When you join the Home Builders Association of Northern California, you also become a member of the California Building Industry Association (CBIA) as one of their 6,000 members and the National Association of Home Builders, a national organization with over 220,000 businesses in the home building industry. These associations work year-round to achieve the goal of providing sufficient affordable housing, and to make the American dream of homeownership a reality for the people of the Bay Area, California and the nation.

HBANC facilitates networking among our 1,000 members through events, education and publications. We encourage builders and associates to share products, services and ideas, and to build relationships with fellow members and industry professionals at PCBC, annual MAME and G.R.E.A.T.S. awards, the installation gala, division dinners, P.A.S.S. luncheons and golf tournaments as well as our many councils and committees. Our publications offer networking opportunities with contact information, advertising and member news.

As an Association member, you not only benefit from advocacy efforts by HBANC locally and regionally, you will also benefit from the state and national pro-active support of expert CBIA and NAHB staff and lobbyists. HBANC Governmental Affairs staff covers the local and regional government, regulatory and legal issues that impact home building in the Bay Area and Northern California.

HBANC keeps its members apprised of current news and issues affecting the building industry.

• TheWIRe is the Weekly Issues Report email from the Governmental Affairs Department providing significant legal, legislative and home building news and pertinent public meeting schedules from the 14-county HBANC region.
• Bay Area Home Builder magazine, published nine times annually, covers Bay Area home building, governmental and political issues, spotlights industry professionals and provides other news on HBANC and its members.
• Who's Who and P.A.S.S. directories provide contact information for members in the Association.
• Election Guides list all local candidates and major initiatives as well as provide information on campaign contribution laws.

Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement (VAMA)

The purpose of the Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Home Builders Association (HBANC) is to advance fair housing for all, and to provide fair housing for all through programs of affirmative marketing, outreach and education.

The goal of HUD, NAHB and the HBA in developing and implementing this agreement is to affirmatively further fair housing through voluntary efforts that result in the provision of equal housing opportunity to all home seekers regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.

Builders who formerly relied on their realtors to satisfy HUD's fair housing requirements must now provide their own Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan if they apply for participation in any HUD/FHA-assisted or insurance program. Fortunately, there is no longer a need for our members to worry about their own plan with HUD, filing documents, or conducting training seminars, because HBANC is a signatory to this national program and any of our members may sign our agreement to participate. HBANC will take care of the rest! Read more...

Workers' Compensation Insurance

HBANC members in a variety of contracting classifications can obtain workers' compensation insurance coverage from Farmers Insurance Group at discounted rates. Farmers has lowered rates to HBANC member policyholders by over 40 percent in the last year due to continuing improvements in Association education and safety standards and workers' comp state reforms. HBANC and Farmers have worked together for over a decade to improve the safety of Association members while getting them the best possible rates for their insurance coverage.

Among the specialty contracting categories Farmers covers for workers' comp are concrete construction, door frame and pre-glazed window installation, electrical, fence, floor laying, refinishing and resurfacing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, masonry, painting, decorating, wall covering and paperhanging, plumbing, remodeling and tile, ceramic and marble contractors.

Farmers Insurance also offers special rates to HBANC members for auto and liability insurance and financial services.

Reduced rates for medical insurance are available to members of the Association.

HBANC provides educational seminars, classes, programs and training with nationally recognized certification. Among the educational programs the Association offers each year are the Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM, CMP and MIRM), Certified New Home Sales Professional courses (CSP), Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS), Construction Safety Committee training programs and Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) workshops.

HomeAid Northern California is the charitable arm of HBANC, providing shelter for the homeless in the Bay Area since January 1999. Builders and associates in the Association give back to the community by contributing to HomeAid with their products, services and manpower as well as financial aid.