Builders Outlook 2013 Issue 7

7/27/2019 Builders Outlook 2013 Issue 7

1/16

Builders utlook

www.elpasobuilders.com www.epbuilders.org

2013

issue 7

When a state moves to update or

modify its energy code, the

decision can have major cost

repercussions for home builders

and home buyers.NAHB's successful effort to

amend or prevent adoption of the

2012 International Energy

Conservation Code (IECC) in

several states was a victory for

sensible, flexible, cost-effective

regulation. According to the Home

Innovation Research Labs'

(formerly known as the NAHB

Research Center) 2012 IECC Cost

Effectiveness Analysis, it costs

$7,034 more to build a home to the

2012 IECC than to the 2006 IECC.

Bringing the code up the 2012version would be tremendously

difficult and expensive in states

that have not updated their codes

in recent years. While states often

amend codes to fit their specific

needs, the 2012 version adds

considerably to cost, is less

flexible, favors certain products

and oftentimes saves little energy.

For states that may be

contemplating a switch to the 2012

IECC, NAHB has proposed several

amendments the states shouldconsider implementing to make the

code more cost effective rather

than adopting the energy code as

published:

Eliminate requirements for

insulating hot water pipes in a

home. The estimated cost of this

provision varies from $500 to

$1,000 for an average size house.

The energy cost savings would be

$5 to $9 per year, meaning it could

take as long as 200 years to

recoup the additional expense.

Reinstate energy-neutralequipment trade-offs. This would

provide builders the flexibility to

decide the most cost-effective way

to comply with the 2012 IECC. For

example, a builder could potentially

choose to install a high-efficiency

furnace rather than put in

additional wall or attic insulation as

prescribed by the code. This could

reduce the overall cost to both the

builder and the consumer.

Provide the flexibility to ease the

air tightness rating requirement for

all homes. The 2012 IECC is the

only version to mandate this type of

testing for all residential buildings.

The rating standard varies

depending on the climate zone (1

through 8) where a house is

located. Fewer than 10% of

existing homes nationwide meet

the requirements for Climate

Zones 3-8 (3 air changes thenumber of times air is replaced in a

home per hour when tested at

50 pascals of pressure). Today's

new homes are already far more

energy-efficient than the existing

housing stock. Placing even more

stringent requirements on new

home construction would be

prohibitively costly while only

marginally improving energy

savings.

Ease wall insulation requirements

in Climate Zone 3. The 2012 IECC

increased the wall insulation

requirements in Climate Zone 3

(Southeast and South Central

U.S.) from R-13 to R-20. Based on

NAHB calculations, this will add

$1,199 to the cost of a new home.

This mandate would provide an

energy savings of only about $50

per year, and it would take 24 years

to recoup the initial cost. Reduce wall insulation

requirements in Climate Zone 6.

The 2012 IECC increased the wall

insulation requirements in Climate

Zone 6 (northern New England and

upper Midwest) from an R-20

cavity insulation to R-20 cavity

insulation plus R5 continuous

insulation. This is the first time the

energy code has included a

prescriptive requirement for

continuous insulation. Based on

NAHB calculations, this will

increase the cost of construction by

$1,819 for an average house. With

an estimated annual energy

savings of $33, it would be 55

years before a home owner would

save money on this insulation cost.

Lower basement insulation

requirements in Climate Zone 5.

The 2012 IECC increased the

basement wall requirements fromR-10 to R-15 in Climate Zone 5 (a

swath of states stretching from

coast-to-coast across the central

part of the nation). This increase in

insulation is expected to cost an

average of $590 per house with an

associated payback of just $7 per

year. That means it would be 84

years before a home owner would

net any savings.

NAHB:Code Amendments Can Save Home Buyers, Builders Big Bucks

2012 EnergyCode trainingAugust 148:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location:El Paso Assciation ofBuilders6046 SuretyEl Paso, Texas

Reservations: 778-5387

Training provided by:"Energy Systems Lab"from Texas A&M

Sponsored by: The City of El Paso The Lone Star Chapter of

the Sierra Club The El Paso Association

of Builders


2/16

2 Builders Outlook 2013 issue 7

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3/16

Presidents Message |

El Paso Disposal

772-7495

32013 issue 7 Builders Outlook

Edmundo

Dena

President,El Paso Associationof Builders

Showroom:2131 Missouri

915 533 6045 fax 533 6096

Thomas R. Brown, Owner

Id like to start by sending out my deepest thanks to all the people

involved in the Parade of Homes, from the developer Hunt, to the

builders, to the association staff, and the great volunteers. I especially

want to thank Frank Torres, my Vice President and the chairman of the

Parade. He did so much work on this that I really dont know how to

repay him. There are few things that you can say about someone who

gave so much effort and time to an event like he did. Hell tell you he

didnt do it alone and that is true, but Frank just did so much. Thank

you Paco, you done everyone proud. Thanks Ray, Margaret, Kathy

Parry, Edgar Montiel, Robert Baeza and Lorraine Huit for your efforts

during the show. To the dozens of volunteers at the gate thanks for

putting up with the thousands of visitors. Our little casita ticket boothhas paid for itself over and over again, this time was no exception.

Ray has told you that we kind of shut down in July but the work

continues even though you may not have a meeting or something. Our

calendar is pretty much full with the bowling event and a meet and greet

for the Mayor and City Council on the agenda. I hope to have some

time off but frankly Im so busy now that we just have to pull ourselves

away or we wont.

Last Id like to congratulate the recently announced Pioneer Award

winners: George D. Thomas (who I worked for); Jack Winton (who I

work for now) and Robert Bobby Bowling III (who I respect so much).

These awards will be presented at the installation banquet in

December. Another event that were planning right now. I told you we

were busy. Have a safe rest of July and August. Go sell something.


4/16

The implosion of El Pasos city hallwas just the start of challenges for their

employees and the public. If you arewondering what I mean take a lessonfrom me and try to understand. Firstoff, there is no official city hall. Thereason is simple, not all city employeesreside in one ginormous building with

elevators and bullet holes. No you seethere are city departments here, there,everywhere but just where and whosthere is a little bit more difficult thanbefore. First the Mayor and Council,along with most of the mucky mucks

(slang for chiefs or jefes) cozied up torenovated office space at the old ElPaso Times building. That buildinghowever still houses the printingpresses for the Times, so it really isnt

just a city hall. Parking is a HUGEproblem unless you want to pay sixbucks at the Wells Fargo parkinggarage or try to find a meter that takesonly quarters, even though it willswallow and not refund dimes and

nickels. Even handicap parking is apremium. How many city employeesare at this location? Im sure someone

knows but I think its pretty easy to playhooky now. Lots of cubicles make theplace a lot like a rat maze.

Other city departments are housed inthe old Tillman Health Center and the

old YMCA on Montana. It is presumedthat all the dangerous medicalsamples were removed from Tillmanand that the rooms at the Y weresanitized as well. Some departmentsmoved in with other departments but

heres what I find most interestingabout the dispersed departments.There is no need to have a four day, 10hour day anymore, if we are to believethe reasoning for it in the first place.According to the City Managers office

closing city hall on Friday would saveon heating and cooling of the building.Since the building is now in a millionpieces from the implosion that reasonis out the window. Friday is back at

your nearby city building. That meansthat city employees will now be openfor business on Friday and those longdays of 7am to 6 pm days are just amemory. Many of us, including a lot ofbusinesses from the local Chamber

had demanded that Friday be a regularday at the city. Closing down meantthat development, permits, and regular

city business was closed. Oh well, andso the golf game will have to suffer onemore time. New Mayor Oscar Leeser

said so much in his first official day.July is traditionally the month that

people in the building trades take timeoff for vacation or long weekends. TheAssociation doesnt hold board orgeneral meetings because of that andwe also try to take some time off. Welook forward to whatever we decide to

do in July because the second half ofthe year is normally pretty busy. Weare working on the fall golf tournament,the installation banquet, a speed

networking event, and some other stuffwe cant mention right now. Stay tuned

and get ready for the second half. Forthose of you going on vacation inAugust have fun and be safe. If youvealready been on vacation its time tothink of the next one.

Perspective |

Ray Adauto,

Executive

Vice PresidentEPAB


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5/16


New-Home Sales

Jump 8.3 PercentSales of newly built, single-family

homes surged 8.3 percent to aseasonally adjusted, annual rate of

497,000 units in June, their fastest pacein the last five years, according to datareleased today by HUD and the U.S.

Census Bureau.New-home buyers are returning to the

market in larger numbers as firmingprices, shrinking inventories of homes for

sale and improving local economiesconvince them that now is the time tomake their move, said Rick Judson,

chairman of the National Association ofHome Builders (NAHB) and a home

builder from Charlotte, N.C. Meanwhile,the very low supply of new homes on the

market is indicative of the difficulty thatbuilders are having in keeping up with

demand due to availability issues withregard to materials, credit, labor and lots

for development.The takeaway from this report is that

the housing recovery is solidly on trackand isnt going to be derailed by slightlyhigher mortgage rates, said NAHB Chief

Economist David Crowe. After years offence-sitting, buyers are back and are

ready to move forward with aninvestment in homeownership. Looking

ahead, he said he anticipates further,though more incremental gains in salesthrough the end of this year.

Three out of four regions saw solidgains in new-home sales activity in June,

with the Northeast, South and Westposting increases of 18.5 percent, 10.9

percent and 13.8 percent, respectively.The Midwest posted an 11.8 percentdecline following an above-trend bump in

activity in May.The inventory of new homes for sale

declined to 161,000 units in June,

marking a razor-thin, 3.9-month supply atthe current sales pace. The monthssupply of homes for sale has not fallenbelow this level since March of 2004.

NAHB Seeks Changes

to the PATH Act

The National Association of HomeBuilders (NAHB) told Congress in July

that it will work with lawmakers to makechanges to the Protecting American

Taxpayers and Homeowners (PATH) Actlegislative proposal to ensure that it

provides the federal support necessary tomaintain a strong and liquid housingfinance system.

Testifying before the House FinancialServices Committee, NAHB CEO Jerry

Howard urged the committee to modifythe PATH Act to make sure that the

federal government continues to providea backstop for a reliable and adequateflow of affordable housing credit in all

economic and financial conditions.NAHB believes federal support is

particularly important to ensure that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages, the bedrock

of the nations housing finance systemsince the 1930s, remain available atreasonable interest rates and terms,

said Howard. As currently drafted, the

PATH Act does not provide the federalsupport necessary to ensure a strong

and liquid housing finance system, andwe urge the committee to make the

necessary changes.There are some positive elements in

the PATH Act, and NAHB agrees that

private capital must be the dominantsource of mortgage credit, Howard said.

However, ensuring the safety andstability of the housing finance system

cannot be left entirely to the privatesector.

The historical record clearly shows

that the private sector is not capable ofproviding a consistent and adequate

supply of housing credit without a federalbackstop, he said.

NAHB has recommended to thecommittee that Fannie Mae and FreddieMac be gradually phased into a private

sector oriented system, where the federalgovernments role is explicit but its

exposure is limited. Federal support

would be limited to catastrophicsituations where carefully calibratedlevels of private capital and insurancereserves would be depleted before any

public funds were employed to shore upthe mortgage market.

NAHB also urged House lawmakers tomodify the sections of the bill outlining

changes to the Federal HousingAdministration (FHA).

The PATH Act would drastically

diminish FHAs vital liquidity mission,said Howard. By simultaneously leaving

all federal support for housing to FHA,and then by greatly reducing the overall

scope and reach of FHAs programs, thePATH Act would greatly limithomeownership and rental housing

opportunities for many financiallyresponsible and qualified Americans.

Because there is currently a great dealof uncertainty among consumers and

home builders due to the unresolveddebate on reforming the housing financesystem and the government sponsored

enterprises, Howard urged the committeeto move forward in a careful, prudent

manner to provide needed assurance forthe industry and consumers.

At a time when housing is just startingto get back on its feet and provide joband economic growth, we dont want to

do anything that would reverse thispositive momentum, he said. Its

definitely important that Congress be

mindful of housings important role in theeconomy going forward.NAHB looks forward to working with

lawmakers to create a sustainable

housing finance system that will ensurestability and liquidity in the financial

system that supports homeownershipand rental housing, Howard added.

NEWS

Advertise in the

Builders OutlookCall Margaret at the

El Paso Association of Builders915-778-5387

Builders utlookwww.elpasobuilders.com www.epbuilders.org

2013

issue 3

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GrowingLaborShortagesImpedeHousingandEconomicRecovery


6/16



7/16

As the Senate examines existing taxpolicies as part of its blank slate approachto tax reform, and as the House Ways andMeans Committee continues its review ofthe tax code, it is appropriate to keep inmind the importance of the mortgageinterest deduction (MID) as a middle-classtax provision that makes it possible formany families to achieve homeownership.It is also useful to review some of theclaims against the MID to determine ifthose claims are valid. Economists at theNational Association of Home Builders

(NAHB) have analyzed data from the IRSand the Census Bureau, as well asestimates from other sources, to assessthe validity of these claims.

Claim #1: The wealthy get most of thebenefit from the mortgage interestdeduction.

Fact: The majority of the tax benefits fromthe MID go to middle-class households.Data from the Congressional JointCommittee on Taxation shows that 86percent of households who benefit from the

mortgage interest deduction have incomesof less than $200,000. It is also useful tokeep in mind that the majority of homeowning households are married couples,so the household income measure willoften include two incomes.Claim #2: Repealing the mortgage

interest deduction would not damagethe economy or individual households.

Fact: Almost all studies examining theelimination of the mortgage interestdeduction find that it would reduce demandfor housing by raising taxes on prospective

home buyers. This reduction in housingdemand would also lower home values forexisting home owners who wouldexperience a significant loss in wealth.

A 1 percent decline in home prices wouldresult in a loss of $185 billion to Americanhouseholds. Just a 6 percent decline wouldeliminate $1 trillion in household net worth.If repealing the deduction lowered pricesby 10 percent or more, Americans wouldlose trillions of dollars in household networth. If home values fall, then morefamilies will find themselves under water, in

default and in foreclosure. Eliminating themortgage interest deduction would reducethe financial resources families can draw onfor education, entrepreneurship andretirement. And if home values fall, thenstate and local tax revenues fall, making itharder to fund schools, infrastructure,

public safety and other importantgovernment functions. Repealing the MIDwould have serious economicconsequences.

Claim #3: Only a small percentage ofhome owners claim the mortgage

interest deduction.Fact: The mortgage interest deduction isbroadly claimed. Seventy percent of homeowners with a mortgage claim the MID in agiven year, and almost all home ownersbenefit from the deduction at some pointduring their homeownership lifecycle.The argument that only an estimatedquarter of taxpayers claim the deductionis misleading because it ignores the

lifecycle element of homeownership. Of thetwo-thirds of households who are homeowners, one-third own free-and-clear withno mortgage. And of those with a mortgagewho claim the standard deduction in lieu ofthe MID, many are in the final years of amortgage and are paying small amounts ofinterest and greater amounts of principal. Inthe early years of their mortgage whenmuch greater amounts went to interest,those home owners very likely claimed themortgage interest deduction.

Claim #4: Repealing the mortgageinterest deduction would make the taxcode more progressive.

Fact: A progressive tax system is one inwhich taxpayers with lower incomes pay a

smaller share of their earnings in taxes thanhigher income households. Repealing themortgage interest deduction would result inlarger tax hikes as a share of householdincome for the middle class. For example,for households with less than $200,000 inadjusted gross income (AGI), the typicalmortgage interest deduction is worth 1.76percent of that familys AGI. For taxpayersreporting more than $200,000 in income,the benefit falls to 1.5 percent of AGI. Thus,in the event of repeal, middle-class homeowners face a larger tax hike as a share oftheir income, making the tax system lessprogressive.

Claim #5: The mortgage interest

deduction incentivizes buyers topurchase a larger home.

Fact: While the mortgage interest deductionis sometimes connected with larger homes,evidence shows that it is more often thecase that the tax benefit reflects family sizeand underlying housing demand. Largerfamilies require a larger home, which in turnmeans a greater amount of mortgageinterest paid and a larger tax benefit. AndNAHB analysis of IRS data confirms this.Taxpayers with two personal exemptions (ameasure of family size) who claimed theMID had an average tax benefit of $1,500.Taxpayers with four personal exemptionshad an average benefit of approximately$1,950. In fact, the benefit increasedcorrespondingly from one dependent to

five-plus personal exemptions, which isconsistent with the notion that largerfamilies require larger homes.

Claim #6: Renters do not support the

mortgage interest deduction.Fact: Public opinion polling has generallyfound the MID to be popular with renters,most of whom hope to become homeowners. Given that recent home buyersreceive the greatest tax benefits from thededuction, such renters would have muchto lose in case of repeal. A 2012 poll foundthat a majority of renters were opposed toeliminating the mortgage interestdeduction.

Claim #7: Because mortgages onsecond homes also qualify for the

mortgage interest deduction, taxpayersare subsidizing vacation homes for thewealthy.

Fact: The rules relating to second homesare complicated, and often apply to

situations that do not involve a vacationhome. The rule allows owners who selltheir home and buy another those whoown more than one primary residence in atax year to claim the MID for both homeson their annual tax return. The rules alsoallow home owners who are building a newhome to claim construction loan interest asa deduction.

And the rules support investment inseasonal residences that provide aneconomic foundation for many parts of thecountry. In fact, 49 states in the U.S. haveat least one county where more than 10percent of the housing stock fits the taxdefinition of a second home. But we are nottalking about million-dollar homes on the

beach, which are usually paid for in cash orclaimed as rental property. According to ananalysis of the Consumer ExpenditureSurvey, the average income of ahousehold with a mortgage on a secondhome is $71,344.

Claim #8: While the mortgage interestdeduction supports homeownership,

federal policy neglects renters.Fact: Housing policy support, in dollarterms, is roughly proportional to the totalpopulation living in renter- and owner-occupied homes. For example, the reportof the Housing Commission of theBipartisan Policy Center, which looked atall of the tax and spending programs forrentership and homeownership, found that

about one-third of housing policy spendingis attributable to rental housing, which isequal to the share of the population livingin that form of housing. Such analysis isimportant because it shines a spotlight onimportant housing programs for affordablerental housing, including the Low-IncomeHousing Tax Credit (LIHTC).

Claim #9: Since not all home ownersitemize, a credit would be better for themarket.

Fact: Identifying winners and losers frommoving from an itemized deduction to acredit depends on a number of factors,most importantly the tax credit rate. Forexample, the Simpson-Bowles report

recommended a 12 percent tax credit,meaning a tax benefit of 12 cents for everydollar of qualified mortgage interest paid. Arevenue-neutral tax credit would beapproximately 20 percent. Thus, such alow rate as 12 percent would represent asignificant tax hike for home owners.Moreover, it is important to remember thatunder most MID tax credit proposals, theproperty tax deduction (worth on averageabout one-third of the value of the MID)would cease to exist, further increasing thetax burden on home owners.

Claim #10: There is too much policysupport for housing.

Fact: At the federal level, much of the focuson housing tax policy is centered on

important and long-standing policies likethe MID and the LIHTC, but this focusignores the fact that home owners payproperty taxes that are not collected onother forms of investment. For example,owners of owner-occupied and rentalhousing pay approximately $300 billion ayear in property taxes to local and stategovernments. Such tax burdens should notbe ignored in federal tax debates whenconsidering the overall effective tax rate onhousing.

72013 ISSUE 7 Builders Outlook

of Texas

TM

+

Setting the Record Straight on the Mortgage Interest Deduction


8/16

Builders utlook on the scene |

The biannual bowling event that is held bythe Associates council took place on July 10at Bowl El Paso. Thirteen teams bowled fornothing more than their pride and cama-raderie with a lot of passion and fun. This isalways a great way to just have a good time

and enjoy and afternoon of fun, said SamShallenberger, Associates Chair. We enjoythe time together and frankly we get to seesome friends who wont do golf or other out-door events during the summer, he contin-ued.

The bowling lanes welcomed every typeof bowler, from the novice to the near pro-fessionals like our own Frank Torres andEdgar Montiel. Sometimes I just have toshow my employees that I really do take thisgame seriously, said Montiel. Of course

you know that I am kidding, but I think this isa really cool deal that lets us just have agood competitive time together, Montielcontinued. I have picture proof that I canbowl since Ray took the picture of my score

card, Frank Torres commented. I knowthat I really had a good time, almost as wellas when I golf, but this is still a good time allaround, he continued.

The EPAB congratulates all the partici-pants and we especially thank our KINGPIN advertisers, Sierra Title; TropicanaHomes; and Lawyers Title. Our next bowl-ing outing is being planned for some time inNovember.

Bowling Tournament


9/16

2013 issue 7

The Association conference room wasfilled with well-wishers as the El Paso BuildPAC held a meet and greets for all the CityCouncil and newly elected Mayor OscarLeeser. The crowd was thrilled to have fivesitting city representatives and the Mayor

join them for a celebration. I cant remem-ber ever having a sitting Mayor and five cityrepresentatives in our office ever, saidBobby Bowling IV. This event is an indica-tion of the seriousness this council andMayor place on a business relationshipbetween us and the City of El Paso, hecontinued.

Each representative gave a quick talkabout what they see as the most importantissues regarding business in general andhome building in particular. I rememberseeing members of the association workinghard and employing workers when theeconomy was down, even at times when

they themselves couldnt make money, CityRepresentative Eddie Holguin commentedto the crowd. I will always remember thatthis group kept going even when othersgave up, he continued. Emma Acosta, CityRep for District 3 reminded the gatheringthat the meet and greet and associationbuilding is in her district. I want to welcomeall of you to District 3, she said, pointedly.What a great event on top of a great rela-tionship that I personally think I have withthe builders, she said. Carl Robinson wasequally praiseworthy saying I know thatwhen weve had battles in the past we havefought together for the good of El Paso,always for the good of ALL El Paso.

Newly elected City Representatives Lilly

Limon (District 7) and Larry Romero (District2) told the PAC and visitors how much theyappreciated the support during the election.The vowed to ensure that City hall and theemployees understand how important it is tobusiness friendly. I have to tell you that itmay take me a little while to totally grasp allthe complexities involved at the City but Ima quick learner, Limon told the audience.

The evening was made even better withthe outstanding food prepared by El Pasosown Chef Adam Alper, executive and ownerof Club Gourmet. When Ray approachedme to cater the event I knew that if MayorLeeser was coming I had it all figured outsince he and I go back a while, Chef Adam

told the Outlook. The overwhelming posi-tive response from all the attendees con-firmed that Chef Adam had done his home-work and offered the celebrants somethingto remember. This wasnt a pig in a blan-ket night was it. said Edmundo Dena. Weare so blessed to have had one of the best,if not the best events ever at the EPAB. Improud to say it was during my tenure asPresident, he reminded all those withinearshot.

Build PAC welcomesnew Mayor, council


10/16


In 2013, Green Building continuesto grow and expand in all corners ofthe globe. More importantly, thingssuch as client and market demand,lower operating costs, and publicrelations opportunities are being citedas reasons for this growth, accordingto the Global Green Building TrendsReport.

This certainly leads one to concludethat green building is taking hold andwill continue to influence building inthe years ahead. With this in mind,here are eight green building trends to

be aware of:

Greening of Existing BuildingsHalf of the firms surveyed in theGlobal Green Building Trends Reporthave mentioned plans for greenretrofits to an existing building in thenext three years. In fact, certificationsfor LEED for Existing BuildingsOperations and Maintenance (LEEDO+M) have already exceeded newconstruction certifications in terms oftotal floor area! With a little shorterpayback period, and similarexpectations for reduced operatingcosts and increased building valueswhen compared to new greenbuildings, theres no surprise thatfirms are increasingly looking at

renovation options for increasing theenvironmental benefits for existingstructures.

Disclosing Green BuildingPerformance

Increasingly, more cities and stateswill join the likes of Washington D.C.,Seattle, New York, San Francisco,Washington state, and California inrequiring buildings, especially largebuildings, to perform energy audits.Audits consist of reporting utility datato a governing body, along withbuilding size, configuration, and ageto allow for benchmarking. This datacan then be made available totenants, buyers or even the public atlarge in hopes of influencinginvestment in energy efficiency.

Water ConservationAlready a major factor in building in

many parts of the world, waterconservation will continue to get moreemphasis in the U.S. Rainwatercapture systems and other devicesthat will help reduce water use andimprove water efficiency will becomeincreasingly common building designelements.

Net-Zero Energy BuildingsAs builders look to differentiate their

buildings in terms of energy efficiency,they will begin to turn to net-zero

energy buildings. These buildingsrepresent the pinnacle of energyefficiency, for now, and providegreater marketing and brandingopportunities than LEED or EnergyStar certifications. (Check out GBTVcoverage of the Green Leaf Inn; firstnet-zero energy hotel being built inNorth America.)

Avoiding Red List ChemicalsAs LEED begins to award points for

avoiding materials proven to beharmful to human health and theenvironment, look for builders to placea larger emphasis on using

alternatives to these materials. Buildingproduct manufactures will likely begin tomarket to this trend with more opennessabout their products contents as theylook to differentiate their products.Certainly something to be on the lookoutfor.

Green Building MandatesA step above simply disclosing green

building performance, cities and states

will also begin to mandate environmentalbuilding requirements. Applying mostlyto public and large scale privatebuildings, though eventually to allbuildings, these mandates will strong

arm efforts to conserve energy and waterand promote recycling, and use of moresustainable materials. Nearly two dozen

large cities have already codified suchmandates.

More Solar!The culmination of the increased push

for net-zero buildings and new buildingmandates from governments is that solarwill take an even greater role in greenbuilding. Whether home based systems,larger systems financed through thirdparties, or solar collectives solar

energy will increasingly be integrated intogreen building plans. Emergingpractices such as solar air-conditioningand building integrated photo voltaic,where solar panels serve as materials in

parts of the building envelope, shouldalso help spur further solar incorporation.

Home and Building AutomationThough much of the technology for

home or building automation has existedfor years, it is now becoming easier touse and more affordable. These systemscome in all sorts of forms, from thesimple to the complex, and have provento be an adequate line of defense againstenergy waste, especially from HVACs,lighting, and appliances. Builders should

continue to integrate these systems intoold and new buildings alike.

Source:http://greenbuildtv.com/blog/8-great-green-building-trends/

Going Green:Eight Great Green Building Trends


11/16


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12/16


Expert Advice

Why You Need Keyless EntryLocks

Imagine juggling bags of grocerieswhile fishing for your keys is a

frustration most people haveexperienced at one time or another.Holding a squirming child in your armsas you struggle to get the door openonly increases the challenge. Trydoing these tasks in the dark andyoull fully appreciate the conveniencebehind home automation and keylessentry locks.

Keyless Entry Systems IncreasePersonal Safety

Just a few things are morefrightening than approaching yourfront door with the fear that someoneis following close behind you. Your gut

wrenches as you fumble for yourkeys, praying you can open the doorquickly. Wouldnt it be great to be able

to unlock the door, turn on a light andactivate a camera with a button clickfrom twenty feet away?

Using a key fob transmitter or yoursmart phone for remote controlaccess to your home introduces awhole new dimension to your homesecurity system. You can unlock thedoor and turn on the porch light as youwalk up the pathway or pull into thedriveway. For a small investment, youcan provide a security feature for youand your loved ones that is priceless.

Where Home Automation Fits InMany keyless lock systems exist

that have nothing to do with homeautomation. Those systems lack theflexibility afforded from a homeautomation keyless entry system.When compatible products such ascameras, light modules andthermostats are integrated with yourhome automation system, your doorscan be locked or unlocked, videosurveillance can be enabled, lightingcan be controlled and the temperatureof your house can be maintained to acomfort level of your choosing fromanywhere in the home and evenanywhere in the world as long as youhave an active internet connection. No

longer will you need to get out of bedto let the kids in late at night or adjustyour thermostat.

Finding the Right Keyless EntryProducts

No one solution fits everyone. Youmay prefer doorknobs with a brassfinish or a satin one. You might want astandard latch or a deadbolt. Perhapsyou like levers instead of knobs. Youmay even need to use a keyless entryon a sliding door. Whatever type ofdoor youre looking to automate, thereis a solution for you.

\Some questions you will need to

answer before you start shoppinginclude:

Do you want the keyless lock to looklike a normal doorknob, deadbolt orboth?

Do you want to operate the doorusing a remote control, and if so,how many remotes will you need?

Would you like to use a smart phoneinstead?

Do you want your system to bescalable?

Do you want a system that iselectric, battery-powered or both?

Will you want to unlock the keylessdoor before you get out of your car?

Are you interested in self monitoredhome security

Will you want to allow or restrictaccess to your home without havingto hand out keys?

Do you want to save money on yourutility bills?

With technology becoming moreand more advanced choices areplenty and overall costs are far morereasonable giving you better peace ofmind. For more information consultyour local home automationprofessional or the specializedhardware distributor in your area.

Whats trending in Hardware?

David De Rego

Hardware Specialities &Glass Co., Inc.


13/16

Membership News

Thanks to our

JULY

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132013 Issue 7 Builders Outlook

www.elpasobuilders.comUPCOMING EVENTS |

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14/16

The 2013 El Paso Association ofBuilders/HUNT Parade of Homes

finished with a flurry of visitors and

buyers. The show which lasted 17

days set some high visitor records as

over 7200 persons came through thegates during show hours. The

strongest attendance days were

traditional weekend days Saturday and

Sunday. This year there were 13

homes in the Parade and

every one of them showcased ideas

and layouts that El Pasoans wereanxious to see.

We set out to build a nice home to

start with and then we just kept adding

to it and adding to it until we felt that we

had something unique to offer in the

show home, said Mark Dyer of the

Winton/Flair home on display. I can

honestly say that we had features that

just stood out, said Danny Andrus ofTrinity Homes. The Parade of Homes

kicked off with a sold out preview party

that saw over 1300 visitors come in on

that night alone. We were slammed atthe gate, said Margaret Adauto of the

El Paso Association of Builders.

Between Kathy Parry, Ray and myself

we greeted the throng of people until

we couldnt move anymore, she said.

The participating builders were: Palo

Verde; Crown Heritage; Pointe Homes;

Icon Custom Homes; Winton/Flair

Homes; Trinity Homes; Punto Living; R

C Baeza; M A Homes; Quality CraftHomes; Joseph Homes; Bella Vista

Homes and Phillips Homes. The

subdivision belongs to HUNT and is a

master planned smart code community.

The subdivision is in the CanutilloSchool District that just announced a

combined grade and Middle school

bearing the name of Silvestre and

Carolina Reyes. The ground breaking

ceremony was to be held in mid-July.

In response to the great turnout

Kathy Parry of HUNT said this: Thenumbers are incredible and illustrate

the pent up demand by the public to

have a show like this. We are thankful

for all that the Association did to get the

word out and for all the dedicated

volunteers that manned the ticket

booth. Adding his own compliments

Ray Adauto, Executive Vice President

of the El Paso Association of Builderssaid The Association is grateful to

HUNT and the 13 builders who spent

hundreds of hours planning, executing

and presenting these beautiful homes.We want to single out Parade

Chairman Frank Torres, Vice President

of the EPAB for his tremendous work

putting the show on, Adauto said.

As of press time the builders had

contracts on six of the 13 homes and

several sales have been generated

through the show on different lots

located around the Parade area.


Record number of visitors attend Parade of Homes

Call 778-5387

for more information today.


15/16

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Javier Ruiz

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Sal Masoud

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Mike Santamaria, Greg Bowling

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Lorraine Huit

I ADviSorYToTHeBoArDJ. Crawford Kerr, Attorney, Firth, Johnston

& Martinez

I BoArDoFDirecTorSJuanita Garcia, Icon Custom Builders

Samira Gonzalez, Edwards Homes

Walter Lujan, Dawco Construction

Carlos Villalobos, Pointe Homes

Don Rassette, Rassette Homes

Beverly Clevenger, Automated Division 6 Builders

Frank Spencer, Aztec Contractors

Kathy Parry, Hunt Communities

Sal Masoud, Del Rio Engineering

Robert L. Foster,

Southwest Land Development Services

Leti Navarette, Custom Dream Homes

Linda Troncoso, TR-Engineering

Lance VanDeman, Hub International

John Chaney, Passage Supply

Joe Bernal, El Paso Employee Benefits

Ken Wade, El Paso Building Materials

Ruben Orquiz, MTI Ready Mix

Kathy Carrillo, Pioneer Bank

Henry Tinajero, West Star Bank

Paul Zacour, Zacour & Associates

Chuck Gabriel, Carpets West

Ted Escobedo, Snappy Publishing

Lorraine Huit, Cardel Design

Javier Ruiz, Border Solar & Senercon

2012 Bld mb of Th Ya

Frank Arroyos

Cisco Homes

2012 Pat c Awad

Mike Santamaria

Mountain Vista Homes

2012 Assat of Th Ya

Sam Shallenberger

Western Wholesale Supply

Jhn Shatzan Awad

Hunt Companies

Hnay Lf mbs

Rudy Guel

Brad Roe

Cliff Anthes

Wayne Grinnell

Chester Lovelady

Don Henderson

Anna Gil

Past Psdnts

cttd t S

ePAB mssn Statnt:

The El Paso Association of Builders is a

federated professional organization representing

the home building industry, committed to

enhancing the quality of life in our community by

providing affordable homes of excellence and

value.

The El Paso Association of Builders is a

501C(6) trade organization.

2013 Builders Outlook

is published and distributed for the

El Paso Association of Builders

by Snappy Publishing

240 Thunderbird Suite C

El Paso Texas 79912 915-820-2800

6046 Surety Dr. El Paso, TX 79905

915-778-5387 Fax: 915-772-3038

Greg Bowling

Kelly Sorenson

Mark Dyer

Mike Santamaria

John Cullers

Randy Bowling

Doug Schwartz

Robert Baeza

Bobby Bowling, IV

Rudy Guel

Anna Gil

Bradley Roe

Bob Bowling, III

E. H. Baeza

Hershel Stringfield

ITABSTATe DirecTorSDoug Borrett, Karam Co., Life Director

Randy Bowling, Tropicana Homes

INATioNAL DirecTorSBobby Bowling IV.

Demetrio Jimenez

NATioNAL ASSociATioN oF

Home BuiLDerS

(800) 368-5242

TexAS ASSociATioN oF

BuiLDerS

(800)252-3625

www.elpasobuilders.comwww.epbuilders.org

Builders utlook


16/16

Hunt is developing family focused neighborhoods

in both east and west El Paso.

Our communities feature amenities such as

neighborhood parks, walking trails, bike paths,

and landscaped roadways.

Only in a community by Hunt will you find home

options for everyone from the first-time buyer

to those searching for their ultimate dream home.

www.huntcompanies.com

DEVELOPING DREAMS.IN EAST AND WEST

EL PASO.

EAST Horizon MesaEastlake Boulevard to Horizon Mesa Boulevard

Emerald EstatesEastlake Boulevard to Emerald Park Drive

Emerald PassEastlake Boulevard to Emerald Sands Drive

Mission Ridgewww.liveatmissionridge.comI-10 and Eastlake Boulevard

WEST Cimarronwww.liveatcimarron.comHelen of Troy at Redd Road

Documents

Builders Outlook 2013 Issue 7