Morrison Supply Company Abilene Lumber BMC West

President’s Pen by Frank Langley
Big Country HBA
4398 Crawford Drive
Abilene, TX 79602
325-698-4232
FAX 325-692-5844


















Today as I write this many of us
are in Austin with plans to meet our
Rally Day bus in the morning and enjoy
a day with our HBA members discussing our interest to our Congressman. It
should be a worthwhile adventure. We
2013 President
would like to say Thank You to our
Frank Langley
Partners whom stepped up to sponsor2618 S Hwy 83-84
ing our local HBA. Our Titanium partTuscola TX 79562
ners Taylor Electric and Morrison Sup325-572-3398
ply, Gold ASG Security, Silver Security
Fax 325-572-3398
Title and ABC Supply, and our Bronze
Cell 325-665-6339
WTL construction, Air-Tech Heating
and Air, and CBS Insurance, thank you
to all.
A Big Thank You to Suddenlink
who sponsored our talent for the Home
and Garden Expo,
in just a few short
weeks the Duck
Dynasty will be in
town with Martin,
get ready for a
Great Expo, still a
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
few booths left, so
President’s Pen
call Brenda and
Luncheon Notice
join us in the
Rally Day
event.
We have
Permits Issued
tried
most
advertisJustin Martin
ing,
and
this
Expo
is
the
best
and
least
TAB Model Construcexpensive way to show your product,
tion safety Program
great for new sales, networking, and
2013 Tax Deduction
building stronger relationships to curCookie Thanks
PWB
rent or previous customers. Make plans
Parade of Homes
to join us.
Member Benefits
The 2013 Parade of Homes, is
PWB Photos
planned for June with 17 homes alH&G Exhibitors
ready entered.
Expo Weekend FeaLast but not least, Morrison's
ture Presentations
After Hours
NAHB Best of Show
NAHB Study
NAHB Housing
Affordability
Supply is again hosting an After
Hours Event on March 7th, you don't
want to miss this event! See you
there.
LUNCHEON NOTICE
Thursday March 7
Abilene Country Club
Rally Day Group with
Representative Susan King
Thank You Bus Sponsors!
Morrison Supply Company
Abilene Lumber BMC West
First Financial Bank
Atmos Energy
SuddenLink
Acme Brick
Security Title Company
We thank these Sustaining Sponsors
Titanium: Morrison Supply Company, Taylor
Electric; Gold: ASG Security; Silver: ABC
Supply Company, Security Title Company;
Bronze: Air-Tech Heating & Air,
CBS Insurance LLP, and
WTL Construction LLC.
Page 2
PERMITS ISSUED: January 23-February 20, 2013
Permits inside city limit:
Don Estes Construction
Ron Fogle Construction LP
Moreno
Scott Olson Homes
Lantrip’s Custom Homes Inc
Lone Star Home Builders
Abilene Fine Homes LLC
Flying V Homes LLC
Lantrip’s Custom Homes LLC
Buckner Construction LLC
Cornerstone Enterprises
Cornerstone Enterprises
Mason Trendsetters Inc
Mason Trendsetters Inc
Abilene Fine Homes LLC
Abilene Fine Homes LLC
Countryside Homes LLC
Junction Builders LLC
Junction Builders LLC
Charles Lawson
Texas Pride Quality Home
Mark Wayne Aldriedge
Mark Wayne Aldriedge
Mike Ward Custom Homes
23 SFP
*01 Duplex
24 Permits this time frame
Outside city limit:
Mason Trendsetters Inc
Mason Trendsetters Inc
Rex Miller
Brandon Dry
4 SFP
27 Single Family
01 Duplex
3565 La Jolla Beach
2 Mesa Ridge
501 Bois D Arc St
734 Benelli Dr
4802 Yellowstone Tr
2457 Patriot Commons Rd
3709 Firedog Rd
5117 Yellowstone Tr
4725 Yellowstone Tr
2318 Lynbrook Dr
6233 Tradition Dr
6233 Roll Ct
4433 High Sierra
4501 High Sierra
3733 Firedog Rd
3601 Firedog Rd
6309 Honor Roll Ct
325 Miss Ellie Ln
365 Miss Ellie Ln
8041 Tuscany Dr
5010 Yellowstone Tr
6218 Honor Roll Ct
1834 Smith Dr
3518 La Jolla Beach
250,000
413,424
45,000
258,500
159,900
160,000*
137,450
120,000
160,000
260,000
220,000
180,000
220,000
220,000
127,000
133,052
220,000
170,000
170,000
145,000
115,000
202,200
200,000
22,000
4,148,526
160,000*
165 Bear Creek Dr
142 CR 256
6218 Peppergrass Ln
302 CR 256
Tuscola
Abilene
Abilene
Abilene
Special guest appearance by
Home & Garden Expo
$5 Admission
12 & under free with adult
Justin Martin
of
A&E’s
SATURDAY ONLY Saturday March 2
11:00
am
Saturday
& Sunday
& Garden
“Meet & Greet” Big Country HomeMarch
2 & 3Expo
11:00am-2:00pm
Suddenlink booth #43
Abilene Civic Center
Page 3
MENKE, INC.
Showroom: 3142 S. 27 TH Abilene, Texas 79605
Phone: 325-673-5096
Fax: 325-676-3716
Website: www.menke-floorscapes.com
Karen Newcomb
Robert Miers
Paula Fiel
Russ Menke Jan Menke
2013 TAX DEDUCTION
In 1993, the U.S. Congress enacted the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act that contained provisions affecting trade
associations. The Act provided that taxpayers will no longer be able to deduct from
their federal income taxes any portion of
the association dues attributable to that association’s “lobbying activities” as an ordinary and necessary cost of doing business.
For 2013, NAHB estimates that
the non-deductible portion of national duesthe portion that is applicable to lobbying is
17%. Thus, for a member who pays their
NAHB dues of $150 in 2013, 17% or
$25.50 will not be eligible for deduction as
a business expense. Similarly, for an affiliate member who pays their NAHB dues of
$5.00 in 2013, 17% or $.85, will not be
eligible for deduction as a business expense.
To see who is a member
of the Big Country HBA
visit
For 2013, The Texas Association of Builders estimates that the
non-deductible portion of state dues is
70%. With dues of $111, the amount
not deductible as a business expense
will be $77.70. For an affiliate member who pays their TAB dues of
$25.00 in 2013, 70% or $17.50 of
their dues is not deductible as a business expense.
Therefore, the total amount
of 2013 state and national dues for a
member that is not deductible as a
business expense is $103.20, and for
an affiliate member the amount is
$18.35.
Special guest appearance by
Justin Martin
of
A&E’s
Saturday March 2
SATURDAY
ONLY
11:00 am
Big Country Home & Garden Expo
“Meet & Greet”
11:00am-2:00pm
Suddenlink booth #43
Moutray & Associates Insurance Agency Inc.
For ALL those delicious cookies that miraculously
appear for our board meetings
www.bigcountryhba.com
(Spoiled and lovin’ it!)
It is time to renew your Newsletter and BCHBA Website advertising! Newsletter is $175.00 for 12 issues
and the Website is $300.00 for 12 months. GIVE US A CALL! 698-4232
Page 4
Professional Women in Building
by Mitzi Merchant
It’s my birthday month. Happy Birthday to me.
We had an awesome trip to Las Vegas in January at the International Builders Show and if you were at the last HBA luncheon
you would have heard all about it. The best news is that the Abilene PWB won 4 plaques: 2nd place for Membership Recruitment
and Retention with $200; 1st place for Community Outreach with
$400; Council of Year – Large size and $500; then the first ever
Building Hope Award, we won that. WOW. Congratulations to
all the PWB members and Jennifer Snodgrass for a great year
last year.
Our luncheon in January, we had Tim Smith with Firehouse Fitness.
Our next luncheon will be February 21 and a representative from
Medi-Spa will be our speaker.
Hope to see you at the next HBA luncheon and the Home & Garden Show in March.
2013 Parade of Homes
Participating Builders
WTL Construction LLC
Scott Olson Homes
Lantrip’s Custom Homes
BlakeLee Builders Inc
Countryside Homes LLC
Texas Pride Quality Custom Homes
Cornerstone Custom Homes
Kinlee Custom Homes
John Beall Companies
Mark Aldriedge Custom Homes
First Choice Homes
Ron Fogle Construction LP
Mason Trendsetters (Hawks)
Www.nahb.org/MA
Page 5
PWB
Kicking
Off the
Year!
Here is a picture from the HBA
luncheon last week.
Here is the picture with Ty Pennington.
Here is the PWB leadership.
Here is one with me staying in front of the
sign in front of the Convention Center.
Here we are in the 84 Lumber booth.
They are a national sponsor for PWB.
International Builders Show
Las Vegas
Here we are in the Wells Fargo stagecoach
on the showroom floor. Wells Fargo is also
one of PWB national sponsors.
BIG COUNTRY STONE
RIVER ROCK~BOULDERS~FLAGSTONE
BUILDING STONE~THIN VENEER
SAND & MORE
4865 S TREADAWAY (HILL ST)
325-437-5550
AFTER HOURS 660-8087
Fax 437-5566
bigcountrystone@gmail.com
www.bigcountrystone.com
Carla, DeAnn, and Joann
Loan Officers
main 325.691.9093 fax 325.691.9871
cmabe,dyeilding,jdycus@primelending.com
3270 South 27th St.
Abilene, TX 79605
Page 6
Foyer Exhibitors
The Blind Man
Abilene Foundation
Keller Williams Realty
Sears Home Improvement
ReBath
Lawrence Hall Chevrolet
Cutco Cutlery
Exhibit Hall Exhibitors
Logix ICF Building Systems
Mr. Spray Foam
John Beall Companies
West Texas Pools & Spas
B&B Specialists
Clearlight Windows and Doors
$5.00 Admission
Atmos Energy
TYTAN Heating and Cooling
Acme Brick
Re/Max of Abilene
Saturday & Sunday
Mueller Inc
INcounters
Texas Stained Concrete
Scentsy Inc
March 2 & 3
Velata Independent Consultant
Quality Exteriors Home Improvement
Perkins Insurance Company
TSTC H/AC
ASG Security
Abilene Civic Center
Granite Innovations
Developer Marketing & Management Co
Suddenlink
New Leaf Landscaping
Windows of Texas Inc
Steve Carter Home Improvement Specialists
Stonebridge Design
The Carpenter’s Workshop
Abilene Reporter-News
Woodbridge Home Exteriors Inc
Can-Doo Budjet Rentals
Morrison Supply Company
Concepts in Stone
StoneCoat of West Texas
Big Country Master Naturalist Chapter
Bath Solutions
M-Co Marketing
K-Mac Alznner Orthotics
Anderson Tile Sales
Budget Blinds
C C & Co Pest Control
Stone, Fire & Water LLC
Prosperity Bank
Stovall Realtors
Hall Air Conditioning
Abilene Seamless Rain Gutter
First Financial Bank
Tommy Simons
Clear Choice Windows of Abilene
Luster Craft
Big Country Stone
Southwest Pools & Spas
Carrousel Gifts
Quality Implement Company
Natural Waterscapes of Abilene
KBT Flagpoles
Briercroft Restoration, Construction & Roofing
Culligan Water
Orkin
Veterans Garage Door
Servpro of Abilene
Conference Center Exhibitors
Battles Home Improvement
Habitat for Humanity Abilene
Habitat Restore
Bath Solutions
Communities of Abilene FCU
Zuni Plum Creations
Mama Jo’s Creations
Dakota’s Designs
Texas A & M AgriLife Extension Service &
Big Country Master Gardeners
Pat Smart Tomboy Tools
Katherine’s Kollections
ServiceMaster by A-Town Hi-Tech
Antiqua Special Care Moving Services LLC
Broken Willow Tree Service
Willow Creek Gardens Inc
Steele-Myers Landscape Inc
WTL Construction LLC
Juice Plus +/Tower Garden
Lankford’s Mesquite Furniture
INFORMATION
Airtite Products LLC
Wholesale Yard Art
Countryside Homes LLC
We thank these Sustaining Sponsors – Titanium: Morrison Supply Company, Taylor Electric; Gold: ASG Security; Silver:
ABC Supply Company, Security Title Company; Bronze: Air-Tech Heating & Air, CBS Insurance LLP, and WTL Construction
NAHB Announces Best of
Show Product Winners at 2013
International Builders’ Show
January 31, 2013 - The National Association of
Home Builders (NAHB) named the winners in its
inaugural Best of IBS Awards last week during
the 2013 International Builders’ Show (IBS) in
Las Vegas. Awards were given to exhibitors with
a product or line that shows the best combination
of design, functionality and innovation.
Decided by a panel of independent judges made
up of attending reporters and building professionals, the awards were given in five categories. The
winners were:
• Best Home Technology Product: Key Digital
Systems- Compass Control ®
• Best in Outdoor Living: Heat & Glo- Twilight
Modern Fireplace
• Best Indoor Feature: Mohawk/Dal Tile- ArmorMax ™
• Best Kitchen or Bath Product: KOHLERSensate ™ Touchless Kitchen Faucet
• Overall Best in Show: KOHLER – Sensate ™
Touchless Kitchen Faucet
“This year’s International Builders’ Show featured an impressive line-up of more than 900
exhibitors representing all facets of the building
industry,” said Lynne Pratt, NAHB Conventions
and Meetings Committee Chair. “The Best of
IBS Awards recognize those exhibitors that really stood out in terms of product innovation and
design, and we were thrilled to be able to award
them for their creativity and vision.”
Award-winning products included an indoor/
outdoor see-through fireplace from Heat & Glo;
Key Digital Systems’ Compass Control®, the
first fully integrated major control system built
from the ground up to use Apple devices such as
iPad® or iPhone® as its backbone; Mohawk/
DalTile’s impressive hardwood coating system,
ArmorMax ™; and finally the innovative
KOHLER Sensate ™ touchless faucet, which not
only won best Kitchen or Bath Product, but went
on to win the Best in Show award as well.
The awards were presented during the Best of
IBS Awards ceremony on the final day of the
show.
BCHBA
Board of Directors
Meeting
Tuesday, 10:30
March 5, 2013
Saturday & Sunday
March 2 & 3
Abilene Civic Center
NAHB Study Reveals What Home Buyers Really Want
February 19, 2013 - The housing downturn of the last few years affected not only the number of new homes that
are built each year, but also the characteristics, features and size of the ones that do get built. Builders and other industry professionals now have an opportunity to find out what home buyers really want and will not give up in today’s market, as well as which features they are ready to leave behind in light of current economic realities with a
new publication from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
NAHB’s publishing arm, BuilderBooks, recently released What Home Buyers Really Want, a study which outlines
home buyers’ preferences for home type and size, room layout and design, kitchen and baths, windows and doors,
accessibility and outdoor features, electronics and technology in the home, energy efficiency and choosing a community.
The study was conducted by NAHB’s Economics and Housing Policy Group in 2012, based on a survey of home
buyers nationwide. Results from the study are available by age, income, race and Census division, among other demographic characteristics.
“This survey is a great resource for building professionals, as it provides an inside look at the things home buyers
really want or don’t want in their homes,” said Rose Quint, NAHB’s Assistant Vice President for Survey Research,
and one of the study’s authors. “With the housing market beginning to recover, and more consumers in the position
to purchase a home, it is more important than ever for builders to be armed with this information.”
What do home buyers really want?
• First and foremost, energy efficiency. Some of the most wanted features involve saving energy, i.e. energy-star
rated appliances and windows, and an energy-star rating for the whole home. Nine out of ten buyers would rather
buy a home with energy-efficient features and permanently lower utility bills than one without those features that
costs 2 percent to 3 percent less.
• Home buyers also want help with organization and storage. Large majorities want a laundry room, a linen closet in
the bath, garage storage and a walk-in pantry.
What do most buyers not want?
• An elevator – 70 percent would be unlikely to buy a home with this feature.
• High density communities or golf courses.
• Only a shower stall (no tub) in the master bath.
Nationwide Housing Affordability Increases at Year-End 2012
February 21, 2013 - Exceptionally low interest rates helped ensure a slight gain in nationwide housing affordability
amid relatively stable house prices in the final quarter of 2012, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), released today.
In all, 74.9 percent of homes sold between the beginning of October and end of December were affordable to families
earning the U.S. median income of $65,000. This was up nearly a percentage point from the 74.1 percent of homes
sold that were affordable to median-income earners in last year’s third quarter.
“The most recent housing affordability data should be encouraging to many prospective home buyers, because it
shows that homeownership remains within reach of median-income consumers even as most local markets appear to
be on a recovery path,” said NAHB Chairman Rick Judson, a home builder from Charlotte, N.C. He noted that the
most recent reading of the NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index found that 259 out of 361 metros currently qualify as improving, including representatives from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
“The median price of all new and existing homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2012 was $188,000, essentially unchanged from the previous quarter’s $189,000 that marked a nearly three-year high,” noted NAHB Chief Economist
David Crowe. “It is noteworthy that affordability remains historically high thanks to favorable mortgage rates even as
national home price indexes show some rise in values."
Ogden-Clearfield, Utah held its position as the nation’s most affordable major housing market for a second consecutive quarter at the end of 2012. There, 93.7 percent of all new and existing homes sold were affordable to families
earning the area’s median household income of $71,500 – up slightly from the 93.2 percent of homes affordable to
median-income earners in the third quarter.
Also ranking among the most affordable major housing markets in respective order were Dayton, Ohio; IndianapolisCarmel, Ind.; Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.; and Syracuse, N.Y.
Among smaller housing markets, Fairbanks, Alaska, remained at the top of the affordability chart with nearly all
homes sold in the quarter -- 99.6 percent – affordable to those earning the median income of $92,900. Other small
housing markets at the top of the index included Cumberland, Md.; Springfield, Ohio; Monroe, Mich.; and Mansfield,
Ohio, in that order.
After 18 consecutive quarters at the bottom of the affordability chart, New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.-N.J.
switched places with San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, Calif., which had been the second-to-least affordable
market. Just 28.4 percent of homes sold in San Francisco during the fourth quarter were affordable to families earning
that area’s median income of $103,000.
Other major metros at the bottom of the affordability chart included Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, Calif.; Los AngelesLong Beach-Glendale, Calif.; and Honolulu, Hawaii, in that order.
The least affordable small housing market in the fourth quarter was Ocean City, N.J., where just 43.5 percent of
homes sold were within reach of families earning the median income of $71,100. Other small metros at the bottom of
the affordability chart included San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles and Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif., followed by Dover,
Del., and Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, Calif., respectively.
Please visit www.nahb.org/hoi for tables, historic data and details.
Www.nahb.org/MA
For all your NAHB
Membership Benefits
Page 7
WAYNE BARNETT
ABILENE RENTAL CENTER
1357 South Treadaway Blvd.
Abilene, Texas 79602
TERRY KNOWLES
ALLFOAM INSULATION, INC.
3518 Ivanhoe Lane
Abilene, Texas 79605
ReMax of Abilene
2525 South Danville Drive
Abilene, Texas 79605
WAYNE BARNETT
325-676-1500
Fax 325-672-1509
Email: tknowles@abilenerental.biz
RON INGRAM
325-665-3269
325-695-3730
Fax 325-794-2687
Email: wbarnett@camalott.com
BINSWANGER GLASS COMPANY
3443 North First Street
Abilene, Texas 79603
CHAD’S FENCIN’
GUTTERMAN
325 CR 256
Abilene, Texas 79606
4538 Iberis Road
Abilene, Texas 79606
CHAD BOLLS
MARK WORTHINGTON
325-677-3362
Fax 325-795-1352
325-665-4893
Email: gutterman1157@me.com
WALTER POUNDS
325-673-8141
Fax 325-673-8143
Email: wpounds@binswangerglass.com
JACK-BILT, INC.
2525 Jeanette
Abilene, Texas 79602
JACKIE CASEY
325-829-0997
Email: jackie@jackbiltinc.com
LATCH & KEY HARDWARE
MARK SINGLETON
817-808-6840
Email
latchandkeyhardware@yahoo.com
SILVA’S CONSTRUCTION
1242 Butternut Street
Abilene, Texas 79602
ALFREDO SILVA
325-370-0777
TEXAS SATELLITE SOLUTIONS
1018 Westview Drive
Abilene, Texas 79603
ADAM & LEANDRA DISIERE
325-673-3474
FAX 325-216-7201
Email: adam@673dish.com
WEED PATROL
P.O. Box 4031
Abilene, Texas 79608
JOEL MORRIS
325-674-9333
LAYNE TECH ROOFING
2601 South Danville Drive
Abilene, Texas 79605
J-LAYNE PARTIN
325-690-4101
Cell 201-3419
MIKE DUNNAHOO’S
STAR FAMILY OF DEALERSHIPS
5101 South First Street
Abilene, Texas 79605
KIM BOSHER
325-698-2222
Fax 325-698-4079
Email: kbosher@abilenecars.com
Big Country Home Builders Association
4398 Crawford Drive
Abilene, Texas 79602
“Before You Build – Call Us First”
1-877-TEC-1939
www.taylorelectric.com
James McKee – 325-669-8626
BIG COUNTRY STONE
ABILENE
Century Plaza II
Suite 100
325-698-9597
LISA BOYCE
BETTY GARNER
RIVER ROCK~BOULDERS~FLAGSTONE
BUILDING STONE~THIN VENEER
SAND & MORE
4865 S TREADAWAY (HILL ST)
325-437-5550
AFTER HOURS 660-8087
Fax 437-5566
bigcountrystone@gmail.com
www.bigcountrystone.com
PHIL WATKINS CONSULTING
1749 University Blvd.
Abilene, Texas 79603
325-668-1408
Fax 325-676-7973