By Andy Davidson, 2017 North State BIA Chair and President of Construction with Anton Development

December is always a good time to take a moment and reflect on the year we've had, and what a year its been. With the housing market continuing to improve, it seems like we're all busy, all the time. With such a frenetic pace, it can be easy to lose sight of some of the important results that we've secured collectively, as an industry and as members of the North State BIA.

That is why I am please to present you with the 2017 Year-End North State BIA Highlights. From Government Affairs to Member Services and the North State Building Industry Foundation to HomeAid, we've had a stellar 2017. Across the board, the commitment of our staff and members to achieving meaningful change for the homebuilding industry is something about which we can all be proud.

Of course, without your support - the contributions of the entire BIA family - none of this would be possible. As your Chair this year, I've been amazed, time and again, with the passion and dedication that so many of you have for this industry and the BIA. It is that commitment that drove us to many successes this year and which has set us up for even more in 2018.

Thank you for your support. It has been a true pleasure to serve as your Chair.

Besides the fun, this event also  brought together our current board of directors one more time and introduced our newest Builder Director board members to exactly what it means to take on a leadership role in our association and industry. 

With that, many thanks to our outgoing Builder Director board members: Kevin Yttrup (Premier Homes) and Michael LaFortune (Easton Development Co.) for their contributions and welcome aboard to our newest Builder Directors: Matt Hogan (KB Home), Brian Cutting (Woodside Homes), and Price Walker (Elliott Homes).

And thank you to our generous sponsors below:

Jolly Sponsor Temps Plus Cheer Sponsor Academy Mortgage Festive Sponsor SBM Management Services

Holiday Sponsors Blue Mountain Construction Services Liberty Bell Smart Home SAFE Credit Union Merry Sponsors KB Home Milgard Windows & Doors

Click here to see pictures from a memorable evening.

The White House Council of Economic Advisers projects that decreasing the Mortgage Interest Deduction from $1 million to $500,000 could decrease equilibrium home prices by 4 percent. The full report can be found  here. 

Register Today for the BIA Events Below

This past week, Production Framing hosted a workshop with some of our Out-Of-School Youth at our Hillsdale Location! The day was full of hands-on learning and guided instruction from experienced framers about how to frame and use some of the tools of the trade. They showed our students the ropes, even our new office intern, Ximena, got in on the action. Hands-on experience, like that provided in this workshop, is an imperative part of introducing and promoting careers in construction and skilled trades to today's youth. Thank you, Production Framing, Inc.

The 2018 Installation of Officers will take place on Friday, January 19, 2018, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in Sacramento.

Our 2018 leadership team includes the following:

• Chair - Rachel Bardis, Bardis Homes
• Vice Chair/Treasurer - Phil Rodriguez, Lewis Planned Communities
• Secretary - Aren Bazzocco, Taylor Morrison
• Immediate Past Chair - Andy Davidson, Anton Development Company, LLC

Sponsors Needed!

We've already had several generous members sign up to sponsor the upcoming Installation, including: Lennar;  Citadel Premium Design Inc.;  Finance of America Mortgage;  Blue Mountain Construction Services; and  Hock Construction Management. However, there are plenty more sponsorship opportunities left, ranging from $500 to $7,500. Check out all the different sponsorship levels and what comes with each, here.

Last Friday, HomeAid was pleased to join Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Council Members Allen Warren and Jeff Harris for  the opening of the City and County of Sacramento's new Winter Triage Center. Friday's opening capped a fevered pace of activity that spanned the last couple of weeks, as HomeAid and its partners were called into action to help get the facility ready to begin offering services. 

Mayor Darrell Steinberg commented that "This was a truly Herculean effort," and there really is not a better way to describe what went into this project. In a very short period HomeAid, working with Volunteers of America, brought together Burke Bair at BSB Design; Tim Sloan with Harris and Sloan; Dan Ferris and Doyle Headrick with Production Framing, as well as 84 Lumber, Golden State Lumber and Simpson Strong Tie; and Rojo Jimenez and Andy Sellers with Capital City Dry Wall. Together, this amazing team transformed a non-descript and uninviting warehouse into a place that will eventually provide 220 individuals with a place to sleep and other services. 

HomeAid's Executive Director, Beth Kang, provided a full accounting of this tremendous effort here. After reading Beth's account, its easy to see that miracles do happen.

Thank you to all BIA members for your passionate support of our work.

The Annual Spread the Warmth Blanket Drive is in full force! We've collected over 150 blankets and have extended our deadline to December 19. Drop off your blankets and spread the warmth to Loaves and Fishes, The Gathering Inn, Volunteers of America, and WEAVE.