May Reporter

North Texas Hombuilders Association

Reporter Volume 5, No. 5 • may, 2012

4410 Fairway Boulevard • Wichita Falls, TX 76308 • P: 940.692.2211 • F: 940.692.2214 • www.nthba.com

Congratulations

Congratulations to Tim Sawyer with Wilson Office Supply winner of two free meals for July’s General Membership Meeting!

General Membership Meeting

Thursday, May 10, 2012 • 6:30-8:30 PM

Good Times Party Barn • 3136 Arena Road • Wichita Falls, TX Bring the family and join us for a night of fun and fellowship. Meal will be provided by American National Bank, Bill Franklin. There will be a bounce house and barrel train for the kids and other games for the adults. Texoma Community Credit Union will sponsor a gift basket for our charity gift basket raffle. Chances will be sold for $10.00 each.

Please RSVP by May 4, 2012 5 PM if you plan to attend.

2801 Kell East

Phone (940) 692-5734

Are You KNowledgeable?

Wichita Falls

Fax (940) 692-0391

We are embarking on the two year mark and legislatures will be back in session. They will begin pushing for new laws to go into effect. We all know when that happens it can either be beneficial to the housing industry or detrimental. I encourage you to stay informed. Contact your legislatures and let them know how you oppose items that will have a negative impact on our economy Stan Mountain and let them know you support those that President will have a positive impact. As once said, “I hate to be a kicker, I always long for peace, but the wheel that does the squeaking is the one that gets the grease.” Attributed to American humorist Josh Billings (18181885) from a poem titled “The Kicker”. Here are just a few items that are lingering from last year’s legislative session that are sure to be at the top of the list.

Texas 76308

Lane Landes, Owner

CHRIS•DOCKMAN • COMPANY 2071 FM 171 Wichita Falls, Texas 76305 Phone & Fax (940) 767-9710 Cell (940) 704-3471 Jerry Fillmon, Owner/Manager

tco@wf.net

1. The mandate to have fire sprinklers in all one and two-family dwellings and townhouses. Through legislative action and by working with the various state code adoption committees, NAHB members have helped keep the decision to install residential sprinklers solidly in the hands of individual home owners.

2.

Eliminating the Mortgage Interest Deduction – Americans overwhelmingly oppose any action by Congress to tamper with the mortgage interest deduction, but it could be eliminated or scaled back as Congress and the Administration are looking at tax increases in light of deficit concerns,” said NAHB President Bob Jones, a home builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “The consequences would be devastating for home owners, the housing market and the nation’s economy.” You can find more information regarding this topic at http://www. savemymortgageinterestdeduction.com/.

3. FHA Loan Limits - When Congress allowed conforming loan limits to revert to their lower levels at the end of October and reapplied a more restrictive formula for determining loan ceilings in local markets, thousands of potential home sales were put in jeopardy — and not just in high-cost areas.

T E X A S NAHB and 940-723-0944 its industry allies fought vigorously for an extension ASSOCIATION of the higher limits, and achieved a preliminary victory in the OF with support.

Serving Thisbipartisan Area Since 1946 BUILDERS Senate 2801 Midwestern Parkway, Suite 200 However, the effort to restore the higher FHA loan limits faced Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 intense opposition from conservative forces in the House of Representatives who refused to support any measure that could 940-696-0000 phone • 940-687-1725 fax be perceived as increasing the federal government’s role in www.fstbnk.com housing. This left many industry insiders strongly doubting that any loan-limit measure could be passed.

The outcome of the uphill legislative battle in Congress was shaped by lobbying by NAHB and its grassroots members. The Inc. association also conducted a teleconference for the major news media on why the loan limits needed to be raised.

On Nov. 14, NAHB succeeded in pushing through an agreement Serving Wichita, among lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to restore higher Archer and Clay Counties limits for mortgage loans insured by the FHA through 2013.

These are only a few items of interest that will have an effect on 1920 Elmwood North Ave. • Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 the housing industry whether you are a builder, banker, buyer or (940) 720-5200 • (940) 691-3199 Fax seller. If you are an American citizen with a right to vote it is your responsibility to take action. Help us keep the Government from Jean Taylor, CESA Maggie Johnson taking away the American Dream by being staying informed with Vice President / Escrow Officer Operations Mgr. / Escrow Officer jeant@archertitle.com maggiej@archertitle.com what’s happening and make sure you voice your concerns There is no reason a member of the NTHBA shouldn’t know what’s happening that will affect our industry. With this age of technology we have information at our fingertips. Sign up with the Texas Association of Builders and the National Association of Home Builders for all their latest news briefs. A portion of your membership pays for lobbyist working on your behalf at the State and National level take advantage of what you are paying for.

Renewals

David Bedingfield.......David Bedingfield Homes Harold Newton.................................. Acme Brick Jean Taylor...........................Archer Title of Texas Steve Fairchild............................. Hamilton Bryan George Medlen............................... Herring Bank Luz Lerma....................... Luz Lerma Construction Dave Clark.......... Nortex Housing Finance Corp.

Debra Clements Mortgage Consultant Mortgage Wells Fargo Home Mortgage 2301 KELL BLVD. WICHITA FALLS, TX 76308 MAC T9904-010 940-766-8520 Office Debra.K.Clements@wellsfargo.com

HOUSING HALL OF HONOR Don’t forget we are accepting applications for nominations for this year’s Housing Hall of Honor.

Deadline for nominations is July 30, 2012 5:00 PM. Guidelines and applications are available on the web site www.nthba.com under quick links, at the NTHBA office or call and we will be happy to email or fax one to you.

There are a lot of members, past members and other community leaders who may qualify.

Please take time to nominate someone who deserves to be recognized.

2801 Kell East Wichita Falls Texas 76308

Lane Landes, O

CHRIS•DOCKMAN • COMPANY 2071 FM 171 Wichita Falls, Texas 76305 Phone & Fax (940) 767-9710 Cell (940) 704-3471 Jerry Fillmon, Owner/Manager

Calendar of Events

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Parade of Homes & Special Events Committee Meeting.......................... May 9, 2012 • 10:00 AM Dave Rhone ............................................ 02

Scholarship Committee Meeting.....................................................................May 9, 2012 • 1:30 PM Luz Lerma .............................................

06

Dutch Watson 12 General Membership Meeting (Family Night).............................

May........................................

10, 2012 • 6:30 PM-8:30 PM Steve Smith ...........................................

13 Mother’s Day.....................................................................................................................

May 13, 2012

Ed Mawson Sr ........................................ 15 Jim Henderson ...................................... 17 Board of Directors Meeting.........................................................................

May 16, 2012 • 11:00 AM George Medlen ......................................

23 O.W. Ayers ..............................................

26 Memorial Day (Observed – NTHBA Office Closed)......................................................

May 28, 2012 Kenneth Armstrong ............................. 30

Budget & By-Laws Committee Meeting....................................................... May 15, 2012 • 9:15 AM

WINDOWS, DOORS AND MORE!

522 Beverly Drive Wichita Falls, Texas 76309

723-1436

s!

41

BRYAN WAGGONER 3907 Kell Boulevard • Wichita Falls • Texas 76308 (940) 691-3641 Fax (940) 691-3643 • (800) 466-3642 E-Mail bryanl@waggonercarpetone.com

Ember Shop Meet Your Members THE

Fireplaces by Rowland and Donnell Homes Xtrordinair Stone Age Vanguard

Wood Burning & Gas Wood & Cast Stone Mantels Outdoor Kitchens JOHNNY McCLANE 4101 McNiel Avenue

Falls, TX 76308 Town & Country Monessen Mendota Bill Rowland began selling homes in Wichita Falls in 1960 and started this company in 1967. Bobby Wichita Rowland earned Golden Blount Majestic Isokern his degree in Building Construction Technology, and started his career working for Nash, Phillips and Copus in Austin, Serving Texas & Oklahoma Texas. In 1974 Bobby moved back to his hometown becoming an active and integral part of the business.

Rowland Service and Installation since 1971 & Donnell Homes built the first energy home in the Texoma area in the 1970’s after studying a test home from Texas 692-6300 • Fax (940) 692-6302 Tech. Since then, Rowland & Donnell has been leading the way inwww.TheEmberShop.com energy efficiency in(940) both new building practices and in remodeling projects. Since 1967, Rowland & Donnell Homes has built thousands homesHome in this area.

In ad-Asso NorthofTexas Builders dition to new home projects, Rowland & Donnell is involved in home remodeling, home additions and small commercial renovations.

Waggoner Carpet One When it comes to buying flooring for your home, there’s only one flooring store to visit, Waggoner Carpet One Floor & Home. With the largest selection of beautiful, stylish carpet on sale, plus brand-name hardwood flooring, laminate and tile, you’ll find everything you need to make your home look its best – all at great low prices. We feature premium quality brands you know and trust. Each flooring product we carry is guaranteed to bring years of enjoyment and beauty to your home while accentuating your decor in a way that uniquely reflects your tastes and style. Whether it’s a small room remodeling project or a complete renovation, you’ll discover great new looks and versatile flooring choices in a wide range of colors, patterns and sizes. Waggoner Carpet One Floor & Home is about more than just great-looking floors though. Everything we sell comes backed by the Beautiful Guarantee.

That means you can shop with the confidence of knowing that the flooring you buy will look absolutely stunning in your home. If for any reason you’re not happy – we’re not either! Simply let us know, we promise you’ll love the way your new floor looks, or we’ll replace it for free. That’s just one more way your Waggoner Carpet One Floor & Home flooring store goes above and beyond “customer service” in everything we do. From service to selection, no other flooring store helps you bring out the lasting beauty and value of your home like Waggoner Carpet One Floor & Home. Whether you’re just browsing and would like a flooring estimate, or you’re ready to have your new floors installed by certified professionals, come visit our flooring store and discover a world of creativity that’s waiting for your personal touch.

Marketing Expert Addresses Membership at April Home Builder’s Luncheon

By Lee Grace, Classified Writer

Mike Blake of Canton, Texas, discussed marketing new homes at the April Membership Luncheon of the North Texas Home Builders Association held Thursday, April 5, at the Kemp Center for the Arts.

Blake, who grew up in a home-building family and earned a master’s degree in marketing and communication, is a marketing consultant. He compared the changes facing home builders today versus five years ago.

He noted the key market conditions prior to 2007 for sellers included uncomplicated selling, high buyer urgency, declining information control, identifiable decision makers, feature/benefit selling, increasing code requirements, relocation buyers, and investor purchasing.

For buyers prior to 2007, key market conditions included easy qualifying, investors, increasing information control, faceto-face selling, high buyer demand, high buyer confidence, and low-risk aversion.

Blake then explained that today’s market conditions are entirely different. For sellers, there is a more complicated sales and marketing environment, low buyer urgency, low information control, more decision makers, features/benefit selling is less effective, there is less spec building, and there is no investor purchasing.

For buyers, the market conditions include difficult qualifying, decreased demand, fewer relocations, high risk aversion, control of the information, less personal contact, longer sales cycles, and more control over the sales process. As for the new selling priorities, sellers are still focusing exclusively on the sales process and refusing to recognize the rise in significance of the “buying cycle.” According to Blake, in a low demand market, the “buying process” always trumps the “selling process.”

He also noted that features/benefits selling are becoming less effective. Buyers believe your competitors are equally good. “It North Texas Home Builders Association President is not enough to know what they want, you must understand the Stan Mountain is shown with Mike Blake and his wife, Kim, following Blake’s presentation at the ‘dissatisfaction’ associated with what they are trying to accomplish, fix April Membership Luncheon held Thursday, or avoid.”

April 5, at the Kemp Center for the Arts.

He added, “You must help them understand the cost of their problem. Also, focus more on the solution that the product. It is truly becoming a game of how you sell and the insight delivered in that sales experience.” He said that the home buying process has lengthened. Prior to 2007, 35 percent of buyers made their decision within the first 30 days, while today 32 percent make a decision within the first 60 days.

As for the situation for the new marketing priorities, Blake noted that decision making is becoming more social in nature. “Today 92 percent of prospects rely upon the internet to do their research before making contact with a builder representative. Best-in-class organizations will attribute more than 20 percent of sales to leads that were engaged, captured and interacted with prior to making personal contact.”

The solution for this situation is that marketing efforts need to be focused on reaching prospective buyers earlier in the “research” phase of the buying process. “Marketing must be relevant, timely and not easily found elsewhere. Sellers will need to be as ‘prospect focused’ as they are ‘customer focused.’ Leads are only as good as the process developed to capture, manage and market to them.” He added, “Opportunity management systems will become a critical activity for sales and marketing.” He added, “Buyers today think they know more than you. You have to be an expert in all phases of building to narrow the credibility gap and to become a trusted advisor.”

While January home building numbers showed an 18 percent increase in sales and a 10 percent increase in housing starts across the south, Blake stressed that we need one million housing starts each year to maintain housing needs. “Today we are only getting about 500,000 housing starts per year.”

He closed by saying responding quickly to your customers and how you communicate and market to your leads will be the key to successfully selling your homes in the future.

Builder Pricing • Net/30 Terms • Free Builder Delivery

Contact steve@hamiltonbryan.com • 940-691-1112

May Birthdays

Steve Fairchild...................................... 06 Lee grace............................................... 10 Eddie Blackburn.................................. 15

Ember Shop THE

Ralph Dunkelberg III Vice President Wood Burning & Gas Mortgage Services

Wood & Cast Stone Mantels Outdoor Kitchens

Xtrordinair

1401 Holliday • Wichita Falls, TX 76301 JOHNNY McCLANE • Cell 940-704-1789 Vanguard Stone Age940-720-8054 4101 McNiel Avenue

Monessen

Mendota

Isokern

Majestic

Fireplaces by

Fax Town & Country

940-720-8071

Service and Installation

www.TheEmberShop.com

2012 Parade of Homes June 2 - June 10

This year marks the 60th Annual Parade of Homes for the North Texas Home Builders Association. We are excited to say there are 17 homes entered in this year’s Parade. The homes will be open weekends from 2-6 PM and weekdays from 6-8 PM. Ticket sales from this event benefit Habitat for Humanity.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

#3 Jasmine - Classic Builders 2643 Highway 79 South, David Bedingfield Homes 2017 Windmill Lake Avenue - Dennis Company 4220 Shady Grove - Douglas Custom Homes 154 Prairie Way - Harmon & Holcomb Homes 6018 Oakmont - Harmon & Holcomb Homes 5780 Quail Ridge - Joe Wood Construction #5 Summertree Court - Klasse Homes 4920 Olivia Lane - Lance Friday Homes 3403 Stirling - R.J. Wachsman Homes 5409 Tanner - R. J. Wachsman Homes 5018 Cypress - R. J Wachsman Homes 6027 Laci Lane - Rowland & Donnell Homes #8 Avery Row - Skyline Developers 1706 Eagle Ridge - Stan Mountain Construction #3 Harley Court - Thompson Brothers Construction #20 Grant Gill - Habitat for Humanity

The Parade of Homes Kick-Off lunch is scheduled for June 1, 2012 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM sponsored by Landmark Title Company at the Sikes Lake Center.

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend!

Wichita Falls, TX 76308

Golden Blount Email ralph.dunkelberg@usfcu.us Serving Texas & Oklahoma

since 1971

(940) 692-6300 • Fax (940) 692-6302

Remember to do Business with an Association Member!

griselda.anzaldua@ferguson.com

Griselda Anzaluda Showroom Consultant

justinb@snbt.net

940-782-3805

8011 Seymour Hwy • Wichita Falls, TX 76310

Because we are committed to the success of the builder industry.

When you work with Stewart, you get more than just our years of experience benefitting your business. You get knowledgeable, full-time, dedicated associates working alongside you at your job sites, in the community, as well as with local, state and national builder associations, and political action committees.

Contact us for more information about why Stewart Title is the right partner for you.

Randy Schaffner Stewart Title Company of Wichita Falls 2733 Midwestern Parkway, Suite 100 Wichita Falls, TX 76308

(940) 691-5600

NTHBA REPORTER MONTHLY ADVERTISING RATES

Condolences

We wish to express our sincere sympathy to Charles and Shirley Barr for the loss of her brother Edwin Duane “Boe” Johnson. Our thoughts and Prayers are with you.

WINDOWS, DOORS Pray for those who are AND MORE! near and dear to us.

522 Beverly Drive

723-1436

We ask for continued prayers for strength and

Wichita Falls, healing forTexas Mike76309 & Sharon Tucker for Mike’s battle with Luekemia and Larry Thaggard with Texas Carpet Outlet for his battle with cancer.

Always Remember to do Business with Association Members!

We always have room for more ads!

Please contact NTHBA 692-2211 to set up your ad.

We’re HereJUSTIN WhenBAILEY You Need Us.

RWP SERVICES

OCE of Texas Certified Construction Elevation Survey

BRYAN WAGGONER

Fencing

Custom Gates Randy Pebworth 940-692-6117 O&F • 940-733-5339 • rwpeb10@gmail.com Landscaping

3907 Kell Boulevard • Wichita Falls • Texas 76308 (940) 691-3641 Fax (940) 691-3643 • (800) 466-3642 E-Mail bryanl@waggonercarpetone.com

Long Name.

Big On Service.

Vice President/Lending Serving Wichita, Archer and Clay Counties

1920 Elmwood North Ave. • Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 (940) 720-5200 • (940) 691-3199 Fax Jean Taylor, CESA

Vice President / Escrow Officer (940) 720-5202

jeant@archertitle.com

S

ON

RS

Maggie Johnson

Operations Mgr. / Escrow Officer (940) 720-5203

1300 Tenth Street • 723-0771

maggiej@archertitle.com

940-723-0944 Serving This Area Since 1946

WINDOWS, DOORS AND MORE!

522 Beverly Drive Wichita Falls, Texas 76309

Delinda Dodd Mortgage Team Member

723-1436

1401 Holliday • Wichita Falls, TX 76301 940-720-8023

rs!

Fax 940-720-8071

BRYAN WAGGONER 3907 Kell Boulevard • Wichita Falls • Texas 76308 (940) 691-3641 Fax (940) 691-3643 • (800) 466-3642 E-Mail bryanl@waggonercarpetone.com

Email delinda.dodd@usfcu.us