Last week, we officially closed applications for the NHCA Build the Builder Program Pilot, and this past Saturday, we held our first orientation sessions with our inaugural Los Angeles Cohort.

A huge thank you to QUOTR for sponsoring the program and helping us keep application costs accessible for everyone. If you haven’t checked them out yet, visit their website, their software does things for your business that will genuinely surprise you. They’re not just a sponsor; they’re a true partner in what we’re trying to build. 

How We Got Here 

This program didn’t come out of nowhere. If you’ve been following NHCA for a while, you know our National Conferences, the Homeownership and Housing Policy Conference and Avance, have been the foundation for this program. The conversations that happened in those rooms planted the seeds for Build the Builder. 

And those conversations kept coming. So many of you have told us the same thing: you’re ready to move into development. You want the full picture, the training, the connections, the platform to actually pitch projects at a national level. Development is one of the most powerful ways to grow your company beyond your local market, and we heard you. 

What the Ecosystem Looks Like 

Here’s how we’re thinking about it: 

The NHCA Build the Builder Program is where you develop the skills and get paired with mentors and industry leaders who’ve already done what you’re trying to do. 

The NHCA Development Coalition is your platform to take those skills and turn them into real projects. Bring your needs to the NHCA community, whether you’re looking for private investors, financing guidance, construction assessments, general contractors, or specialized trade workers, and let the network work for you. 

And the NHCA Lowe’s GPO? Already delivering. One of our Build the Builder applicants shared during Saturday’s orientation that he’s reduced his material costs by 5% since joining. That’s real money. Whether you’re spending a few hundred dollars a month at Lowe’s or hitting the million-dollar mark, there are savings on the table, and our members know how to use them. 

This ecosystem is designed to compound. Every benefit, every partnership, every connection gets more valuable the deeper you go. 

What’s Next 

We have two more markets where we’re planning to roll out Build the Builder, and we want your input on where we go and how we grow. 

You make NHCA what it is. So, tell us: Where do you want Build the Builder to go next? 

We’re listening. 

If you want to be part of what we are building at NHCA, reach out directly (sbarajas@nhca.pro) and let’s find a way to build together.