In June, I informed the North Dakota Association of Builders that I am resigning from my position of Chief Executive Officer.  My last day will be July 24.

Soon after, I’ll be transitioning from NDAB to a position as Executive Director of the ND Grain Growers. Agriculture is a personal passion for me and I’m looking forward to being a leading voice for it.

Leaving here was possibly one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make.  NAHB, combined with all the local and state federations, is a powerhouse.  I’ve been so impressed with these associations. 

My pledge to all of you is to work hard this last month to leave this place in a great position for the next CEO.  Which is also my pledge to Brittney.   We’re so lucky to have her!

Thank you for the opportunities for professional development and personal growth that the organization has provided me.  I have enjoyed working for NDAB and appreciate the support given to me during my time here.  I hope I can still count all of you as friends, and please, don’t be strangers.  Find me on Facebook and Linkedin.

Kayla Pulvermacher

In June, I had the opportunity to represent NDAB at the NAHB Spring Leadership Meeting and Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. for the first time. If you ever have the chance to attend these meetings, I highly encourage it.

Getting the chance to sit down with our state delegation is a priceless benefit of your NDAB membership.  Our attendees got to speak one on one with Senators Hoeven and Cramer and Congressman Armstrong.  We briefed them on the issues that are currently affecting our industry in North Dakota and throughout the United States.  They all took the time to thank us for our support and for what we do for homebuilders.

As a part of the Spring Leadership Meeting, we were able to listen to the new NAHB CEO, Jim Tobin, and hear his vision for the future of the national organization.  Our new NAHB Chief Lobbyist, Lake Coulson, also briefed us on the current politics in Washington. Finally, our North Dakota delegates took part in the meeting and represented our state well. All that attended spoke highly of their experience and hoped to attend again.

Without a doubt, NAHB will continue to be a force for our industry.

This trip helped to tie together the importance of having a local, state, and national presence for our organization.  While all politics start locally, having a part of each level of government ensures that we get a say in how our businesses can continue to have an integral part in the economy of North Dakota.  I hope to see you take part in the future.

Jeff Sattler

2023 NDAB President

New research shows the percentage of homes with 4+ bedrooms rose slightly to 48% in 2022, up from 43% in 2019, due in part to the flexibility bedrooms can provide homeowners. The findings are based on an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) of U.S. Census Bureau data that track the characteristics of new single-family homes.

Builders are responding to home buyers who want their new homes to provide plenty of space and support their day-to-day activities and overall well-being. New homes have flexible spaces that are inviting for individuals and families, especially following the height of the pandemic. New home buyers can choose the finishes, fixtures, flooring, paint colors, and more that suit their preferences and are often more durable without the hassle or cost of changing the previous owner’s tastes.   

According to a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), home features that resonate with first-time and repeat buyers include laundry rooms, patios and walk-in pantries. In addition, builders saw a large jump in demand for exterior amenities, such as patios, decks and porches, in 2022, along with increased demand for home offices — which appeared on the list of buyers’ most-wanted features for the first time this year.

New homes benefit not only the homeowner but also the community. The estimated one-year impacts of building 100 single-family homes in a typical local area include: $28.7 million in local income, $3.6 million in taxes and other revenue for local governments, and 394 local jobs.

As we get into the hectic building season, remember how important you are to the consumer and the community. Not only do you make dreams come true, but your work supports the entire community. Thank you for what you do.

Kayla Pulvermacher

Here at NDAB, we take our job of representing you, the builder and subcontractor seriously. We wanted to put together a benefits package that would help our members in a new, more efficient way.  So we asked ourselves one question:

What can we do to help our members run their businesses so they can spend more time on the worksite?

Enter the Builders Business Collaborative.

The BUILDER BUSINESS COLLABORATIVE is a partnership between the North Dakota Association of Builders and Farmers Union Insurance. The collaborative offers products that help our members spend less time in the office and more time at the worksite. We know that no two members' businesses are the same, so the products you rely on to keep the operations going should be anything but cookie cutter.

We know how hard you work; day after day, creating the homeowner’s dream. The last thing you want to do is spend extra time in the office, working on paperwork. We aim to fix that!

Here's the best part—our partners at Farmers Union Insurance will sit down with you and your business to learn about the work you do and how it makes you different. From there, they will create a package that will help your business thrive.

All because you're a member of NDAB!

The majority of our members are small, locally run businesses that are spread thin and cannot afford to hire an HR specialist, an IT and cybersecurity expert, and a payroll professional.  The Collaborative brings all of these business needs together under a single point of contact service so that you can get back to what you love. Plus, our working relationship with Farmers Union Insurance ensure that local agents will be on hand to work with you to assess your business’ requests. 

Request a free assessment today, a benefit of being an NDAB member. Visit www.ndbuild.com to learn more about this benefit and more.

Kayla Pulvermacher

Do you feel like you can’t make a difference in state policy?

I’m here to tell you that you can.

In the last few weeks, the North Dakota Association of Builders rallied to defeat a bill. The bill, SB 2303, mandated that a one-family or two-family dwelling may not have a basement depth of more than one foot below the “ordinary high-water mark” of the underlying water table as established by a soil scientist or soil classifier.  Essentially, there would be large swaths of North Dakota that would not be allowed to have a basement.

NDAB Government Affairs Committee Chairman spoke in opposition on behalf of the committee.  "For an average new home, regulatory costs already account for nearly 24% of the cost of the home," Dabbert said.  "It would only create an additional layer of red tape that is not based on updated technology or current practices."

After the hearing ended, the committee discussed concerns with SB 2303, citing concerns of local control and the state building code being continuously updated to address concerns.  Senator Judy Lee moved a recommendation for a "do not pass," the committee unanimously agreed. 

After attempts to amend the bill on the floor, it still failed 36 to 10.

This success would not have happened without our members contacting our legislators on the behalf of their industry and sharing their experiences as builders.

So much of what we do is regulated by government, so they need to hear our voice.  They must hear our voice.  The future of affordable homes depends on it.

Kayla Pulvermacher

On January 3, the North Dakota Legislative Session began with the Governor giving his State of the State speech.  Since then, your membership with North Dakota Association of Builders has been hard at work, representing your interests.

Through numerous discussions with our Government Affairs Committee and eventual adoption by our Board of Directors, our NDAB members have developed policy for 2023.  This policy highlights their concerns on issues that may be addressed during the upcoming legislative session. NDAB is currently tracking and working on bills that ensure that the home-building industry continues to thrive in the state; maintain access to safe, decent and affordable housing; preserve a balanced tax structure that adequately pays for essential and mandated services; and further encourage the development of workforce for the industry.

Some of those bills are:

• HB 1106 and 1107 – Shapes how an appraiser that works for an Appraisal Management Company is licensed and regulated in this state.
• HB 1163 – Provides for another pathway to graduation through an alternative career and tech-focused high school curriculum.
• HB 1188 -- Prohibits service agreements that offer cash for long term listing agreements.
• HB 1180 -- Exempts cities that provide their own electrical inspections from the state board’s jurisdiction and inspections.
• HB 1199 -- Provides an appropriation/line of credit to the Department of Career and Tech Ed for the statewide area and career center initiative grant program; gives authorization to Bank of North Dakota to provide line of credit.

Currently we’re monitoring and working about 40 out of about 1,000 introduced bills. And this number is sure to grow, as the deadline for all bills is not until closer to the end of the month.

If you’d like get signed up for our weekly legislative updates, please contact me at kayla@ndbuild.com.  We look forward to continuing to be your voice at the ND Legislature.

Kayla Pulvermacher