NORTH TEXAS HOME BUILDERS A
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October 2026
4410 Fairway Boulevard Wichita Falls, TX 76308 P: 940.692.2211 www.nthba.com
Special Thanks to our 202 North Texas Home Builders Association Partners:
Platinum
Gold
Silver
From the President NTHBA Members --
The weather is finally cooling off, and I'm ready to call it Fall ... because of the falling weather. Now if we could just get a little rain to go with it -- something to finish the cooling off and settle the dust. I'll level with you about the market: rates are sitting right around 7%, and that has some buyers taking a wait-and-see approach. But what's happening around Wichita Falls right now is a market catching its breath while the town around it gets busier by the quarter. Data center traffic is officially taking some of our housing supply – thanks to what’s going on at Oklaunion... and, serious money keeps deciding that Wichita Falls is where it wants to be. Jobs follow investment, households follow jobs, and rooftops follow households -that's the whole chain. Momentum like that is easier to lose than it was to build, and right now we have it. All of that growth has to land somewhere, and a good deal of it lands at the permit counter and on the inspection schedule. The city is processing more activity than it has seen in years -- a good problem to have -- and your association is at the table working alongside city staff to keep timelines predictable as that volume grows. A little housekeeping on the NTHBA side. We've had an update to the NTHBA website, and if you or your company have a different version of continues on pg. 2
continued from pg. 1 your bio that you'd like to see listed, you're welcome to submit any new information to Teri -- who also has a new email address: Teri@NTHBA.com. Please be patient with us as we work through those technicalities. And a big thank-you to everyone who came out and bore the heat at our Eddie Holcomb Memorial Golf Tournament!!! You made it a great day for a great name in this association. If there's ever something I can do to help you ... or a topic you'd like to see covered in these pages ... call me or email me. I read every one of these before it goes out. In the meantime, enjoy that first real taste of fall -- we've earned it. J. Tanner Wachsman President, North Texas Home Builders Association President, RJ Wachsman Homes
THIS MONTH IN HOMEBUILDING 1. Single-Family Starts Jump 7.6% in August August's national construction numbers showed single-family building picking back up. Single-family starts rebounded 7.6% from July to a 918,000 annual pace, while total starts fell 2.6% to 1.275 million on multifamily weakness. Permits came in at a 1.394 million pace, with single-family authorizations at 878,000. • Single-family is doing the growing. The headline decline came from apartments; the single-family side actually grew. Read past the headline. • The boom-year backlog has cleared. Total completions dropped 11.9% for the month and 27.1% from a year ago -- the big delivery wave from the boom years has worked its way through the system. • Builders are staying disciplined. Crews are finishing committed homes while front offices stay measured about what starts next -- the sign of a balanced pipeline, not an overbuilt one. Why it matters: Fewer completions mean standing inventory thins out over time. Buyers who find the right new home today have more choice than they are likely to have once that inventory tightens. 2. New-Home Sales Climb 6.4% in August August new-home sales rose 6.4% to a 684,000 annual pace, with a national median new-home price of $393,700.
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Buyers are back at the table. Sales rising month over month shows buyers are acting on today's opportunities.
• Lots are getting scarce. Fully 42% of builders rate lot availability as poor and another 38% as only fair. The land pipeline is tightening -- and homes on good lots won't get easier to find. Why it matters: The national numbers are driven by the large production builders. Locally, the market is built on lots, finish quality, and reputation. 3. Buffett Bets on Housing: Berkshire Puts Another $212 Million Into Lennar Over three trading days in mid-September, Berkshire Hathaway bought more than 2.7 million shares of Lennar for $212.4 million, pushing its stake past $1.2 billion and above 10% of the company. • Long-term conviction. The most patient capital in America looked at today's housing market and decided the long-term math on American housing still works. • Buying while others hesitate. The purchase came while homebuilder stocks were out of favor -- a classic long-term move from an investor known for making them. • Pace, not pressure. Even the largest builders are matching pace to demand rather than forcing volume -- the mark of a disciplined market. Why it matters: When the smartest money in the country is adding to its housing stake, it's worth remembering the next time a headline suggests otherwise. Housing is a long-term asset, and the investors with the longest time horizons are buying. 4. The 'Texas Housing Market' Isn't One Market -- and the Latest Numbers Show It The most recent statewide read -- June closings, the latest available -- shows Texas stabilizing. Sales rose 8.6% from a year earlier to 34,956 closed transactions, the statewide median was $342,900, and months of inventory tightened to 5.4 from 5.6 -- the shape of a market finding its footing. • San Antonio sales jumped 16.3%. Regional markets are moving on their own timelines, and buyers are showing up. • Fort Worth-Arlington posted price gains. The closest big-metro comparison to our corner of the state is already back in positive territory. • Supply is edging down, not up. Statewide inventory tightened year over year even as buyers took their time -62 days on market, up just two days. Why it matters: Headlines built on Austin and other overbuilt metros don't describe North Texas. Statewide sales are up, inventory is tightening, and our nearest big-metro comparison is already appreciating. Today's slower pace is a rate story, not a value story.
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CASA Fifteen new home permits were requested in the City of Wichita Falls for the month of September, bringing the year-to-date total to 55. Nine were requested by NTHBA Builders bringing the total granted to NTHBA builders to 41 through September.
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DATES TO REMEMBER November 10th-12th TAB Fall Meetings Dallas Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center November 17th GM Meeting December 3rd Christmas Party Wichita Theater - Stage 2 Dinner Theater OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS Justin Jones ..................................................... 4 Andrea Holt .................................................... 6 Michael Grassi ................................................ 8 L.B. Rainbolt ................................................. 16 Bryan Waggoner .......................................... 18 Chelsie Seyler ............................................... 23 Tom Nichols .................................................. 25 Casey Stunkard ............................................ 26 Sean Snyder .................................................. 30 NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY Ford Swanson ................................................ 11 Steve Lane ..................................................... 13 Alicia Olshanski ........................................... 13 Lee Ann Burnett ........................................... 15 Chuck Dennis ............................................... 23 Brad Davidson .............................................. 28 Kerry Wylie .................................................. 28 Randy Saylor ................................................ 30
Allen Leek Air Conditioning .................................. Allen Moore American National Bank ....................................... Jessica Lyons Axis Construction ........................................... Jeremy Stienruck Builders Lumber ..................................................... Scott Hollars First United Bank .................................................... Bill Crutcher Keeter Custom Homes ........................................... Justin Keeter The Ember Shop .............................................. Johnny McClaine Waggoner Carpet One ..................................... Bryan Waggoner
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A Fantastic Day on the Course and at the Tables: The 2026 Eddie Holcomb Memorial Golf & Bunco Tournaments The North Texas Home Builders Association proudly hosted its annual Eddie Holcomb Memorial Golf Tournament and 9th Annual Bunco Tournament on Friday, September 11th, at the beautiful Champions Course at Weeks Park. As always, the turnout was tremendous — a true reflection of the strong support, camaraderie, and community spirit that defines the NTHBA.
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Before the tournaments got underway, Vice President Jorin Slaybaugh welcomed everyone and expressed appreciation for the outstanding support from the 2026 NTHBA Annual Partners:
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continued from pg. 7 He also recognized the generous Event Sponsors, including American National Bank & Trust, Axis Construction, Brazos Window & Door, Clark Design Build, Corlett Probst & Boyd, Ferguson Veresh Heating & Air, Hamilton Bryan Furniture & Appliances, Landmark Title Company, Mac K Property Group, Proven Surveying, Stewart Title Company, and WS Construction. Additional appreciation went to the Prize Sponsor: Woodco Supply Company and Bunco Sponsor: R.J. Wachsman Homes — along with every golfer and bunco player who participated along with Lunch Sponsor First Bank.
THANK YOU BUNCO SPONSOR
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continued from pg. 8 Before releasing teams to tee off, Jorin took a moment to honor Eddie Holcomb and reflect on the significance of September 11th, remembering all who lost their lives and those who bravely sacrificed their own during the terrorist attacks. This was followed by a prayer and then off they went. Despite the brutal Texas heat, spirits stayed high. 29 teams hit the course for a day filled with fun, fellowship, networking, and friendly competition. Members set up tents stocked with Gatorade, water, cold rags, and even mini games with small prizes to help golfers stay cool and energized. The winning teams were: first place not pictured. Prize hole #11 winner received a pizza oven donated by David Bedingfield with additional prize hole winners receiving gift cards.
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Bunco: Loud, Lively, and Always a Hit The Bunco Tournament, sponsored by R.J. Wachsman Homes, was once again led by the incomparable Judy Wachsman Garrett, who has graciously organized and run the event for many years. Judy brings all supplies, rules, and prize structures, while NTHBA uses sponsorship funds to provide a wide variety of door prizes. Bunco never disappoints — loud shouts of “Bunco!”, playful trash talk, cheers, laughter, and a few breaks for drinks and conversation keep the room buzzing from start to finish. This year’s winners were: • • •
Most Buncos: Kristen Duncan Most Wins: Candice Wells Most Losses: Gloria Brashier
Most Buncos
Most Wins
Most Losses
Door prizes ranged from Yeti cups, cup sets, light up wine bottles, bathroom gift boxes, and even humorous items like a book titled How Not to Become a Grumpy Old Woman. Both events were once again a tremendous success, made possible by the unwavering support of: • • • • • •
NTHBA Annual Partners Event Sponsors Prize & Lunch Sponsors Hole Sponsors Golf teams Bunco players
It truly takes a community to make these events special, and the NTHBA is deeply grateful for everyone who contributes year after year. We look forward to next year’s events. 10
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AI's Impact on Residential Construction Is Smaller Than You Might Think The influence of artificial intelligence is gradually proliferating across the modern workforce. But specifically for the construction industry, AI's impact isn’t as significant as many might expect — at least, not yet. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data found that 45 of 47 construction-related occupations are classified as having "low" or "moderate" relative AI exposure. The remaining two occupations were classified as having "high exposure" with no fields claiming to have "very high" exposure. AI is still likely to change the way construction work is completed. But in its current form, it doesn’t yet have as big an impact in frontline construction work as it does in other occupations. Which construction fields are seeing high AI exposure? The two standouts in this study included construction managers and construction and building inspectors. Employment in these sectors is projected to grow 9% over the next decade, but remain essentially unchanged otherwise. In contrast, employment for solar photovoltaic installers, which is classified as having "moderate" relative AI exposure, is projected to grow 37% as one of the quickest-growing sectors in the occupation. Managers and building inspectors are likely using AI more frequently because their roles include more planning, documentation, scheduling, compliance and communication than hands-on work.
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continuef from pg. 11 Which construction fields are seeing low AI exposure? Many of the hands-on fields are seeing little impact from AI, including field roles like carpenters, construction laborers, roofers and operating engineers. This is likely because they rely heavily on physical execution and have varying jobsite conditions and safety requirements while utilizing materials and equipment. This data is consistent with findings from NAHB's Housing Market Index, which shows that builders primarily use AI for information-intensive tasks like advertising, marketing, project planning and design.
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