Page 8 - Builder Brief August 2021 Issue

2021 PRESIDENT
A LOOK AHEAD
Tune in to get more involved!
Every report that is available on housing and new residential construction starts show a growing number of buyers are looking at a new home purchase from the beginning of their home search. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported in July of 2021 that due to the surge in residential investment in 2020, housing’s share of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded and remains near historic levels for the first part of 2021.
This is great news for our industry, however builders and remodelers still face challenges in the future on the availability of building materials and labor. In April of 2020, Random Lengths reported that the total cost to a builder for all lumber products in an average single-family home was $16,927. In April of 2021, the fully phased-in costs rose to $48,136 for softwood lumber products in an average single-family home, which is a 184 percent increase. Recent news reports and articles are saying that lumber prices are dropping but builders aren’t seeing a significant decline in pricing.
I have been asked several times about the lumber crisis and there isn’t an easy fix in my opinion to the volatile lumber prices. The United States’ insufficient domestic production and curtailments by large lumber mills the past several months are our biggest problems. NAHB, the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) and GSABA are all plugged in and involved, and NAHB reached out to the Biden administration to urge the President to act on the issue.
The leadership team at GSABA is also engaged with local officials and our state House and Senate members. We have reached out to our members of Congress to encourage them to look at ways to boost the domestic supply of timber from public lands. I participated in calls recently coordinated by TAB with Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz as well as Congressman Chip Roy. Lumber prices are hurting not only builders and remodelers, but they are also hurting small businesses, consumers, and the broader economy. We have asked our elected officials to urge U.S. trade officials to work to negotiate a new softwood lumber agreement with Canada.
I share this information with you because this is one of the most important member benefits that you receive with your GSABA membership. Not only are you a member on the local level, but you are also a member of TAB and NAHB. We send a portion of your dues to the state and national associations and their leadership and lobbying efforts on our behalf are invaluable. Government affairs and advocacy are one of our top priorities.
We invite you to get involved with our Government Affairs program. Our next local Government Affairs Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 17th at 1:00pm at GSABA immediately following
ED BERLANGA
the August Board of Directors meeting. We will be meeting with the City of San Antonio’s Development Services Department (DSD) team for our first in-person meeting in more than a year. Every member is welcome to attend. This is a great way to get involved and learn more about the changes and status of permit/ inspections, the adoption of the 2021 codes, and more with the City of San Antonio.
We have some great events coming up. Please join us for the Clay Shoot on Thursday, August 26th, the Fishing Tournament September 17th and 18th in Port Aransas and the Golf Tournament on Monday, September 27th at River Crossing. Thank you for being a GSABA member.
Sincerely,
8 AUGUST 2021 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION