Page 6 - Builder Brief March 2021 Issue

2021 PRESIDENT
A REAL THREAT TO HOMEOWNERSHIP
Rising Lumber Costs and Lack of Materials and Labor
Even before COVID-19, the shortage of quality homes people can afford was putting increased pressure on housing prices and rents, eroding affordability. The Federal Government has the ability to strengthen our economy at the scope needed and one of the places that our elected officials can make the biggest impact for the American people is prioritizing investments in housing affordability.
Housing affordability is a critical issue in the communities that GSABA members work, build and live in across our 22-county jurisdiction. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently surveyed Builder members to learn about their top challenges for 2021. The price of building materials topped the list of challenges Builders faced in 2020 and it has the number one spot again in 2021. The cost and availability of labor is also a significant challenge to everyone involved in the residential homebuilding industry.
With lumber prices soaring, NAHB is urging President Biden and Congress to help mitigate the growing threat to housing and the economy to promote domestic lumber producers to ramp up production and to stop tariffs on lumber shipments from Canada. Appraisers are not taking the soaring lumber prices into consideration and we have heard from a few Builder members that appraisals have been an issue the past year as well.
I was invited to a face-to-face meeting with Governor Greg Abbott on January 25th to discuss the construction industry and the challenges businesses are facing. The Governor invited twelve business leaders from the San Antonio business community to give him feedback on the labor and material shortages, obstacles that the construction industry and small businesses are facing and how immigration and work force development play a key role in our local and state economies. It was an enlightening session with Governor Abbott, and I want to thank Scott Norman with the Texas Association of Builders for securing GSABA a seat at the table.
Your GSABA membership includes membership in TAB and NAHB. We are well represented by our state and national associations. If you are not involved in the government affairs arena, we need you. The San Antonio Mayor and City Council are all up for reelection in May. Texas’ 87th Legislative Session is in full swing. We are playing a lot of defense this session. Rally Day will be held on Tuesday, April 13th in Austin.
Also coming up is the Spring Tour of Homes in April and the Parade of HomesTM that will be held in Belle Oaks the last two weeks of May.
We need and want your support of these key events. There are several 6 MARCH 2021 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
ED BERLANGA
ways you can get involved — from attending Rally Day to volunteering at the Parade of Homes. Please call on me or Kristi Sutterfield if you are interested in participating or if we can help you in any way.
Sincerely,
President Ed Berlanga with Governor Greg Abbott