Master Builder Association

What Master Builder Association does

Master Builder Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS), founded in 1909 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, is a private, member-owned non-profit trade association operating as the largest local homebuilders association in the United States, with more than 2,400 member companies. It serves residential homebuilders, remodelers, and associate (vendor/supplier) members in King and Snohomish Counties through a membership-based model supplemented by councils (Remodelers Council, Professional Women in Building Council, Sales & Marketing Council, Affordable Housing Council, Builder Councils), specialty programs (GRIP workers' compensation retro and safety program, MBA Health Trust, Built Green third-party sustainable building certification covering site/water, energy, indoor air quality, materials, and equity), and community stewardship programs including Rampathon, Painting a Better Tomorrow, and Planting a Better Tomorrow. The association is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors led by President Vitaliy Gutsalo and Executive Director Jerry Hall (promoted February 2023), with affiliations to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW).

MBAKS generates revenue through a diversified mix: annual membership dues across builder, associate, remodeler, and affiliate tiers ($25-$65 for council/affiliate layers, with primary builder/associate dues not publicly disclosed), event registration and sponsorship fees (golf tournaments, networking breakfasts, the annual Remodeled Homes Tour with tiered entry fees of $850-$1,200, and the 37+ year-running REX/T-REX Awards), print and digital advertising (Annual Catalog, the weekly Up to Date e-newsletter reaching 5,500+ inboxes, and the consumer-facing Home Remodelers Directory distributed through Dunn Lumber), and ancillary facility rental of conference rooms, classrooms, and reception space at its Bellevue headquarters. Go-to-market is community- and event-led, with direct membership recruitment via website application, staff outreach, and word-of-mouth within the Puget Sound building industry.

The association's product surface is unusually broad for a trade body, blending advocacy and political endorsement (Affordable Housing Council candidate endorsements at city, county, and state levels), professional recognition (annual Hall of Fame, Member of the Year, GRIP on Safety Excellence, and REX/T-REX awards), risk management and benefits (GRIP retro, health insurance trust), and sustainability certification (Built Green). It holds no patents, operates no public API or AI/ML capabilities, and does not disclose financials; its competitive position rests on member network density, century-plus brand, and multi-program member lock-in rather than proprietary technology.

Name

Master Builder Association

Legal name

Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties

Website

https://mbaks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Master Builder Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) is a 1909-founded, member-owned non-profit trade association serving over 2,400 homebuilder, remodeler, and associate companies in Washington's Puget Sound region through membership dues, councils, advocacy, Built Green certification, GRIP safety/retro, and community stewardship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homebuilding Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Membership Clubs (Category-Focused) (CRAEADAI)

Keywords

• Homebuilders trade association
• Construction industry membership
• Residential building advocacy
• Green building certification
• Remodeling industry networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from builder, associate, and remodeler members providing access to benefits, councils, advocacy, and member directory listings.
2. Event Registration and Sponsorship: Revenue from event registration fees, sponsorships, advertising, and meeting space rental at the Bellevue headquarters.
3. Advertising and Marketing Opportunities: Print advertising in the Annual Catalog, digital advertising in the weekly Up to Date e-newsletter (delivered to over 5,500 inboxes), and direct-to-consumer advertising through the Home Remodelers Directory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MBAKS operates as a trade association providing membership services to homebuilders, remodelers, and building industry vendors in King and Snohomish Counties, Washington. Core offerings include annual membership with access to advocacy, networking councils, professional development, the Built Green sustainable building certification program, safety/workers' compensation programs (GRIP), health insurance benefits, and event sponsorship opportunities. The association also runs community stewardship programs such as Rampathon, and member-facing publications including Blueprints magazine and a weekly e-newsletter reaching 5,500+ inboxes.

Product overview

The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) operates as a trade association offering a membership program as its core product, supplemented by various councils (Remodelers Council, Professional Women in Building Council, Sales & Marketing Council, Affordable Housing Council, Builder Councils), specialty programs (GRIP Health Insurance, Built Green Certification, Stewardship Programs, Partnerships & Scholarships), and services (Event Space Rental, Sponsorship/Advertising). The association also manages awards programs including the Hall of Fame, Builder/Remodeler/Associate Member of the Year, GRIP on Safety Excellence Award, and REX/T-REX Awards. Key member benefits include the Member Directory, council memberships, and conference room access. MBAKS primarily serves homebuilders, remodelers, and housing industry professionals in the Puget Sound region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Built Green: A sustainability certification program for homebuilders and remodelers promoting environmentally friendly building practices.
• GRIP
• Remodelers Council (RC)
• Professional Women in Building Council (PWB)
• Sales & Marketing Council (SMC)

Products and services

• MBAKS Membership Annual membership program providing homebuilders, remodelers, and industry vendors access to advocacy, council participation, professional development, member directory listings, and community events.
• Built Green Certification Program Green building certification program providing third-party verification of sustainable building practices for new construction and remodeling projects, available to builders and homeowners.
• GRIP Safety and Workers' Compensation Retro Program Workers' compensation retro program offering safety training, risk management resources, and financial incentives for member companies. Includes the GRIP on Safety Excellence Award program.
• MBA Health Trust (Health Insurance Benefit) Group health insurance benefit program for employees of MBAKS member companies, providing access to pooled health insurance plans.
• Event and Meeting Space Rental Rental of conference rooms, classrooms, and reception space at the MBAKS Bellevue headquarters for member and non-member events and meetings.
• Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities Marketing and advertising opportunities for industry vendors and service providers, including event sponsorships, print and digital newsletter advertising, and inclusion in the Home Remodelers Directory.
• Remodelers Council Membership Annual council membership ($60) for remodeling contractors providing networking, education, and event participation including the Remodeled Homes Tour and REX/T-REX Awards. Includes NAHB Remodelers Council membership.
• Professional Women in Building Council Membership Annual council membership ($65) providing women and allies in the building industry with mentorship, networking, and leadership development opportunities. Includes NAHB Women's Council membership.
• Sales & Marketing Council Membership Annual council membership for industry sales and marketing professionals offering networking, skill development, innovation recognition, and business relationship building. Includes NAHB Sales & Marketing Council membership.
• Affiliate Membership Annual $25 affiliate membership for employees of Builder and Associate member companies who wish to participate on member councils with member pricing for events.
• Remodeled Homes Tour Entry Event entry allowing remodeling companies to showcase their projects to homeowners and potential clients, with tiered pricing for early and regular entry periods.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 1993, MBAKS has built almost 600 wheelchair access ramps for families in need through the Rampathon program.

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBAKS is affiliated with NAHB, providing members access to national council memberships (Remodelers Council, Women's Council, Sales & Marketing Council) and national advocacy efforts. Members receive free listings in NAHB Council Membership Directories.
• Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level homebuilders association partnership providing members with access to Washington state housing advocacy, resources, and the ability to find local associations by county.
• MBA Health TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth insurance benefit program offered to MBAKS members through a partnership providing access to group health insurance plans.
• Built Green ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA sustainable building certification program administered by MBAKS, promoting green building practices in residential construction throughout the region.
• MBAKS GRIP ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafety and workers' compensation retro program for members providing risk management and safety training resources.
• Dunn LumberminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution partner for the Home Remodelers Directory, making the consumer-facing directory available to homeowners at Dunn Lumber locations.
• GRIP (Group Retro Incentive Program)coreOthersWorkers' compensation retro program providing safety resources and financial incentives for member companies to maintain safe workplaces.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago (HBAGC): Major Midwest regional homebuilders association with council programs, awards, advocacy, and builder/remodeler/associate membership model structurally identical to MBAKS, but serving the Chicago metro market.
• Home Builders Association of the Texas Coast (HBATC): Regional HBA serving the Texas Gulf Coast, mirroring MBAKS's chapter structure, council model, advocacy focus, and signature awards/events—comparable as a peer of similar scope in a different metro.
• Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC): Large regional homebuilders trade association covering Southern California with council structure, advocacy, and member benefits analogous to MBAKS, but operating in a much larger and more diverse construction market.
• Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA): One of the largest local HBAs in the U.S., similar in scale and operating model to MBAKS but serving the Houston market; offers council structures, awards, advocacy, and associate membership programs in a direct peer pattern.
• Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland (HBA Portland): Regional homebuilders trade association serving the Portland metro—an adjacent Pacific Northwest HBA with a near-identical product mix (councils, advocacy, awards, Built Green–style programs) and overlapping builder members.

Direct peers

• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): National umbrella homebuilders trade association of which MBAKS is an affiliate local chapter. Operates the same membership, advocacy, and council model at scale; provides MBAKS members with national council access (Remodelers, Women's, Sales & Marketing).
• National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI): National trade association for professional remodelers. Closely comparable to MBAKS's Remodelers Council, sharing the same category-focused membership, awards (CotY parallels REX/T-REX), and education/advocacy playbook.
• Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW): State-level homebuilders trade association directly allied with MBAKS through the federation model. Operates parallel advocacy, events, and membership programs at the state level, formally coordinating policy work with MBAKS.

Broad incumbents

• Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): Large national construction industry trade association. While broader (commercial heavy), it overlaps MBAKS on member services, advocacy, training, and safety program offerings (paralleling GRIP).
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): National construction trade association with broader scope than MBAKS. Comparable as a competing affiliation for commercial/residential contractors, providing overlapping training, advocacy, and member-benefit offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/master-builders-association
• Xx.com/MBAKS
• Facebookfacebook.com/MasterBuildersAssociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Master Builder Association