point increase to a level of 62 on the
National Association of Home
Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index
(HMI). It is the highest reading since
October 2005.
"The HMI shows that single-family
housing is making solid progress, said
NAHB Chairman Tom Woods, a home
builder from Blue Springs, Mo. "However,
our members continue to tell us that they
are concerned about the availability of lots
and labor.
"NAHB is projecting about 1.1 million
total housing starts this year, said NAHB
Chief Economist David Crowe. Today's
report is consistent with our forecast, and
barring any unexpected jolts, we expect
housing to keep moving forward at a
steady, modest rate through the end of the
year.
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 for 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.
Two of the three HMI components
posted gains in September. The index
measuring buyer traffic increased two
points to 47, and the component gauging
current sales conditions rose one point to
67. Meanwhile, the index charting sales
expectations in the next six months
dropped from 70 to 68.
Looking at the three-month moving
averages for regional HMI scores, the West
and Midwest each rose one point to 64 and
59, respectively. The South posted a onepoint gain to 64 and the Northeast dropped
one point to 46.

government data and improving builder

sentiment and shows a gradual but
consistent housing recovery, said NAHB
Chief Economist David Crowe. As job
growth and consumer confidence continue
to strengthen, the housing market should
make additional gains this year.
Regionally, the Northeast, South and
West posted respective gains of 23.1
percent, 5.8 percent, and 6.7 percent. The
Midwest registered a 6.9 percent decline.
The inventory of new homes for sale was
218,000 units in July. This is a 5.2-month
supply at the current sales pace.

Sales of newly built, single-family homes

rose 5.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted
annual rate of 507,000 units in July,
according to newly released data from
HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Our builders are reporting higher traffic
and more serious buyers, and are adding
inventory in anticipation of future business,
said Tom Woods, chairman of the National
Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and
a home builder from Blue Springs, Mo.
Todays report is in line with other

rate of 1.126 million units in August,

according to newly released data from the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development and the Commerce
Department. Overall permit issuance rose
3.5 percent to a rate of 1.170 million.
Permit growth indicates that our
members feel confident that consumers are
returning to the market, said NAHB
Chairman Tom Woods, a home builder
from Blue Springs, Mo. However, builders
are reporting concerns with lots and labor

Housing Starts Edge

Lower in August,
New Home Sales Up Permits Up
Nationwide housing starts dropped 3
5.4 Percent in July
percent to a seasonally adjusted annual

BUILDING

El Paso

availability, which could have contributed to

this months production dip.
A slight one-month decline is not
unusual as the housing market moves
forward at a slow and steady pace, said
NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe.
However, encouraging permit data, yearover-year increases in single and
multifamily production, and rising builder
confidence all bode well for a continuing,
gradual recovery throughout the rest of the
year.
Both housing sectors posted production
declines this month. Single-family housing
starts fell 3 percent to a seasonally
adjusted annual rate of 739,000 in August
while multifamily starts dropped 3 percent
to 387,000 units.
Combined single- and multifamily starts
fell in three of the four regions in August.
The Northeast, Midwest and West posted
respective losses of 33.7 percent, 9.8
percent and 1.1 percent. The South
registered a 7.1 percent gain.
Multifamily permits rose 4.7 percent to a
rate of 471,000 while single-family permits
increased 2.8 percent to 699,000.
Regionally, the Midwest, South and West
posted respective permit gains of 2.9
percent, 2.4 percent and 9.6 percent. The
Northeast fell 4.4 percent.

SINCE 1950

Builders Outlook

2015 issue 9

Policy

Improving Immigration
The current US
immigration system
not only doesnt
work but is not
being fixed. That
said, given that the
race to the White
House is on,
immigration is sure
to play a starring
role in the unfolding
presidential drama.
Rather than rehash
Elliot Eisenberg
stale ideas - anchor
babies, border patrols, and the like - below
are several proposals that use market forces
and not bureaucratic solutions to solve
several different immigration problems in
ways that not only improve our
competiveness but also our balance sheet.
At present, the majority of legal immigrants
who arrive do so on the basis of family
reunification. Fewer than 20% of immigrants
obtain green cards based on marketable
skills. Instead, allocate immigration visas

based primarily on occupational needs.

Observe which occupations and industries
are experiencing a combination of fast wage
growth, lowest unemployment rates and high
vacancy rates and allocate entry visas
accordingly while keeping existing caps. In
this way visas will go to those who skills are
in shortest supply.
As for temporary H-2B non-agricultural
worker visas and H-1B (high tech) visas,
eliminate the quotas on them as is the case
with H-2A agricultural visas. If American
businesses need temporary workers, they
should get them after showing that there are
insufficient workers currently available.
Depriving firms of workers benefits no one.
As for concerns that these new workers will
depress wages of existing workers, that
concern is not borne out by research.
Moreover, by allocating visas based on
employment shortages, unanticipated
downward wage pressure should be
reduced.
Next, create a new visa, a U-Visa, for
those who are here but undocumented. The

visa would allow the holder and their family

to stay and work here. The catch, the visa
would not lead to citizenship and would have
an annual fee. I suspect that a fair price
would be about $500 to $700/year.
Assuming a few million were bought, this
program would bring in $1 to $2 billion
annually. Charging for the visa discourages
those without jobs from staying. Moreover,
this approach would be bundled with severe
penalties for employers caught knowingly
employing illegals. Absent a job, illegals will
find it difficult to remain here.
Lastly, abolish the EB-5 program that
allows foreigners to invest their way into the
US. At present, depending upon the location
of the investment, between $500,000 and $1
million must be invested and shown to create
or maintain 10 jobs. After seven years, the
investor may then apply to become a
naturalized US citizen. This process is
convoluted, requires bureaucracy and
infrastructure, lends itself to substantial fraud
and because the number of visas is capped
at 10,000, the wait time is several years.

Instead, simply sell citizenship via an

auction, similar to the way Treasury
securities are sold. The households that
would apply would have means, and
charging for a passport would allow us to
allocate this scarce resource to those who
want it most. Given that Malta charges
roughly $700,000 for a passport and St. Kitts
and Nevis $250,000, I bet the Treasury could
net close to a million per applicant with the
current quota intact and raise nearly $10
billion/year.
While you may or may not agree with
these proposed solutions, the point is
markets and market signals can solve
difficult social problems if only given a
chance. Its not as if the status quo couldnt
stand a re-think.
Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D. is President of
GraphsandLaughs, LLC and can be reached
at Elliot@graphsandlaughs.net. His daily 70
word economics and policy blog can be seen
at www.econ70.com

In the News

How an Immigration Downturn Has Contributed to the

Construction-Worker Shortage

By Kris Hudson, The WallStreet Journal

The U.S. construction industry has lost
more than half a million Mexican-born
workers since 2007, contributing to a labor
shortage thats likely to drive up home prices,
according to a new analysis.
Increasingly restrictive immigration policies
and better opportunities abroad have resulted
in less Mexican immigration to the U.S. for
such work, according to a report released
Monday by home-building analyst John Burns
Real Estate Consulting Inc.
Without taking a position on immigration
policy, the analysis firm examined Commerce
Department data to determine that there now
are 570,000 fewer Mexican-born construction
workers in the U.S.both in the residential
and commercial sectorsthan at the
construction industrys peak in 2007.
Mexican-born construction workers in the
U.S. numbered 1.32 million last year
compared with 1.89 million in 2007,
Commerce data show.
Burns chief executive John Burns and his
firms demographer, Chris Porter, conclude
that many of those workers who went back to
Mexico during the downturn havent returned
to work in the U.S. due to tighter immigration
controlsboth for those entering legally and
those notand comparable job opportunities
in some Mexican states with improving
economies.
That doesnt bode well for a home-building
industry that increasingly has cited labor
shortages among the factors deterring greater
production of late. Granted, U.S. construction
starts on single-family homes so far this year
amount to an 11% increase from the same
period a year ago. Even so, the pace of

construction starts in August still amounted to

only about half of the average annual output
in the most recent normal market of 2001 to
2003.
Builders differ on whether higher pay is
needed to lure workers back into the industry,
be they Mexican or American. Roy
Weatherford, owner of Apex Foundation LLC,
which pours foundations, driveways and
sidewalks in the Houston area, is among
those who dont see pay as the issue. He
sees the answer in more recruitment and
training to bring young people into the
industry, rather than trying to lure back
workers who left.
One thing were noticing here in the
Houston market is that the workers from
Mexico are not coming back, Mr.
Weatherford said. There is work in Mexico.
Theyve opened plants in Mexico. Look how
many car manufacturers have moved to
Mexico. They can work there, and if theyre
making a living, theyd all rather be home.
n the Denver market, John Van Dyks Van
Dyk Construction Inc. builds frames for about
700 homes each year. He agreed that
Mexican-born construction workers are
finding work outside of the U.S., but he added
that there are still some who would return.
Supposedly, theres work farther south, in
South America, Honduras and places like that
that arent as hard to get to, Mr. Van Dyk said.
I still feel like there is labor there that is willing
to come here if we got immigration [policy]
figured out. Most of my guys who are
immigrants tell me that they could get labor if
they were allowed.
Immigration policy is a hotly debated topic
among presidential candidates with the
election still more than a year away. In their

report, Messrs. Burns and Porter steered

clear of suggesting any changes to
immigration policy. Rather, their report cites
numerous data points indicating a less
hospitable environment in the U.S. in recent
years for Mexican migration, legal or illegal.
Their report notes Commerce Department
figures showing a 67% decline in immigration
to the U.S. from Mexico from 2006 to 2013.
Employers use of the E-Verify online system
for verifying employment eligibility has risen
from almost nothing in 2001 to more than 27
million employment checks last year.
Meanwhile, employment of U.S. residential
specialty trade contractors, which account for
most home-construction labor, stands at
nearly 1.8 million workers. Thats nearly 28%
less than at the home-building markets peak
in 2006.

NM construction
industry impacted
by immigration
reform
By Mike English
Assistant Editor Albuquerque Business First
Originally Published December 2014

Walk onto any home construction site in the

state of New Mexico, and it's likely more than
half the workers are immigrants, largely
Spanish-speaking laborers from Mexico. For
some trades, such as roofing, stucco,
concrete and plastering, the percentage of
immigrant workers is even higher, between 90

percent and 100 percent of the local

construction workforce, according to builders.
As President Barack Obama seeks to
implement new immigration reforms, few
industries in the state have as much at stake
as construction, according to a report in the
Santa Fe New Mexican.
"Our industry would not be viable in Santa
Fe if not for the immigrant community," said
Kim Shanahan, executive director of the
Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association.
"We toss out the number 75 percent as
immigrants. How many of those are legal, it's
anybody's guess."
That is why builders recently sponsored a
lunch forum with Marcela Diaz, executive
director of Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a
statewide immigrant-rights group.
Diaz said New Mexico's immigrant
population both documented and
undocumented has declined since the
recession as job growth has stalled. "We don't
have the industries that draw immigrants,"
she said.
But one estimate puts the number of
undocumented immigrants in New Mexico at
70,000, and 40 percent to 50 percent of those
individuals stand to benefit under the rules of
a new policy called Deferred Action for
Parental Accountability, or DAPA.
If it moves forward, the DAPA program
would allow those who qualify to get a threeyear moratorium on deportation and a chance
to legally work in the United States with a valid
Social Security number.

2015 ISSUE 9

Builders

Builders Outlook

utlook on the scene |

Lunch and learn tough talk about
retirement dreams
By Ray Adauto, EPAB
The September Lunch and Learn
series brought Associate member Patrick
Tuttle out to discuss what he calls a
really good or really bad lesson, how
prepared are you for retirement. His
segment was titled the Price of Your
Dreams. Want to or not Patrick told the
attendees that you have many paths to
take you to retirement but one of them
just isnt so good. Remember that you
can take any path to an unplanned
destination and itll get you there, he
said. What I want you to do is to plan
your destination and the path that it will
take you to get there, Tuttle told us.
Tuttle brought a very insightful view of
how to plan for the future based on
where you are currently. He told the
group that it really doesnt matter where
you are today, what matters is that you
start to figure out how you want to get to
that place of financial freedom. Each one
of us has a different freedom that we
want but how many of us know what it
takes to get there. I cant tell you the
number of people who ask me to sell
their homes so they can buy a
Winnebago with the dream of being on
the road, then realizing that they dont
have enough money to buy the vehicle
much less drive it, Patrick said. Several
of the participants were over the age of
40, some older and younger. What
struck Patrick was the deer in the

Give your customers

the option of the sun
Now more than ever,
ElPaso home buyers
are planning for the
future.

Border Solar can help

you oer your
customers solar power
as a sensible
alternative.

Crossing to CleanEnergy

7365 Remcon Circle

El Paso, TX 79912
(915) 6134168

The future starts

today.
follow us on twitter and
facebook:
BorderSolar

headlights view he had of the audience

when he began asking the hard
questions on what each one had done to
prepare. Alice Duran spoke about the
need for some education like this to get
her going. Patrick did a great job
scaring us into action, but sometimes its
what we need to get motivated, she told
the Outlook. Edgar Montiel asked Tuttle
if there was a magic place where you
needed to be to be free to retire.
Everyone is different and in a different
place in their lives, so long as you get
started at least youll know what to
expect, Tuttle told him.
The Lunch and Learn crowd was fed
by Sarabias and the EPAB, with cookies
coming from Millie Garcia. Our thanks to
Patrick Tuttle for this informative trip
towards retirement freedom. Stay tuned
for the next Lunch and Learn coming the
fourth Wednesday of October.

SPECIAL REPORT

Builders Outlook Issue 9 2015

Industry
Analysis:
Homebuilding

William G. Ferguson , valueline.com

The Homebuilding Industry is comprised of
several of the nation's largest publicly traded
residential construction companies. From a
strategic standpoint, all of the builders generally
adhere to a similar operating model that centers
primarily on land purchases and construction
activity. Homebuilders predominately operate in six
regions in the U.S.: the Sun Belt, Central,
Southeast, mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and West. Only a
few large builders have operations in the Northeast.
That region, which is densely populated, is where
small privately financed builders dominate. Building
opportunities there are fairly limited.
The top ten homebuilders tend to focus on certain
categories. Some of the companies under our
review cater to the affluent market, providing luxury
homes. Others focus strictly on the entry-level
category, in which buyers heavily base their
purchase decision on their ability to secure
affordable financing. A majority of homebuilders,
though, concentrates on the "first-time" segment.
Here, the average home price is modestly higher
than that of an entry-level model. This segment
includes another appealing business venue, the
first-time move-up market.
The industry is highly fragmented. At the peak of
the last housing cycle (in 2006), the ten biggest
domestic homebuilders accounted for only about
35% of housing starts. There are hundreds of small,
privately financed builders that operate solely at the
regional level, pursuing niche market opportunities.
One major advantage big industry players have
over their smaller counterparts is the ability to easily
obtain debt and equity financing for large land
purchases and construction projects. They have the
clout to secure access to the nation's most
desirable living locations.
In good economic times, when funding is widely
available, it is common for large companies to
expand their operations (essentially, land positions)

by buying up small regional builders. Historically,

this has been an inexpensive way for builders to
penetrate new markets.
Land and Home Inventories
Investors considering a commitment to
Homebuilding stocks should pay close attention to
land and home inventories. When consumer
demand outweighs supply, builders typically
increase both their land holdings (owned and
optioned positions) and home inventories. It's best
to focus on those companies that have a lengthy
track record of steady, year-to-year, increases in
these assets.
We caution, however, that inventories on builders'
balance sheets can, at times, become excessive,
hitting record levels, suggesting that the housing
market is overheated and a correction is in the
offing. An oversupply situation often leads to falling
prices, increased builder incentives, and writedowns
of land and home inventories to fair market prices.
Homebuilders that carry mostly a short-term
supply of land on their balance sheets (typically
lasting two years or less) are not overly exposed to
sizable asset impairments when difficult market
conditions arise. Such companies pose limited risk
for investors.
Two important indicators that can aid an investor
in gauging the health of the industry are housing
starts and building permits. The U.S. government
releases these figures on a monthly basis. Housing
starts are the number of new private homes coming
under construction. Building permits indicate the
prevailing trend in home construction. During strong
housing markets these two measures tend to rise at
a healthy clip, conversely they fall when the
economy weakens.
From a company-specific perspective, investors
should review new home orders and construction
backlogs. The lag time from when a contract is
signed to when a new home is delivered is typically
six months. These figures tend to be strong

indicators of a builder's near-term revenue and

earnings prospects. Both are reported on a
quarterly basis.
Lending Rates
The performance of Homebuilding stocks can be
highly influenced by funding cost and mortgage rate
levels. Share prices often receive a positive boost
when the Federal Open Market Committee cuts
borrowing rates, or even just hints at a reduction. Of
course, cheaper financing spurs demand for new
and existing homes. When the Fed tightens its
monetary policy, the cost of funding rises, in turn,
hurting housing demand. Fed decisions to raise or
lower borrowing rates have the greatest impact on
builders that cater to the entry-level and first-time,
move-up markets. Naturally, buyers in these two
categories are very sensitive to mortgage costs.
The Pool of Buyers
The population of able buyers in the market is
closely tied to the health of the domestic economy.
In prosperous times, housing sales will pick up.
One figure that should be watched closely, though,
is the nation's unemployment rate. Increases in
jobless claims usually remove buyers from the
market. Not surprising, if an individual doesn't have
a job, his/her ability to buy a home is compromised.
Thus, we don't expect homebuilders to be at their
peak performance when unemployment is on the
rise.
This industry is highly cyclical, and the operating
performance of each Homebuilding company
typically moves in sync with the fortunes of its
peers. Therefore, those looking to invest in the
Homebuilding sector should take a broad economic
view, focusing on some of the aforementioned
market metrics. Generally, all sectors, from entrylevel to luxury, and Homebuilding companies,
prosper in an economic upswing. These stocks
notably suffer in periods of recession.

10

Builders Outlook

2015 issue 9

DEVELOPMENT

Down TI:ME now Under Construction at Montecillo

A planned new addition to TI:ME
at Montecillo is now under
construction at West El Paso's
smart growth development,
according to a press release.

Content provided by
El Paso Development News
visit: elpasodevnews.com

N. M

N. M
esa S
t.

Trawood
awood Dr.

S. Re
sler D
r.

S. Re
sler D
r.

esa S
t.

Gateway

East

Lee Trevino Dr.

Get the latest news in development:

www.elpasodevnews.com

g g
Merchant Services
Internet & Mobile
Banking
eS
Statements
Online Bill Pay
Remote Deposit

Lee Trevino Dr.

The building will consist of three

levels totaling 11,000 square feet total.
The first floor will contain retail space,
with a spa occupying the second level.
The third floor will be dedicated to
office space.
Plans also include a rooftop patio that
will be available for events.
A rendering of the building indicates a
contemporary design for the new
structure, which will stand feet away
from the View at Montecillo apartments.
This will be the second venture at the
Montecillo sight for Pan y Agua
Partners, which opened TI:ME at
Montecillo in 2014. TI:ME added the
majority of restaurant and retail space
at the Montecillo smart growth site,
which will eventually expand to 300
acres.
Projects such as TI:ME and Down
TI:ME are encouraging young
entrepreneurs to take a chance on
doing their own thing while contributing
to the quality of life to our city, said
Octavio Gomez of Pan y Agua Partners
in the press release.
Retail space is also expanding
nearby with the eminent opening of the
Santi Dwelling retail buildings to the
southwest and the Montecillo Town
Center to the east, which is slowly
advancing across Mesa Street.
Down TI:ME was designed by the
Curioso firm of Chicago and Root
Architects of El Paso. No project
completion date has been disclosed.

2015 issue 9

11

Builders Outlook

INDUSTRYNEWS

Going Green:
NAHBStudyRevealsWhatGreenMeansToHomeBuyers
ByNAHB
Whatdoconsumersthinkofgreen
homes?And,whatarethemost
importantelementsofagreen-built
home?Buildersandotherindustry
professionalsnowhavean
opportunitytofindoutwhatgreen
meanstohomebuyerswithanew
publicationfromtheNational
AssociationofHomeBuilders
(NAHB).
NAHBspublishingarm,
BuilderBooks,recentlyreleasedWhat
GreenMeanstoHomeBuyers:
PerceptionsandPreferences,astudy
ofconsumerpreferencesfocusing
exclusivelyongreen/highperformancefeaturesinthehome
andthecommunity.Thestudy
examinesconsumersattitudesof
variousgreenfeatures,conceptsor
terminologies,theresonanceofthose
termsaspotentialmarketingtools,
andthelikelihoodthatthehome
purchasedecisionmaybeinfluenced
byanyofthesefeaturesorterms.
ThestudywasconductedbyNAHB
in2015andisbasedonasurveyof
homebuyersnationwide.Results
fromthestudyareavailablebyage,
income,raceandCensusdivision,
amongotherdemographic
characteristics.Thisnewstudyisan
incrediblyusefultooltohelpbuilders
andremodelersdeterminenotonly
consumerattitudestowardsgreen
homes,butalsowhichgreenfeatures
consumerscaremostabout,said
NAHBChairmanTomWoods,a

HOMETRENDS

homebuilderfromBlueSprings,Mo.
Wehaveseenincrediblegrowthin
greenandsustainablebuildingover
theyears,andtheresultsofthis
surveyonlyfurthersolidifythe
continuedconsumerinterestingreen
building,andwhichattributesmatter
mostthesebuyers.

Among the key findings, include:

Top Influencers in a Home
PurchaseDecision:
90%Safecommunity
88%Energyefficient
85%Lowmaintenance
85%Loweroperatingcosts
84%Durable/Resilient

Turn Your Home Into Your Dream Home With Fireplace Ambience
Carlucci?Firewithanintricatetwist.
Heat&Glocollaboratedwith
CarluccionthePRIMOSeriesto
createTheDunes,modernsculptural
logsforawholenewviewoffire.
ThewhitelogsofTheDunes
transformthemodernPRIMO
fireplaceintoagalleryofsculpture,
furtherenhancingtheinteractionof

Thetraditionoffirehasgone
modern.Ifyou'rethetypeofperson
thatenjoysthebestofeverything,
thePRIMOisforyou.Thisfireplace
isallabouthomedesignwithout
compromise,packedwithinnovative
technologythatallowsyoutohave
exactlywhatyouwant,whenyou
wantit
ThePRIMOgiveshomeowners
completedesignfreedom.Patented
SafeSurfaceGlassleavesno
exposedseams,meshormetaltrim.
PlaceaTVorartworkabovethe
fireplacewithnoworries.The
PRIMOevenmakesitpossibleto
comfortablyenjoytheambianceofa
fireyear-roundthankstothe
exclusivePowerFlowHeat

Common Words Home Buyers Use

to Describe Green Homes:
32%:Efficient,EnergyEfficient,
WaterEfficient,HighEfficiency
15%:Eco-friendly,Environmentallyfriendly,Environmentallyresponsible,Environmentally-safe,
Environmentally-conscious

ManagementSystem,which
providesprecisionheatcontrolat
theflipofaswitch.Heatcanbe
distributedtwowaysviaInterior
HeatZonestotheroomthe
fireplaceisinoranadjacentroom,
orviaExteriorHeatZonestodirect
heatoutsidethehomeallowing
homeownerstoenjoythebeautyof
theirfireplaceincomfort,nomatter
theseason.Thiscompletecontrol
overtheheatoutputandflame
providesafullycustomized
experienceunlikeanythingcurrently
available.
Andwhatdoyougetwhenyou
combinethecrazyamazing
innovationofthePRIMOandthe
artisticeyeofsculptorElisa

lightandshadows.Between
CarluccisartisticskillsandHeat&
Glosinnovativetechnologies,the
PRIMOSeriesgasfireplaceissome
serioushomedesigninspiration.
Enjoyyournewfireplacetoits
fullestextent-safely.Followthese
tipsforGasFireplaceSafety.
Source: http://www.heatnglo.com

12

Builders Outlook

2015 issue 9

CONSUMERADVICE

Modern Kitchen Design Trends:

NewColors,Appliances,Materials&More
Yourkitchenistheoneplacewhereyou
wanttobereallycarefulabouttrendy
choices.Thelastthingyouwantisakitchen
thatsoutofsyncinjustafewyearssimply
becauseyoufollowedatrend.Instead,look
atthetrendsintermsofthevaluetheybring
toyourlifeandyourhome.
Hereareseventrendsthatarepopular
now,buthavestayingpowerbecausethey
addresslifestyleneeds,convenience,and
savingsensuringyoullenjoyyour
kitchenformanyyears.
1. Love White? You Wont Go Wrong
Itshardtobelievethatwhitekitchens
couldgetanymorepopular.Butthe
preferenceforwhitecabinetscontinuesto
soar.Sixty-sevenpercentofNational
KitchenandBathAssociation(NKBA)
memberssaidthatwhiteistheirtopchoice
forcabinets,a20%climbfromtwoyears
ago.Andlayeringwhiteonwhitewhite
backsplashesbeneathwhitecabinetson
whitecountertopswasspotlightedinthe
2014BestinAmericanLivingAwards
presentedbytheNationalAssociationof
HomeBuilders.
Whiteappliancesaresomucheasierto
keepcleanthanstainless,whichsmudgesif
youasmuchaslookatit.Plus,thenewicy
lookissimple,cool,andabletoblendinto
transitionalandcontemporarystyles.
2. Want Color? Go for Neutral Gray
GreykitchenwithyellowbarstoolsImage:
BeautifulProtest

Thepopularityofsleek,sophisticated
graycolorschemesissoaring.Seventy-one
percentofNKBAdesignerssaidgrayisthe
fastest-growingcolorschemeforkitchensin
2014.
Butgraycanbetricky.Incold,cloudy
climates,graycanappearfrozenunlessyou
useitonwarmmaterialslikewoodcabinets,
orpairitwithhotcolorslikesredsand
yellows.Ontheotherhand,graycan
appearpleasantlycoolinsunny,hot
climatesabreathoffreshairinheatand
humidity.Sowhilewhitekitchensareasafe
bet,grayisneutralenoughandclose
enoughtowhitetohavestayingpowerif
youuseitwell.
3. Embrace Smaller Appliances
Smallisbigthesedays.Micro-livingis
takingoffformillennialsandretirees.
Ownersofmultigenerationalhomesare
installingtiny,secondarykitchensfor
returningadultchildrenandelderlyparents.
Typically,thesemicro-kitchensfeaturea
two-burnercooktop,combo
microwave/convectionoven,18-inch
dishwasher,and60-inchfridgeor
refrigeratordrawer.
GE,infact,isdevelopinganentire
kitchenthesizeofa6-foot-widechestof
drawers.The$15,000unithey,small
isntnecessarilycheapcontainsan
inductioncooktop,twoovens,asink,a
dishwasher,andtwocoolingdrawersthat
canfunctionasafridgeorfreezer.

4. Choose Quartz Counters Over Granite

In2013,quartzandgranitealmosttiedin
countertoppopularity.Butnow,thetrendis
definitelytowardquartz.
ConsumersReportssaysquartzisthe
toughestcountertopmaterial,whichresists
scratches,burns,andchips.Crushedquartz
stoneismixedwithresintoproduce
countertopsthatrangefromsolidcolorsto
thelookofrealgranite,buttheyllbeat
naturalstoneintoughness.Itseasyto
maintain,andunlikegranite,youdonthave
tosealitannuallytopreventstains.
5. Invest in LEDs
RibbonsofLEDsareshowingupinthe
weirdestandmostwonderfulkitchen
places:Alongtoekicksasnightlights;onthe
insideofcabinetdoorstoshowoff
grandmaschina;concealedincrown
moldingtowashceilingswithlight.
LEDropeorcovelightsaregainingin
popularitybecausetheyrecomingdownin
price,makingthemmoreaffordableforthe
averagehomeownerthantheywereafew
yearsago.
6. Rethink Your Fridge
Refrigerationisnolongerlimitedtoa
single,hulkingunit.Homeownersare
customizingtheircoolingneedswithpoint
ofuserefrigeration,addingcoolwherethey
needit.
Thatcouldmeanaddingacounter-height
producefridgeinyourprepisland,nexttoa
winecoolerfortheadults,andajuice/soda
fridgeforthekids.

Dontthinkweretalkingaboutdormfridgequalityandprices.U-Linepoint-of-use
refrigerators,forexample,offer(depending
onthemodel)11shelfpositions,fullextensionslide-outbins,andfivefoodand
beveragesettingslabeleddeli,market,
pantry,rootcellarandbeverage.Units
typicallysellfor$2,500to$4,000.
7. Install a Touch-Activated Faucet
Touch-activatedfaucetsareburstingout
thefadcategoryintothekitchenmust-have
column.Infact,in2013theirpopularity
jumpedto30%from20%theyearbefore.
Onthefaceofit,touch-activatedseemsa
littlegimmicky,andwithpricesstarting
around$350,itscertainlyalotofmoney.
Butitsgreatforthosetimeswhenyouve
gotdirty,chicken-goopyhands,andfor
thoseinyourhouseholdwhorefusetoturn
wateronandoffbetweentasksbecauseits
toomuchhassle.Andaswaterbecomes
scarcer,anythingthatsavesgallonswill
havevalueandsaveyouonyourwater
bills.
Areasonwerecommendtouchfreeover
hands-free:Asyouknowfrompublic
bathroomswithhands-freeactiviated
faucets,theylloftenturnonwhenyoudont
wantthemtoandnotturnonwhenyoudo.
Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/homeadvice/kitchens/9-kitchen-trends-that-cant-gowrong/#ixzz3mc1S9VUK
Follow us: @HouseLogic on Twitter |
HouseLogic on Facebook

2015 Issue 9

13

Builders Outlook

Membership News

www.elpasobuilders.com
www.epbuilders.org

UPCOMING EVENTS |
OCTOBER 9 11
HOME & GARDEN SHOW
EL PASO CONVENTION CENTER

OCTOBER 14
BOARD & GENERAL MEETING
MARRIOTT HOTEL
BOARD MEETING 11:00
GENERAL MEETING
12:00

NOVEMBER 5
CONTRACTS CLASS
EPAB
TIME TBD

NOVEMBER 9
PRO-AM
GOLF TOURNAMENT
CORONADO COUNTRY CLUB

NEW MEMBERS|
THE TEXAS TEAM @ SUPREME LENDING
CONTACT: AARON COLLINS
8800 BUSINESS PARK BLVD., STE. 200
AUSTIN, TX 78759
512-626-5330

SODA SPONSOR

NEW YORK LIFE

CONTACT: BRIAN METZGER
303 N. OREGON ST., 11TH FLOOR
EL PASO, TX 79901
915-534-3279

|
Thanks to our SEPTEMBER SODA SPONSOR: PASSAGE SUPPLY

Your Online Showroom for

New Homes
brought to you by:

Jaimes
Courier
Service,Inc.

915-549-4533
or
915-478-2404
Bonded, insured for
your peace of mind.

14

Builders Outlook

2015 issue 9

Associates Council

Sam Shallenberger
Morrison Supply

September is normally a welcomed

month because we are settling into the
routine of kids in school, no really big
holidays other than preparing for
those coming up, and the weather is
generally pretty good. This September
is also a time when we start to
implement our new dues structure and
billing. As a current member youve
been getting dues billed to you when
your anniversary came, and then
maybe youd get around to paying it
later. Effective now we are doing all

membership billing in December for

the coming year. This is important
folks as you get your 2016 dues bill it
will be due in January. We have to
change this to be balanced and
ensure were all on the same page.
Please, dont freak out just know that if
you used to pay your dues in the later
part of the year we no longer will be
doing that. If you are due for renewal
in October, November or December of
this year you will only pay for 2016.
The new dues are $600 per year, or

about 28cents more a day than before.

You will have had something from the
EPAB in the mail or email about this
by the time you read this.
Also wed like to thank those of you
who are in the Home and Garden
Show October 9-11 at the civic center.
All of you should be showcasing there
because well have thousands of
people going through and you know
that if you dont play you cant win.
Hope to see you there.

Expert Advice

Republicans Introduce Their Own

Health Care Reform Law
Joe Bernal
Employer Benefits of El Paso

Republicans in the Senate and

House have proposed several bills to
repeal President Obamas Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act
(ACA). In January, several legislators
introduced the Patient Choice,
Affordability, Responsibility, and
Empowerment Act (Patient CARE Act),
which would create a new health
insurance reform plan, in addition to
repealing the ACA.
The Acts sponsors, Senator Richard
Burr (R-NC), Senator Orrin Hatch (RUtah) and Representative Fred Upton
(R-Mich.), introduced an outline of
their plan. As this issue went to press,
however, none had introduced it as a
legislative bill in their respective
houses. The following information was
current as of early April.
The Patient CARE Act would not
require individuals to buy coverage. It
also would not require businesses to
provide health insurance for their
employees. There would be no
penalties for failing to have or provide
coverage. Although the Patient CARE
Act would repeal the Affordable Care
Act, it would keep some of the popular
changes ushered in by the Affordable
Care Act. Affordable Care Act changes
the Patient CARE Act would keep
include:
Prohibiting insurers from denying
coverage based on a pre-existing
medical condition.
Eliminating lifetime coverage limits
on health insurance policies.
The Patient CARE Act would also
take the following cost-reduction
measures:
Eliminate mandated benefits, or a
list of benefits that health
insurance policies must cover. It

would also eliminate the ACAs

prohibition on annual coverage
limits for health insurance policies.
This would lower premium costs,
but could increase out-of-pocket
costs for less-healthy individuals.
Make it more difficult to qualify for
subsidized coverage. The
Affordable Care Act offers
advance premium tax credits for
people whose income is up to four
times the federal poverty level. The
Patient CARE Act would limit
eligibility to people whose income
is up to three times the federal
poverty level.
Allow states to opt out of the
requirement to offer coverage to
dependents up to age 26. The
Affordable Care Act requires health
insurance plans in all states to
offer coverage to dependents until
age 26. The Patient CARE Act
would continue this requirement for
health plans, unless the state
opted out of the requirement.
Eliminate certain taxes created by
the Affordable Care Act. These
include the 2.3 percent excise tax
on the medical device industry and
certain taxes and fees on
pharmaceutical companies. For
individuals, the Act would eliminate
the Net Investment Income Tax
and Additional Medicare Tax. The
Net Investment Income Tax is a tax
of 3.8 percent that applies to
certain net investment income of
individuals, estates and trusts. An
individual must have a modified
adjusted gross income over
$200,000 for the tax to apply. The
Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9
percent applies to wages, selfemployment income and Railroad

Retirement Tax Act compensation

over $250,000 for married
taxpayers filing jointly, $125,000 for
married filing separately and
$200,000 for all others.
Lower the tax on so-called
Cadillac plans. These taxes
recognize that employer-paid
health plans that provide rich
benefits with few or no out-ofpocket costs give insureds little
incentive to control their medical
spending. The ACA imposes a 40
percent excise tax on Cadillac
plans, paid by health insurers or
self-insured employer groups. The
Patient CARE Act would instead
include the cost of coverage that
exceeds a threshold in an
employees income. Employees
could receive up to $12,000 in
employer-sponsored individual
coverage per year tax-free and up
to $30,000 for family coverage.
Employees would pay taxes at
their regular income tax rate on
any coverage costs over that
amount.
Allow individuals to use funds in a
tax-advantaged medical spending
accounts for over-the-counter
drugs when prescribed by a
licensed healthcare provider. This
would apply to flexible spending
accounts (FSAs), health savings
accounts (HSAs), health
reimbursement arrangements
(HRAs) and Archer Medical
Savings Accounts (MSAs).
Reform medical malpractice laws
to reduce the cost of defensive
medicine. Defensive medicine
consists of unnecessary medical
tests medical providers do to
protect themselves from

unwarranted malpractice lawsuits.

In a 2014 issue brief, the
nonpartisan National Conference
of State Legislatures estimated
medical liability system costs eat
up 2.4 to 10 percent of total health
spending. This includes
settlements, legal and
administrative costs and defensive
medicine.
Other changes:
Would allow Medicaid-eligible
individuals the option of using the
health tax credit to help buy private
insurance. The Affordable Care Act
requires Medicaid-eligible people
to enroll in Medicaid.
Would create a continuous
coverage protection. This would
prohibit insurers from medically
underwriting an individual who
moves from one health plan to
another(whether an individual,
small group or large employer
plan) with no significant break in
coverage. This means insurers will
not be able to deny coverage or
require a person to pay higher
premiums because of a preexisting medical condition. The
proposal does not define a
significant break in coverage. The
Affordable Care Act prohibits
insurers from refusing to cover an
individual or charge more because
they have a pre-existing condition.
Since the Patient CARE Act is a
proposal and not yet a bill, the
Congressional Budget Office cannot
calculate its cost or effects on the
healthcare system. We will keep you
informed of this and other legislative
or legal changes that could affect your
health insurance coverage.

2015 Issue9

15

Builders Outlook

ElPasoDisposal

Builders

utlook
772-7495

www.elpasobuilders.com
www.epbuilders.org
6046 Surety Dr. El Paso, TX 79905
915-778-5387 Fax: 915-772-3038
execuTIve OFFIcers
edgar montiel, President
Palo Verde Homes
carlos villalobos, vice President
Pointe Homes
Don rassette, secretary/Treasurer
Rassette Homes
sam shallenberger, Associates chair
Morrison Supply

Sam Shallenberger
NATIONAL DIrecTOrs
Bobby Bowling IV.
Demetrio Jimenez
NATIONAL AssOcIATION OF
HOme buILDers
(800) 368-5242
TexAs AssOcIATION OF
buILDers

Frank Torres, Immediate Past President

GMf Homes

(800)252-3625

ray Adauto, executive vice President

Executive Vice President
Jay Kerr -Attorney of record
Firth, Johnston, Bunn & Kerr
cOuNcIL/cOmmITTee cHAIrs
Associates council
Sam Shallenberger
build Pac
Randy Bowling
Land use council
Linda Troncoso
Young Designer Award
John Chaney
remodelers council
Rudy Guel
membership retentiion
Patrick Tuttle
Finance committee
Kathy Carrillo
Henry Tinajero

ADvIsOrY TO THe bOArD

Jay Kerr, Firth, Johnston, Bunn & Kerr
James Martinez, Law Office of James Martinez

For All Your Electrical Needs

Residential Specialists
Tract Homes Custom Homes

2014 builder member Of The Year

Frank Torres
GMf Homes
2014 Pat cox Award
bret Thompson
foxworth Galbraith Lumber
2014 Associate Of The Year
Joe bernal
Employer Benefits Of El Paso
2014 John shatzman Award
Cindy Bilbe, Stewart Title
Honorary Life members
Mark Dyer
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
Bobby Bowling, IV
Kelly Sorenson
Rudy Guel
Mark Dyer
Anna Gil
Mike Santamaria
Bradley Roe
John Cullers
Bob Bowling, III
Randy Bowling
Edmundo Dena
Doug Schwartz
Hershel Stringfield
Robert Baeza
Pat Woods

Total Customer
Satisfaction

915-208-9313
602-708-7560

Advertise your
business to the
home building
industry

bOArD OF DIrecTOrs

Antonio Cervantes, BIC Homes

Bret Thompson, foxworth Galbraith Lumber
Bud foster, Southwest Land Development Servises
Dan Ruth, Millienium Homes
Henry Tinajero, West Star Bank
Joe Bernal, Employer Benefits Of El Paso
John Chaney, Passage Supply
John Dorney, Dorney Security

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.

Kathy Carrillo, Pioneer Bank

Kathy Parry, Hunt Companies
Leti Navarette, Custom Dream Homes
Linda Troncoso, TRE & Associates
Robert Najera, Joseph Homes
Walter Lujan, Dawco Builders

2015 Builders Outlook

is published and distributed for the
El Paso Association of Builders
by Ted Escobedo, Snappy Publishing
ted@snappypublishing.com
El Paso Texas 915-820-2800

The Builders Outlook is the official publication of the El

Paso Association of Builders. Our award winning monthly
newspaper is the only publication to target El Paso home
builders and related businesses.
Widely distributed throughout the city and available to
readers online, the Builders Outlook is an important
advertising medium for any business that want to reach this
valuable market.

TAb sTATe DIrecTOrs

Randy Bowling
Greg Bowling

Call 778-5387 today for more information