Home builders associations from around the state remained active throughout the spring, despite the outbreak of tornadoes that devastated parts of central Oklahoma and the Tulsa area.
Here are selected reports, from the most recent board meeting:
Moore Home Builders Association
Completed its five-year commitment of $5,000 to the Red Cross
-
Now in its second year of a $2,500 donation to Youth for Christ, which has a mission of getting young people out of street gangs in southwestern Oklahoma City.
-
Joined the City of Moore and the Oklahoma Publishing Company in an advertising campaign entitled "There is more to Moore than ever before."
-
Sold its 2012 Project Home built in Seiter Farms by Marvin Haworth and its 2013 Project Home built in Rock Creek by Russell Clark.
-
Adopted 21 families from Central Elementary School in need for Christmas.
-
Donated $5,000 to the Moore Citizens "Vote Yes" campaign to approve a new Central Park that will include a water park, new community center, farmer's market and special equipment for the handicapped. Moore citizens approved the park initiative.
Builders Association of South Central Oklahoma
BASCO reports its membership in May at 197 and that it is in the midst of a year-long membership drive.
-
More than 1,100 people toured the homes showcased in the annual Festival of Homes June 8-16. The event was promoted through 12,000 Festival magazines distributed at 7-Elevens throughout Norman, Moore, Noble and south Oklahoma City.
-
Norman building permits are ahead of last year with 183 year-to-date at time of report.
-
BASCO golf tournament May 20 at The Trails was a big success.
Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association
COHBA has placed continuing education as a top priority this year. NAHB webinars have been scheduled throughout the year at the association's campus, where members can attend at no charge. The association held an appraiser's class on July 24.
-
COHBA held its first Spring Festival of Homes with more than 95 homes showcased in open houses on two consecutive weekends.
-
Carolyn Schluter is building the 2013 House of Hope for the Oklahoma State Home Builders Foundation. Proceeds from this home will be given to the Foundation to provide Christmas gifts for the children from the Cavett Foundation and Oklahoma Children's Hospital.
-
COHBA scheduled Family Fun night for mid-August at the Science Museum in Oklahoma City.
-
From report given at the OSHBA's annual convention, membership in the COHBA was reported at just under 800, while building permits year-to-date were up in the "high teens" over 2013.
Southern Oklahoma Home Builders Association
-
The general outlook for home construction in the southeast area of Oklahoma is positive with the sales of existing and new construction increasing. The price gap between new and existing homes is small. Subcontractors are not plentiful in the area, however.
-
Total construction spending for the area year by year: 2010, $42 million; 2011, $91 million; 2012, $21 million; 2013 to date, $14 million.
Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa
Local housing starts are up 25 percent from 2012. Tulsa is listed on the NAHB's Improving Market Index and has been since January 2012.
-
Membership recruitment continues with 72 new members approved year-to-date by July and an overall retention rate for 2013 of 83 percent.
-
More than 40,000 people attended the annual Tulsa Home and Garden Show; exhibitor booths were sold out.
-
This year's Tulsa Parade of Homes showcased 150 homes in a dozen communities throughout the Tulsa metro area. High volume of visitors was reported and home sales increased.
-
The Board of Directors approved plans and funding to refurbish the HBA headquarters. Construction will begin in 2014.
-
The Executive Committee is developing a long-range strategic plan for the organization.
-
Paul Kane has been nominated to serve on the NAHB Executive Officer Council's leadership ladder with the unanimous support of the HBA's Board of Directors.
-
The Remodeled Tulsa Tour will feature nine homes presented by the Remodelers Council.
-
The Owasso Harvest of Homes will showcase new construction north Tulsa and Rogers counties in conjunction with the Rogers County Home Builders Association.
Rogers County Builder Association
The Rogers County organization reported72 participants in its annual golf tournament in May.
Stillwater Home Builders Association
From a report at the OSHBA annual meeting by association President Kent Bradley, the number of lots available for construction is diminishing greatly, and inventory of new homes was so low that no Tour of Homes was scheduled for this year.
-
The City of Stillwater is developing a new housing development standard which will raise the cost of new lots by 50 percent.
-
Building permits for the year-to-date were down 12 percent.