Phil Crone, Executive Officer with the Dallas Builder’s Association addressed the October Real Professionals meeting. Phil has been with the Association for 12 years and shared that there are approximately 1,200 members who represent 10 counties on the Dallas side of the metroplex. Their belief is that “everyone deserves a roof over their head and an affordable place to live”, but that has been quite challenging due to local regulation and labor issues.

Phil shared his concerns regarding local regulation issues, the sensitivity or the “lack there-of” for affordable housing. Codes and zoning are among a few of the road blocks they are facing but the labor issue is by far the most difficult one they have encountered. The city is lacking 25-38,000 construction workers, which includes construction managers all the way down to the “folks who are swinging the hammers.” Skilled labor has the most significant shortage, such as plumbers and carpenters. Builders have begun paying more to get people working for them in the current atmosphere.