The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Austin has found a great way to give back to the local community. The concept is a "Benefit Home" that the HBA builds by capitalizing on our member's resources, galvanizing talented builders and trades people, plus mixing in a lot of sweat equity. The home is constructed on donations of land, materials, labor and cash. The HBA then sells the home with the majority of the proceeds going to designated local charities.

The HBA broke ground on the 2011 Benefit Home last month in the West Cypress Hills community. Located in Western Travis County, the home at 5133 Texas Bluebell is the beautiful yet functional San Saba floor plan. The home will feature 2,283 square feet, three bedrooms and 21/2 baths and it's listed at $300,000. Not only is this a gorgeous Hill Country neighborhood with an exceptional amenity center, it is also in the Lake Travis Independent School District.

We are grateful to MileStone Community Builders, which is providing the home's construction management, and Castletop Capital, which provided the home's lot. First Lockhart National Bank is financing the project. We have an excellent Benefit Home committee who has done a great job of bringing together all of the pieces that a new home needs. Dozens of members have stepped up to share their talents, time, materials and products.

Proceeds from the sale of the home will benefit the Dell Children's Medical Center and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin & Central Texas. The HBA will work with the local Ronald McDonald House Charity of Austin & Central Texas to install a Ronald McDonald House Family Room inside Dell Children's Hospital, just outside of the neonatal intensive care unit.

That room will be created through a combination of donations from suppliers and funds from the proceeds of the HBA Benefit Home. Any remaining funds will be donated to Dell Children's Hospital as a cash donation when the project is completed.

The Benefit Home is just one example of how the 800-plus members of the HBA not only contribute to the economic impact of the communities in which they build, but also make a direct impact on worthy causes within those communities. Since 1991, the HBA has donated more than $1 million through projects in the community like the Benefit Home, Parade of Homes and scholarships. If you are interested in buying the HBA Benefit Home, contact Karen Matuszewski at (512) 917-2653.

We are proud to be an integral part of the Central Texas community. To learn more about how to choose a builder or buy a new home, visit the Home Builder's Association of Greater Austin's website at austinhomebuilders.com, then click on homeowner/home buyer information.