Nurturing a thriving, innovative, & diverse housing industry since 1956
The Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead is a volunteer driven trade organization serving the home building industry and consisting of over 720 Builder, Associate, and Affiliate members. HBA of F-M advocates for attainable housing and a strong building industry as it creates jobs, is an economic driver, and strengthens communities. Members of the Association have a multitude of reasons for being involved, including education opportunities; advocacy efforts at the local, state, and national levels; networking; marketing; and events. Affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders and North Dakota Association of Builders, HBA of F-M members also reap the benefits of membership at the state and local levels.
Cass County Electric Cooperative is an active member of the HBA. Hear from Bob Miller, CCEC energy services supervisor, on why the co-op is a member. “At CCEC, we firmly believe that it is our responsibility to work with local organizations like the HBA of F-M to ensure our members and their contractors have access to safe and efficient energy solutions. By doing this, we ensure that our members can enjoy a better quality of life. With our commitment to the community and collaboration with the HBA, Cass County Electric Cooperative strives to be our members’ trusted energy advisor.”
Workforce Development
The Association also has a charitable arm, appropriately named Home Builders Care of F-M Foundation. It focuses on workforce development, promotes the trades industry to youth, and assists with housing projects in the F-M community.
To introduce youth to the construction industry, the Herdina Construction Trades Camp provides a two-week course for high school students in the summer. Working side-by-side with professionals introduces students to the trades, opens their eyes to new interests, and highlights the plethora of career opportunities in the industry. Each December, the Health, Tech, and Trades Career Expo also provides youth with an opportunity to experience careers that do not require four-year degrees. Early career exploration is pertinent, especially when it comes to a skilled labor force, and the HBA, along with Home Builders Care Foundation, is at the forefront of providing opportunities to do just that.
Each year, the National Association of Home Builders Student Chapters attend the International Builders’ Show to participate in a homebuilding competition. North Dakota State College of Science- Wahpeton and North Dakota State University attended in 2023 and received 2nd and 18th place in their categories! Home Builders Care supports their teams through financial assistance and mentorship. The International Builders’ Show also provides students going into the trades networking opportunities with industry professionals.
Events
One of the largest local events to showcase the building industry and bring our community together is the Red River Valley Home & Garden Show, which took place Feb. 24-26 at the Fargodome. For 2023, the HBA unveiled a new logo, and there were additional entertainment features to check out!
They included an indoor version of Broadway Square presented by the Fargo Park District with fun community events held daily. Lake Home Avenue allowed attendees to find inspiration for their lake cabin or get a head start on making their dream a reality! The Spring Market was a showcase of local small businesses showing off their home décor, jewelry, gourmet food, clothing, pet accessories and much more! And the Backyard Beer Garden, newly designed by Hebron Brick Supply, was the perfect spot to have a cold one on a date or bro hang.
As times change, the Association also looks for ways to evolve. In 2023 you can expect an updated Parade of Homes. Taking place in the spring and fall, the Parade is a way for community members or visitors to tour houses to discover design ideas or even begin the buying process. Updates for this year include combining the Downtown Living Tour and Remodeled Tour with the traditional Parade of Homes, making it a chance to experience all types of housing.
Information and Education
Professional development is at the heart of the HBA’s mission. Opportunities for industry training, continuing education, and updates on industry issues are readily available to all members. The Association also publishes Permits Plus, a bimonthly report on building permits that provides an inside look at the industry’s performance. All education topics are hand-picked by an education committee, so members can count on sessions to be informative and timely topics.
Advocacy
The building industry has witnessed many challenges in the past few years. With volatile material costs, labor shortages, the pandemic, and now higher interest rates, it is evident that communities need to take steps to increase housing affordability, attainability, and homeownership rates. HBA supports elected officials that understand the need for a thriving construction industry and advocates for legislation, regulations, and codes that are reasonable. Members can rest easy knowing that advocacy efforts are successfully conducted at all levels of government, as each impact how affordable housing can be.
HBA of F-M CEO Bryce Johnson notes that “With rising interest rates, there is an anticipated slowdown in the market. However, interest rates are still relatively low! Even with the challenges the industry has faced, there are still many reasons to build a new home or purchase an existing home. Homeownership creates better neighborhoods, closer communities, and safer places to live, work, and play. There are many fantastic economic homeownership tools available to those looking to purchase or build a home. While you are house searching, look at the city’s website, ask your Realtor, or contact the city and see what they have to offer. You may be surprised!”