Marty Czech’s journey to becoming the 2025 president of the Central Minnesota Builders Association (CMBA) has followed a trajectory centered on his natural propensity to invest his time and energy in his community. Originally from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Marty attended St. Cloud State University and decided to stay in the area. In 2015, as part of his role as a real estate agent, Marty joined CMBA and soon became involved in various committees and leadership roles. His dedication to housing solutions in the area led him to also join the St. Cloud Planning Commission in 2016, an organization he currently chairs and where he actively works to address the growing housing shortage.
“We’re not just selling homes — we’re shaping the future of our community. Homeownership isn’t just about having a place to live. It’s about stability, opportunity and the chance to build something lasting.” – Marty Czech, 2025 President of CMBA
What would you like to focus on during your term as CMBA’s Board Chair?
I am in a unique position as a REALTOR®️ and serving on the City of St Cloud Planning Commission. I hope to use my experience in both those areas to help cities, builders and developers in Central Minnesota work together better. The cities want and need new homes and developments. Like many other areas in the country, we’re facing a housing shortage. Our builders want to build. We have to find ways to do that so more people can afford to buy homes.
What are some challenges facing the St. Cloud region’s residential construction industry right now?
Shortages in labor. Shortages in lots. Costs of the infrastructure to create more buildable lots. Higher interest rate environment.
What changes would you like to see at the state Legislature to address the housing crisis in Minnesota?
This is a problem without a simple solution. There are a lot of parties with roles to play. First, do no more harm to housing. Pause any planned updates on building codes or new regulations. Most Minnesotans simply can’t afford them. The proposed zoning changes from the “missing middle” bill that were proposed last year are a start. Smaller lot size requirements, lower parking requirements and allowing more townhomes will also lower cost per unit.
What inspires you to preserve homeownership for future generations?
Personal interactions I have had throughout my career fuel me. From 2006 to 2007 I had clients with good jobs tell me they couldn’t afford to buy a house in the city they grew up in because the cost of housing had gone up so much. I watched a buyer visibly sag after I told him the price of our model home in 2021. He told me he’d been saving for 15 years and planning to downsize into a new patio home and that he’d just been priced out of the market. The St. Cloud school district has around 1,000 students who are facing some level of homelessness – that’s around 10%! Homeownership is fundamental to building strong communities and for families to achieve financial security.