Building for the Future NewsletterRepresenting Assumption, Lafourche, St. Mary, & Terrebonne Parishes |
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Welcome to our August New Members!We’re thrilled to welcome the newest members of the SLHBA Family! As we continue to grow, we are proud to bring together dedicated professionals who share our commitment to excellence in the home building industry.
- Power Washing Pros, LLC- Jordan Chauvin
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our newest members. We encourage you to introduce yourselves, connect, and share insights—after all, SLHBA thrives on collaboration and community.
We look forward to seeing these new faces at our upcoming events and working together to strengthen our industry. Welcome to the SLHBA Family! |
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Builder Member SpotlightTAG Construction Management
We’re excited to shine the spotlight on TAG Construction Management, one of SLHBA’s newer members! Owner Troy Gilfour bring years of experience as a licensed General Contractor, specializing in:
🏠 Custom Homes 🏗️ Metal Buildings & Barndominiums 🪵 New Wood-Framed Construction 🛠️ Interior Buildouts ➕ Additions & Renovations
“TAG… You’re IT!”
Contact them today at (985) 709-2321 to bring your vision to life. |
|  | Associate Member SpotlightPristine Clean Soft Wash
We’re spotlighting Pristine Clean Soft Wash, one of SLHBA’s newer members!
Owner Seth Orgeron and his team provide a wide range of services to keep your home and property looking its best, including:
🏡 House Washing 🧼 Roof Cleaning 🚶 Concrete Cleaning 🏢 Commercial Pressure Washing …and so much more!
📞 Contact Seth today at (985) 232-9914 for your next clean. |
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Would you like to host our next BASH?
Contact me for more information. |
| Would you like to serve on the SLHBA Board of Directors?
Nominations for the Board of Directors and Officers opened on September 1, 2025
Are you interested in becoming more active by serving on our board of directors? In September, we begin our process of accepting nominations to the board of directors & officers. We would love to have you on board! What is expected of you? - Must attend at least eight (8) of eleven (11) SLHBA Board Meetings which are generally every 3rd Tuesday of the month.
- Must keep SLHBA membership dues current at all times
- Must have been an active SLHBA member for 1 year to be eligible to become a board member.
- Must have served on the SLHBA Board of Directors for 1 year to be eligible to become an officer.
- Participate in most Annual Events for example Golf Tournament, Fish Fry, Crawfish Boil.
- Must have an above-average reputation in the community and operate with integrity
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Wanda at info@selhba.org or by calling (985) 868-4725.
Nominations will close on October 1, 2025.
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| LHBA Fall Meeting
Join fellow members of the Louisiana Home Builders Association for their Fall Leadership Meeting. The packed schedule includes updates on association matters, progress updates on the recently adopted strategic plan and an economic forecast from NAHB's Chief Economist, Dr. Robert Dietz.
Location Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel Click HERE to make lodging accommodations.
Pricing Registration Fee: $75/person. Click here for the registration link. |
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SIF/GL Trust Championship Cup Virtual Golf BUILD PAC Event |
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Regional Open Tournament Schedule Louisiana Home Builders Association Regional Open (Baton Rouge) Date: Tuesday, September 24 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Location: Topgolf
New Orleans (Sponsorship Opportunities Available) Date: Wednesday, October 2 Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Location: Five-O-Fore Golf + Entertainment
Shreveport/Bossier (Sponsorship Opportunities Available) Date: Wednesday, October 16 Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Location: ChasingAces
Overhead Door of Acadiana Regional Open in Lafayette Date: Tuesday, October 22 Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Location: Topgolf
SIF/GL Trust Championship Cup Final Date: Tuesday, October 22 Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Location: Topgolf, immediately following the Overhead Door of Acadiana Regional Open in Lafayette
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| Fellow Members, You're invited to participate in the first-ever SIF/GL Trust Championship Cup Series — a four-city golf tournament that showcases the best of our industry through competition, connection, and community. Proceeds from each tournament will be used to continue efforts on behalf of our members to advocate for pro-housing, pro-business legislation.
Want to Get Involved? Become a Bay Sponsor – $500.00 - Logo and name rotated directly in front of every player during the event
- On-site signage and verbal recognition
- Prime exposure to builders, suppliers, and industry decision-makers
Register to Play - Sign up as an individual or register a full team
- Compete in your local Open for a chance to qualify for the Championship Cup
- Enjoy a fun, fast-paced event with great networking
Why Participate? - Expand your brand visibility
- Build direct connections with industry leaders
- Support your local HBA and the statewide Association network
- Help elect pro-housing, pro-business candidates
Space is limited at each location. Use this form or visit here to register.
We look forward to seeing you at one of this year's events!
Secure your spot today and be part of the SIF/GL Trust Championship Cup! |
Questions? Contact Mike Munnerlyn. |
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| Member Benefit to Builder & Remodeler Members of LHBAHBA Rebates has partnered with dozens of the industry’s leading Manufacturers to strengthen loyalty with HBA Members.
This free State & Local HBA benefit, the LHBA Member Rebate Program, is available to all active Builder & Remodeler members.
Are you signed up to receive your rebates? |
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Fed Rate Cuts On the HorizonUncertainty regarding the nation’s economic policy increased in recent weeks. For trade policy, a federal appeals court ruled that the statutory authority the Trump administration is using to justify its sweeping tariff policy is invalid. The case will likely move to the Supreme Court. Even if the judicial system invalidates the existing tariff regime, the administration has other statutes it can use to establish the new tariffs. The president attempted in late August to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over alleged mortgage fraud. This action is headed to the courts as well, and if successful, the move would allow the administration to appoint a second member of the Fed’s monetary policy committee. Additionally, the administration is undertaking a more aggressive industrial policy by taking ownership stakes in American companies, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick threatening more government intervention for defense contractors and other firms with extensive government involvement. Government ownership of firms almost always fails, as the free market is more efficient at allocating capital and responding to supply and demand. Finally, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell set a subtle expectation that the Fed will cut the short-term federal funds rate in September. The inflation impact from tariffs has been measurable but mild, in part because the effective rates are considerably lower than those announced in April thanks to trade negotiations. NAHB is forecasting one additional rate cut before the end of the year. Bond markets have mostly shrugged off recent actions. The 10-year Treasury rate continues to hover in the 4.2% to 4.3% range, while mortgage rates fell below 6.6% — the lowest rate since October 2024. The recent declines for mortgage rates will help the housing market. The pace of new home sales in July was flat at a diminished 652,000 annual rate. Despite a leveling off of new construction inventory levels, months’ supply for new homes is at an elevated 9.2. The annualized pace of existing home sales is stalled around 4 million a year, with inventory that has risen to a 4.6-month supply. The rise for resale inventory over the last year means that homes are sitting on the market longer and representing greater competition for home builders. Despite challenges in the building market, there are some bright spots. Home construction in the Midwest, particularly for the custom building market, has posted gains. And the townhouse market continues to gain market share. Townhouses represent 18.3% of single-family home construction, reaching a data series high.
Dr. Robert Dietz NAHB Chief Economist @dietz_econ
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NAHB Members Enjoying Big Savings in 2025
NAHB has unveiled several new savings opportunities designed to make membership even more valuable in 2025. Here's what’s new: Best Buy. NAHB members can receive immediate discounts at Best Buy just by creating an online account with the NAHB member code. Go to nahb.org/bestbuy for more information. Ford Pro. Members can save between $500 and $5,000 on the purchase or lease of a Ford truck, van, car or SUV. Go to nahb.org/ford for more details.
Mercedes-Benz Vans. Mercedes-Benz Vans has introduced a $500 disc-
ount exclusively for NAHB members. Visit nahb.org/mbvans. QuickBooks Savings Through Baytek. NAHB members can unlock a suite of valuable benefits with QuickBooks provided by Baytek. Go to nahb.org/quickbooks for more. RAM Trucks. RAM Trucks is offering NAHB members $1,000 off the purchase or lease of eligible RAM vehicles. Visit nahb.org/ram for details. |
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September Offer: Deliver High-Performance Homes with NAHB’s RCPG This month only, NAHB Members save an extra 20% on the Residential Construction Performance Guidelines, the definitive resource for quality construction, bringing your savings to 30% ONLY in September (NAHB Members save 10% every day + the additional 20% off). |
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| In today’s competitive housing market, ensuring customer satisfaction and safeguarding your reputation are more important than ever. A valuable resource that supports both objectives is the Residential Construction Performance Guidelines, Sixth Edition (RCPG)—a trusted standard across the building and remodeling industry.
These guidelines serve as the industry benchmark for assessing home performance during the warranty period. By following them, builders and remodelers can effectively manage customer expectations, resolve potential concerns early, and reduce the likelihood of disputes escalating int serious complaints. |
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September ONLY: Save 20% on the Residential Construction Performance Guidelines, Contractor Reference when you use discount code RCPG20*.Buy your copy today!
*Offer expires Sept. 30, 2025. *Discount cannot be combined with another discount and cannot be used on previous orders. |
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July Housing Starts Edge Higher Despite Challenges |
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Single-family housing starts posted a modest gain in July as builders continue to contend with challenging housing affordability conditions and a host of supply-side headwinds, including labor shortages, elevated construction costs and inefficient regulatory costs.
Led by solid multifamily production, overall housing starts increased 5.2% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.43 million units, according to a report from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau.
The July reading of 1.43 million starts is the number of housing units builders would begin if development kept this pace for the next 12 months. Within this overall number, single-family starts increased 2.8% to a 939,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate and are down 4.2% on a year-to-date basis. The multifamily sector, |
| which includes apartment buildings and condos, increased 9.9% to an annualized 489,000 pace.
On a regional and year-to-date basis, combined single-family and multifamily starts were 10.2% higher in the Northeast, 17.7% higher in the Midwest, 2.4% lower in the South and 0.5% lower in the West.
Overall permits decreased 2.8% to a 1.35-million-unit annualized rate in July. Single-family permits increased 0.5% to an 870,000-unit rate and are down 5.8% on a year-to-date basis. Multifamily permits decreased 8.2% to a 484,000 pace.
Looking at regional permit data on a year-to-date basis, permits were 16.6% lower in the Northeast, 9.1% higher in the Midwest, 3.4% lower in the South and 5.1% lower in the West. |
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Multifamily Developer Confidence Improves in Q2 |
Confidence in the market for new multifamily housing increased year-over-year in the second quarter, according to the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released recently by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The MMS produces two separate indices. The Multifamily Production Index (MPI) had a reading of 46, up two points year-over-year, while the Multifamily Occupancy Index (MOI) had a reading of 82, up one point year-over-year. |
| The index and all its components are scaled so that a number below 50 indicates that more respondents report conditions are poor than report conditions are good.
The MPI measures builder and developer sentiment about current production conditions. The MOI measures the multifamily housing industry’s perception of occupancies. |
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Foundation Types by Region In 2024, 73% of new single-family homes started were built on slab foundations, according to NAHB analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC). Although this was a modest year-over-year increase of 0.6 percentage points, it continues the upward trend in slab adoption, widening the gap between slabs and other foundation types. In comparison, basements (full or partial) accounted for 17% of new homes, while crawl spaces made up just 9.2%.
In colder northern areas, where foundations extend below the frost line, basements are more common. Warmer regions favor slab foundations for their affordability and efficiency. |
Two Big LIHTC Advancements
Two recent policy actions sought by NAHB will expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).
First, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be permitted to double their annual LIHTC investment cap from $1 billion to $2 billion annually. Second, the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes language that NAHB fought for that includes the biggest expansion of the LIHTC in decades. |
Podcast Looks at Policy Agenda
On the latest episode of NAHB podcast Housing Developments, NAHB CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez discuss how the rest of the year looks as Congress returns to Washington in September.
The first order of business will be to keep the government open in the face of a Sept. 30 appropriations deadline. Tobin noted that home builders and buyers rely on many programs funded through Congressional appropriations, like the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), HUD and VA mortgage programs, and many more. Tobin also noted that NAHB will be focused on funding for Job Corps, a program vital to workforce development in construction. |
Who Are NAHB’s Builder Members
New figures from NAHB highlight the enduring role of small businesses in the residential construction industry. According to the latest NAHB member census, most builder members continue to operate on a modest scale amid a housing industry facing affordability challenges, labor shortages, and material cost volatility.
The full census findings are available in the August 2025 special study |
Townhouse Construction Hits Record
Townhouse construction expanded more than 9% on a year-over-year basis in the second quarter of 2025, with single-family attached starts totaling 45,000, according to NAHB analysis of the most recent Census data.
Using a one-year moving average, the market share of newly-built townhouses stood at 18.3% of all single-family starts for the second quarter. With gains over the last year, the four-quarter moving average market share is the highest on record for data that goes back to 1985. |
| Make Plans to Attend The Builders’ Show The NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) is the premier event for the residential construction industry, bringing together tens of thousands of industry professionals and 1,700+ top manufacturers and suppliers every year. Registration is open as of Sept. 2 for IBS 2026, which will take place Feb. 17-19 in Orlando. Here are three good reasons to make your Builders' Show plans now: 1) Star-studded speakers; 2) The latest products and trends on the Exhibit Floor; and 3) The show’s fond farewell to Orlando. Register at buildersshow.com. Apply Now to Win a
Prestigious NAHB Award
Applications for NAHB’s Awards are open. The award programs include: The Best in American Living™ Awards, sponsored by SMEG; the Associates of Excellence Awards; the Custom Home Builder of the Year Award; the Leading Suppliers Council Spark Award; the Professional Women in Building (PWB) Awards; the NAHB/Builders Mutual Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE) Awards; the Nationals℠ Awards, NAHB’s largest awards competition; the Young Professional Awards; and and the Student Chapter Awards. The deadline for entries is Oct. 6. |
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|  | Benefits of SIF Membership: From safety resources to dividend advantages and marketing and networking opportunities, the benefits of becoming a member of the Louisiana Home Builders Association and HomeBuilders Self Insurers Fund are endless. Become a member and start benefiting today.
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SLHBA is a professional organization which strives to unite and represent the building industry in St. Mary, Assumption, Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes. SLHBA is dedicated to the idea of quality housing at affordable prices, thus protecting the “American Dream” of homeownership. |
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