COLUMN: Builders ready for 2002

On Jan 1, Mark Tomlinson began his term as 48th president of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, taking over for Mark Doppe.

It's not a new situation for Tomlinson, who in past years has served on several committees and as first vice president and second vice president.

In his speech during the installation ceremony at the Four Seasons Resort on Dec. 11, Tomlinson stressed that there is a heritage and tradition that speaks for itself in the leadership of this association and the industry.

"We have enjoyed remarkable leadership over the past 50 years from builders such as Ernie Becker Sr., and his sons, Barry Becker and Ernie Becker Jr.; Hank Chism and son Don Chism; Robert Lewis; and the other past presidents here with us today: Larry Canarelli, Mark Doppe, Randy Schaefer, Rich Priesing and Tom Harmon," Tomlinson said.

He also discussed the issues of housing prices and construction litigation. "We went to the (2001) Legislature with a bill that we thought was a right and just solution to the litigation hurting our industry and our home buyers. All we were asking for was the right to repair if, indeed, a home was determined to have a legitimate defect. It sounds simple, doesn't it? But not in Carson City ... a world unlike anything we know in the development community."

Tomlinson said although the home building industry has friends and supporters in the Legislature, the trial lawyers have more, are spending more money and are receiving more votes.

He urged association members to respond to the lawyers' challenge with ideas, time and money. "Get involved with us at the association to turn this litigation situation around."

Tomlinson pointed out that builders are watchful of costs in doing business.

"We count yards of concrete in a slab; the number of studs in a house; the number of squares of tile on a roof. But, we let the trial lawyers run rampant in our community, unmonitored and not answering to anyone for their antics. We need to do more about this."

Tomlinson is also concerned about issues such as land availability and pricing, government requirements and increased processing time and rising fees.

"Unfortunately, all these issues have affected the affordability of our housing. As of October, the median price of a new home in our community was $171,000 -- up $12,000 from a year ago.

"We had an independent study done for us a few years ago that indicated for every $1,000 increase in the price of a new home, we are pricing out 1,400 households from buying a home."

Tomlinson said home builders continually must ask themselves, "Where are these people going to live if they can't afford housing in our community?

"We talk about affordable housing -- how much of the cost of a house can be attributed now to skyrocketing insurance premiums for every builder and subcontractor in our community because of this litigation epidemic, and that's for those of you who can still get insurance. There are now builders and subcontractors who can't get insurance at any price."

As Tomlinson pointed out, 2001 was a tough year, although in numbers of sales, it will have proved to be a record year.

He said to mitigate problems, the association is sponsoring forums to educate members about construction pitfalls, as well as new programs to train and educate the work force. "We're building the houses that become homes and remember, the No. 1 American Dream is homeownership. We're making dreams come true for thousands of Las Vegas residents."

Carmel Hopkins, real estate product manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, can be reached at 380-4574. Her e-mail address is Carmel_Hopkins@ lasvegasnewspapers.com. Snail mail is P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

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