NAHB NEWS Veterans Forge New Paths with Home Building Careers Each year on Veterans Day, we give thoughts and words of appreciation to the brave men and women who sacrifice so much to defend our freedom and safety. In the home building industry, rather simply thanking them, many builders also are hiring veterans. The industry has long focused on training veterans through the Home Builders Institute, the nonprofit partner of NAHB. The HBI Military and Veterans Program operates on a number of U.S. military bases with training, certification and placement services focused on landing home building jobs for transitioning military members and veterans. Skills learned in the military can easily transfer to the home building industry. Marci O’Brien, a new home sales specialist in California, served in the Marine Corps from 1989 to 1994. After her duty was done, she got a real estate license and began participating in the housing boom in Southern California during the mid-90s. “The Marines gave me so much confidence that I just went around knocking on doors looking for a job,” she said. O’Brien found one pretty quickly and has been in the industry ever since. She noted that the Marines’ unofficial slogan “Improvise, Adapt and Overcome” helped her a great deal in 2008 and 2009 during the housing collapse. “The ability to confront challenges head-on and the thick skin I developed were invaluable during that time,” she said. Looking to join a supportive community, O’Brien became involved in the Sales & Marketing Council of the BIA of Southern California soon after starting in the industry, eventually serving on its board. That sense of belonging and accreditation also rings true for Air Force veteran Quint Lears, MIRM, who specializes in new home sales in New Mexico. “Continuing education and certification play a big role in military advancement,” he said. “So I continued that pattern in civilian life.” Lears also became involved with NAHB and his local Las Cruces (N.M.) HBA early in his career. He won the 2012 Salesperson of the Year at The Nationals and has recently published a book through Builder Books, Partnering with Brokers to Win More Sales. Lears said that his time serving his country gave him the skills and an appreciation of the home building industry that has propelled his home sales career. His experiences in the military helped him understand that the small steps needed to sell a home, like putting up signs, for instances, were all important in completing the mission. Read More Statement from NAHB Chairman Randy Noel on 2018 Midterm Elections Randy Noel, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a custom home builder from LaPlace, La., today issued the following statement regarding the 2018 midterm elections: “With the 2018 midterm elections behind us, NAHB looks forward to continue working with lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle to keep housing a national priority and to expand homeownership and rental housing opportunities for all Americans. To help achieve these important goals, Congress needs to address housing affordability concerns, ease regulatory burdens, and expand job training programs to ensure an ample supply of well-trained workers to build the nation’s homes.” Read More Builder Confidence Drops as Housing Affordability Issues Rise Growing affordability concerns resulted in builder confidence in the market for newly-built singlefamily homes falling eight points to 60 in November on the National Association of Home Builders/ Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). Despite the sharp drop, builder sentiment still remains in positive territory. Read More NOVEMBER 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 23
24 Publizr Home