Page 8 - FEB18_BUILDERBRIEF

Looking Forward

We just returned from the International Builders Show (IBS) in Orlando,
Florida hosted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and
I am very optimistic about the new home market in 2018. All indicators
show that not only has builder confidence increased but housing starts,
and residential construction spending is on the rise too.
Dr. Rob Dietz, Chief Economist for NAHB shared the most recent data
available for new home sales and hiring in the construction industry
sector, and showed at IBS that 2018 should be a robust year for builders.
Demand for housing is increasing at a consistent pace, driven by job
and economic growth, rising homeownership rates and limited housing
inventory,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “With these economic
fundamentals in place, we should see continued upward movement of
the single-family housing market in 2018.”
Kristi Sutterfield
Executive Vice President This is great news for our members and new homebuyers too.
There will be significant changes in 2018 since our elected officials in
Washington, DC overhauled America’s tax code which will deliver historic tax relief for workers, families, and job
creators to revitalize our nation’s economy.
There are a lot of changes happening in Washington, DC and most of you have heard that eight Congressmen
from Texas will not seek re-election in 2018. This will be the biggest turnover since 2005. The Republican
Congressmen not seeking re-election are Representatives Joe Barton, Blake Farenthold, Jeb Hensarling, Sam
Johnson, Ted Poe and Lamar Smith, and the two Democrat Representatives are Beto O’Rourke (who will run
against Senator Ted Cruz in the next election) and Gene Green.
On the State level, the 2018 general election for candidates running for the Texas House of Representatives
and the Texas Senate will be held on November 6th and the Republican and Democratic parties nominate
their candidates by primaries held on March 6, 2018. County Conventions will be held on March 17th, District
Conventions will be held on March 24th and a State Convention will be held on April 14th. Presently, there is only
one Convention Party in Texas, the Libertarian Party.
On the local front, your leadership team has advocacy and outreach as a top priority for 2018. We have put
together City Teams to enhance our advocacy, not only in San Antonio, but in Bandera, Boerne, Cibolo, Converse,
Helotes, Live Oak, Schertz, Seguin, Selma and Universal City. If you build or develop in San Antonio or one of the
cities listed above, I want to invite you to serve on or lead a City Team. We will be scheduling meetings in March
with each City Team to meet with the City Staffs in the cities outlined above. We will also schedule face-to-face
meetings with local elected officials in these communities.
Our Government Affairs Committee and leadership team meets with the City of San Antonio’s Development
Services Department every other month on the 3rd Tuesday at 3:00pm(February, April, June, August, October
and December). We rotate the location of our meetings between GSABA’s offices and the City offices located
at 1901 S. Alamo (Camp Room 1st floor). We invite you to be part of these critical meetings as we strengthen our
relationships with the City of San Antonio and surrounding communities.
Please call me at 210-696-3800 or to join a City Team. We need and want your involvement. Together, we can
make a difference!

Warm Regards,

8 FEBRUARY 2018 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION