Elevated mortgage rates acted as a drag on new home sales in November, but with the peak rate cycle apparently in the rear-view mirror, sales are expected to rise as we move into the new year.

Sales of newly built,… Continue reading →

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced today that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will each be allowed to invest up to $1 billion annually in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) market as equity investors, beginning in… Continue reading →

To get into the holiday spirit and strengthen the camaraderie of the Federation’s Young Professionals, 10 industry leaders came together to create a handy recipe book titled “Treats of the Season”.

The book includes directions and ingredients for several… Continue reading →

The use of 3D printers in residential construction is growing at a rapid pace. While 3D printing has a very long way to go before it replaces traditional home construction methods, builders should know how to protect their business from… Continue reading →

The recent strong economic growth rate of 4.9% in the third quarter, driven largely by consumer spending, is not sustainable, according to NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. It will be difficult for consumers to maintain the same level of spending… Continue reading →

NAHB’s Senior Officers will host a series of Virtual Townhall Meetings on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at the times listed below.

The meetings are an important opportunity for members and HBA leadership to provide feedback to NAHB leadership on emerging… Continue reading →

According to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report, the price level of inputs to residential construction less energy (i.e., building materials) increased 0.2% in November after declining 0.4% in October (revised, not seasonally adjusted). The index has increased 0.8%… Continue reading →

Single-family construction surged in November as lower mortgage rates helped to assuage affordability concerns and unleash pent-up demand for housing.

Overall housing starts increased 14.8% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.56 million units, according to a… Continue reading →

According to the latest NAHB annual census, the median age of Builder members is 57, rising five years since the inception of the census in 2008. The aging population of trade workers is a major contributor to the labor… Continue reading →

Falling mortgage rates helped end a four-month decline in builder confidence, and recent economic data signal improving housing conditions heading into 2024.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes rose three points to 37 in December, according… Continue reading →

In the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and SVP Paul Lopez are joined by Chief Economist Dr. Robert Dietz to discuss the Federal Reserve’s decision this week to leave interest rates unchanged.

Dietz explains how… Continue reading →

Every home design consultation begins with trying to understand the wants and needs of the home owner, hopefully with some inspiration photos from the client. But what happens when those inspo images aren’t real?

With the advancements in AI and… Continue reading →

NAHB works relentlessly to advocate for its members on numerous issues affecting residential construction such as supply-chain challenges, building regulations, energy codes and many more.

To help keep members up to date, NAHB’s advocacy leaders and subject matter experts have… Continue reading →

The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee held the federal funds rate constant at a top target rate of 5.5% at the conclusion of its December meeting. Marking a third consecutive meeting holding the federal funds rate constant, it now appears… Continue reading →

For 13 years, Pro Remodeler’s annual Forty Under 40 award has recognized the best and brightest young remodeling and home improvement pros. The award celebrates leadership, professional growth and achievement, creative problem-solving, and a passion for excellence.

Know a trailblazing… Continue reading →

According to 2021 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, almost half of occupied housing units (63.8 million) have at least one pet. And a recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey shows that consumers spent more than… Continue reading →

On a strong bipartisan vote of 44 to 1, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce has approved NAHB-supported legislation that would reaffirm congressional support for Job Corps and help address the nation’s skilled labor shortage.

H.R. 6655, the… Continue reading →

The House approved NAHB-supported legislation that would help jurisdictions preserve local control over the building code adoption process while also encouraging communities to take positive steps to withstand and recover from extreme events.

The Promoting Resilient Buildings Act (H.R. 5473)… Continue reading →

This month, NAHB provided a grant of $50,000 to the Hawaii Building Industry Foundation’s Maui Recovery + Rebuild Fund in support of their efforts and projects in assisting impacted residents and members on Maui in recovery and rebuilding homes following… Continue reading →

A change in color can be an immediate mood booster in any space, and a new year is a great time for a refresh. With so many options available, though, it may seem daunting to choose. Here are the top… Continue reading →

Bipartisan legislators in both the House and Senate introduced the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act, which would establish a new tax credit to produce affordable rental housing for households earning 100% or less of the area median income (AMI). Sponsored… Continue reading →

In the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and SVP Paul Lopez discuss an important bipartisan bill up for a vote in Congress that would give home builders and local governments flexibility in rebuilding after natural… Continue reading →

Residential construction industry leaders in Montana participated in several discussions with Gov. Greg Gianforte, who recently signed multiple bills into law to boost the housing supply and expand consumer choice in the state.

“As everywhere else in the country, Montana… Continue reading →

NAHB is not only focused on expanding the next generation of the industry’s workforce, but it also aims to prepare and support the Federation’s emerging state and local leaders for success.

NAHB recently collaborated with several HBAs in various regions… Continue reading →

For years, contractors have promoted a design-build approach to residential development. This model encourages developers to gather all stakeholders around the table — the architect, designer, development professionals and construction team — as early as possible to foster collaboration and… Continue reading →

Don’t miss your chance to gain valuable insight as you prepare your business for the year ahead.

NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz will provide an overview of key macro issues expected to impact the economy and the housing industry in… Continue reading →

The Illinois Supreme Court last week issued an opinion that was extremely favorable to the construction industry in Acuity v. M/I Homes of Chicago, LLC, a case involving commercial general liability (CGL) coverage for construction defects resulting in water… Continue reading →

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has approved NAHB-supported legislation that will help ease the shortage of distribution transformers.

H.R. 4167, the Protecting America’s Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act, would ensure certainty for transformer manufacturers as they seek to repair… Continue reading →

The U.S. House of Representatives will soon vote on H.R. 5473, the Promoting Resilient Buildings Act. This bipartisan legislation extends a sunsetting provision in the 2018 Disaster Recovery Reform Act that gives local governments, home builders and home owners… Continue reading →

For the third consecutive quarter, single-family growth rates were negative for all geographic sectors of the nation, as exurban areas posted the largest increase in market share for both single-family and multifamily construction, according to the latest findings from the… Continue reading →

To help members articulate key housing priorities, NAHB’s Monthly Update provides the latest messaging framework for the Federation. An exclusive benefit for NAHB members and local and state association leaders, the Monthly Update provides top-line information on housing economics and… Continue reading →

National home prices continued to increase in September. Despite rising mortgage rates, limited inventory and solid, but weakened, demand provided support for home prices. National home prices are now 69% higher than their last peak during the housing boom in… Continue reading →

Significant changes within the multifamily housing sector will soon take place. The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) was finalized earlier this year by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the new requirements go into effect Jan. 1,… Continue reading →

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has proposed a rule that would require public housing agencies (PHA) with tenants in public housing and owners of properties participating in HUD multifamily project-based rental assistance (PBRA) programs to provide… Continue reading →

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a series of six webinars over the next several weeks on the Energy Star program for single-family and multifamily new construction. This series may be helpful to any builder interested in the… Continue reading →

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) announced today that it will not rescind the existing combined countervailing and antidumping duties totaling roughly 9% on certain Canadian softwood lumber products coming into the United States.

In a press release announcing a… Continue reading →

NAHB is reminding all business owners to work with their tax professionals to ensure you are prepared for the new mandatory e-file requirements taking effect next year.  Starting in 2024, taxpayers submitting 10 or more returns, which includes Form… Continue reading →

The flagship exhibit of the upcoming International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, The New American Home® 2024 is in the final phase of construction. The build team has been working in overdrive as it prepares the home to make its… Continue reading →

With much of the United States experiencing the first arctic blast of the season, it’s a good time to review proper cold weather jobsite safety.

The most obvious area of concern is protecting workers from the bodily dangers posed by… Continue reading →

NAHB’s 2023 Builder and Associate Member Census was sent out this week to help us better understand the composition and characteristics of the members who belong to our Federation.

We need your participation to help us provide even better service… Continue reading →

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Nov. 28 announced its loan limits for 2024. The nationwide rise in median home prices indicates most buyers across the country will see increases.

The FHA floor will increase from $472,030 to $498,257 for… Continue reading →

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that the maximum baseline conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2024 will rise to $766,550, an increase of $40,350 from 2023.

The conforming loan limits… Continue reading →

A motorized and lighted pergola, keyless smart doors for homes, and software that can design and price a home before construction begins. Those are some of the futuristic technologies that were honored in the Global Innovation Awards (GIA) program.… Continue reading →

NAHB’s Board of Directors will convene virtually for its 2023 Winter Board Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ET.

Members and executive officers can view a livestream of the meeting on nahb.org starting at 10 a.m. ET.… Continue reading →

To help home builders associations and members become a trusted resource for housing-related information in their community, NAHB has new customizable videos available.

NAHB provides a monthly housing-related video in an easy-to-download format for members and HBAs. The short videos,… Continue reading →

Elevated mortgage rates that averaged 7.62% in October per Freddie Mac, the highest rate since 2000, depressed buyer demand and pushed down new home sales in October.

Sales of newly built, single-family homes in October fell 5.6% to a 679,000… Continue reading →

The Home Builders Institute continues to expand its trades training programs into secondary schools across the country with generous funding from The Home Depot Foundation and the National Housing Endowment.

Schools to Skills grant funding allows secondary schools to… Continue reading →

NAHB is mourning the passing of Jim Pigott, Jr., owner of The Pigott Agency in Mechanicsburg, Pa. He passed away Nov. 16 while attending an industry-related… Continue reading →

As a residential construction industry expert, increasing your visibility and credibility can be valuable tools for the success of your business. One way to bolster your reputation as a housing industry thought leader is to publish a book. Writing a… Continue reading →

For remodelers looking to elevate their businesses in the new year, staying on top of the latest housing trends is a must. In this installment of NAHB’s Remodeling Forecasts, Myths & Trends video series, sponsored by Lowe’s Pro,… Continue reading →

Throughout the year, the Home Builders Institute (HBI) builds careers and changes lives through free trades training programs across the country. This holiday season, HBI is asking for your support to continue to ensure students acquire the skills they need… Continue reading →

The construction industry has a serious need for accurate, local and real-time pricing data. Verisk, a data analytics and technology partner to the global insurance industry, is working to solve it.

On Thursday, Nov. 30, representatives from Verisk will illustrate… Continue reading →

With Spike Appreciation Month in full swing and the race to become one of nine winners of Signature Kitchen Suites’ (SKS) all-inclusive trip to New York City on the line, many across the Federation are wondering the best ways to… Continue reading →

Digital media is more important than ever in the home buying industry. And creating a website that uniquely stands out from the crowd is a difficult but necessary task.

“Today’s home buyer journey includes more digital engagement than ever before,”… Continue reading →

Alicia Huey, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a custom home developer from Birmingham, Ala., today issued the following statement after President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to boost production of electric heaters:

“The purpose… Continue reading →

While the cloud has ushered in a new era of computing, it has also created a new wave of challenges. Enterprises today typically work with multiple public cloud technologies, creating significant integration and management burdens.

The complexity of managing these… Continue reading →

The Best of IBS Awards recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of products and services of IBS Exhibitors in various categories of the residential building industry. These awards are a testament to innovation, quality and commitment, offering not just recognition… Continue reading →

Single-family construction held steady in October as high mortgage rates depressed demand but more buyers turned to new homes because of a lack of existing inventory.

Overall housing starts increased 1.9% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of… Continue reading →

NAHB’s refreshed Residential Construction Industry Fundamentals course (formerly Basics of Building) provides a crucial opportunity for those who work in construction-related fields to expand their knowledge — and their profits.

The on-demand, self-paced course will give industry professionals the tools… Continue reading →

Confidence in the market for new multifamily housing was in negative territory for the third quarter, according to results from the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The MMS produces two separate… Continue reading →

High mortgage rates that approached 8% earlier this month continue to hammer builder confidence, but recent economic data suggest housing conditions may improve in the coming months.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes in November fell… Continue reading →

With the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and federal government 48 hours away from a funding lapse, House and Senate lawmakers acted in a bipartisan manner to fund the operations of the federal government, including the NFIP, through early next… Continue reading →

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today released its annual report to Congress that shows the agency’s capital reserve ratio of its Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMI Fund) ended the fiscal year (Sept. 30, 2023) at 10.51%, a slight decrease of… Continue reading →

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today approved NAHB-supported legislation that would help jurisdictions preserve local control over the building code adoption process while also encouraging communities to take positive steps to withstand and recover from extreme events.

The Promoting… Continue reading →

NAHB members across the nation have been diligently recruiting numerous new members into the Federation this fall.

Their efforts are part of the continued mission to grow a robust organization, but this time, the most effective recruiters will earn an… Continue reading →

Educational opportunities at the International Builders’ Show (IBS) are one of the key benefits to attending the show each year. Attendees with an Expo+Education pass not only have access to the show floor — featuring 645,000 square feet of the… Continue reading →

Median square foot prices (excluding improved lot values*) for new for-sale single-family detached (SFD) homes started in 2022 increased 18% to $155, according to NAHB’s analysis of the latest Survey of Construction data. Increases for square foot prices in… Continue reading →

The severe labor shortage in the construction industry is raising construction costs and harming housing affordability. NAHB’s workforce training affiliate, the Home Builders Institute, is building the next generation of skilled tradespeople and is the largest Job Corps national… Continue reading →

The Student Competition at the International Builders’ Show (IBS) puts the industry’s brightest young minds to the test on the biggest stage of the year.

But another challenge stands in the way for many student chapters, too: securing sufficient funds… Continue reading →

A gold star family is one step closer to achieving the American Dream of homeownership thanks to Operation: Coming Home (OCH), an initiative of the HBA of Raleigh-Wake County (N.C). The program builds and gives away Hero Homes to… Continue reading →

The White House today announced a Housing Supply Action Plan that it said would ease restrictive and costly land use and zoning rules, expand financing for energy efficient housing, and promote commercial-to-residential conversion opportunities.

As part of this plan, HUD… Continue reading →

NAHB is continuing its ongoing battle to rein in excessive regulations and overzealous federal regulators. Most recently on the legal front, NAHB has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in an upcoming Supreme Court case that seeks to overturn a previous Supreme… Continue reading →

OSHA last week published a final rule amending its workplace injury and illness recordkeeping regulation to require certain employers to electronically submit additional injury and illness information annually.

The main change is the requirement that companies with more than 100… Continue reading →

Every NAHB member at one point in their career has encountered a challenge that can be overcome by being connected to an expert, mentor or colleague in the industry. To help members get the answers they need to help their… Continue reading →

Rising mortgage rates and elevated construction costs put a damper on new home sales last month.

Sales of newly built, single-family homes in June fell 2.5% to 697,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate from a downwardly revised reading in May, according… Continue reading →

Next month will be back-to-school time for many students across the country, and now is a great time to take advantage of the numerous benefits of NAHB’s Student Chapter program. It’s also a great time to explore creating a Student… Continue reading →

While U.S. homeownership rates have been rising since 2015 and received an extra boost during the post-pandemic housing boom, they remain below the levels reached during the housing boom of the mid-2000s. With the national trends reflecting fundamental drivers of… Continue reading →

With one slight change to his floor plan schematic, architect Ryan White increased the production of a new single-family project by 33%.

How? By shaving just a foot off the depth of the three-story, side-by-side duplex destined for an infill… Continue reading →

NAHB’s Senior Officers will host a series of Virtual Townhall Meetings on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the times listed below.

The meetings are an important opportunity for members and HBA leadership to provide feedback to NAHB leadership on emerging issues… Continue reading →

The lack of skilled construction labor is a key limiting factor to expanding home construction and improving housing inventory and affordability. The latest Construction Labor Market Report from the Home Builders Institute (HBI), provides an outlook for residential construction employment… Continue reading →

In his biweekly newsletter Eye on the Economy, NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz provided the following overview of the housing industry:

As the Federal Reserve digests the latest inflation and labor market data, the housing market is diverging. Single-family construction… Continue reading →

The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved its Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies fiscal year 2024 funding bill, and the measure includes $70.06 billion for HUD.

Of particular note, the Senate bill includes $1.5 billion to sustain robust… Continue reading →

For the past four decades, NAHB’s Best in American Living Awards (BALA) have celebrated the value and importance of good home and community design.

Over the next several months, BALA will celebrate its significant 40-year milestone by showcasing memorable trends… Continue reading →

At the invitation of Sen. Mike… Continue reading →

The Biden administration announced today that it is taking on so-called “junk fees” in rental housing in order to lower costs for renters. The administration portrays standard industry fees – such as application fees – as junk fees.

NAHB disagrees… Continue reading →

NAHB mourns the passing of Ignacio Cabrera, a longtime NAHB staff member, on July 12. He was 79.

Cabrera, who retired from NAHB in 2009 after more than… Continue reading →

Single-family production fell back after four straight monthly gains as elevated construction costs and rising mortgage rates led to a reduction in home building activity and affordability conditions worsened for home buyers.

Overall housing starts in June decreased 8% to… Continue reading →

In the latest presentation from the BizTools Video Series, “Before Disaster Strikes, Prepare Your Business,” Jonathan Falk, NAHB’s field specialist for disaster relief, lays out a simple 10-step strategy to help business owners assess the risks that natural disasters… Continue reading →

On the latest episode of NAHB’s Housing Developments podcast, co-hosts CEO Jim Tobin and SVP Paul Lopez record from New York City where they’re discussing the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) numbers with members of the… Continue reading →

Low existing inventory that is keeping demand solid for new homes helped to push builder confidence up in July even as the industry continues to grapple with rising mortgage rates, elevated construction costs and limited lot availability.

Builder confidence in… Continue reading →

A record heat wave is causing the mercury to hit triple digits on many jobsites across the country. Ensuring employees and contractors are regularly hydrated and protected from the sun during hot months is essential to the health and safety… Continue reading →

Continuing a trend of slowing price growth that began in 2022, overall prices of building materials were unchanged in June, according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report. The index has gained 0.5% year to date and has… Continue reading →

In a move strongly opposed by NAHB, House Republican appropriators are proposing to eliminate the Department of Labor’s Job Corps program as part of a 30% reduction to the agency’s fiscal year 2024 budget.

In a letter to House Republican… Continue reading →

Home Innovation Research Labs and the USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory recently released a new guide to help identify design principles and construction practices to improve the moisture performance of wood-framed balconies and decks.

The Durable Solutions for Balconies… Continue reading →

NAHB committee and council members, delegates to the Leadership Council, members of the Board of Directors, and executive officers should make plans now to attend the Fall Leadership Meeting, Sept. 19-21, in Palm Springs, Calif.

You can view the schedule,… Continue reading →

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today told Congress that burdensome government regulations and mandates which support environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies impede the housing industry’s ability to increase the production of quality, affordable housing.

Testifying on this… Continue reading →

NAHB has partnered with the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., to collaborate on housing industry initiatives and ramp up efforts to expand workforce development outreach.

The National Building Museum, located four blocks from the National Mall, has transformed the… Continue reading →

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released its NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the second quarter, posting a reading of 68, edging down two points compared to the previous quarter.

The NAHB/Westlake Royal RMI survey asks remodelers… Continue reading →

Construction workers suffer traumatic brain injuries at a higher rate than workers in any other occupation. That problem has many exploring ways to better protect heads on the jobsite.

At NAHB’s Spring Leadership Meeting in Washington in June, Scott… Continue reading →