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Whether they’re called granny flats, backyard bungalows, or guest cottages, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are a growing trend in the residential sector and aim to help ease the nation’s housing shortage and affordability issues.

As of August, 18 states have… Continue reading →

Mortgage refinancing activity surged in September, marking the largest monthly increase since COVID-era ultra-low interest rates. This increase followed mortgage rates dropping below 6.5% for the first time since October 2024 in anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s eventual rate cuts… Continue reading →

For the first time since 2018, vinyl siding surpassed stucco as the most used principal exterior wall material. According to the latest annual release of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), 26% of homes started in 2024 had… Continue reading →

With the intention of honoring community members and helping those in need, the North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA) has partnered with a local builder for a new project, Builders Honor First Responders. Through the collaboration, a home is being… Continue reading →

When the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) passed this summer, it drew attention for repealing popular federal tax credits such as Section 25C and 45L. For many in the building community, this raised questions about whether heat pump adoption… Continue reading →

Each October, the home building industry celebrates Careers in Construction Month, a time to recognize the professionals in the field and spotlight opportunities available for the next generation. This is the third story in a weekly series highlighting the… Continue reading →

The Senate on Oct. 9 passed NAHB-supported housing legislation that offers meaningful solutions to increase the nation’s housing supply by addressing key concerns around zoning and land-use policies, the aging housing stock, rural housing, and multifamily housing.

“NAHB applauds the… Continue reading →

The skilled labor shortage is responsible for the lost production of thousands of newly built homes, according to the Home Builders Institute’s (HBI’s) Fall 2025 Construction Labor Market Report. The report quantifies the size and impact of the skilled… Continue reading →

Friday, Oct. 10, is World Mental Health Day, an annual observance from the World Health Organization to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.

There has long been… Continue reading →

In today’s building environment, efficiency is everything. With the persistent skilled labor shortage and compressed margins, builders are meticulously optimizing every aspect of their workflow.

But what if one… Continue reading →

Home design isn’t just about color swatches and backsplashes. While those are important details when building a new home a client will love, there are other things to consider that non-builders may not think of.

Architecturally, building professionals can look… Continue reading →

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released its NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the third quarter, posting a reading of 60, up one point compared to the previous quarter. With the reading of 60, the RMI remains… Continue reading →

The latest edition of Building Women Magazine — available now to NAHB members — showcases career paths for women in the building industry, including 2025 Professional Women in Building (PWB) Chair Carrie DeWeese.

The issue highlights DeWeese’s journey from her… Continue reading →

Median square-foot prices for new single-family detached (SFD) homes started in 2024 grew modestly, according to NAHB’s analysis of the latest Survey of Construction (SOC) data.

For custom, or contractor-built, homes, the median price was $166 per square foot of… Continue reading →

When it comes to running a construction or trade business, every dollar matters. Between payroll, materials, and equipment, your vehicle costs can quickly become one of the biggest expenses.

That’s why combining the benefits of Section 179 tax deductions with… Continue reading →

NAHB’s third annual Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Student Leadership program held a three-day learning, networking and development meeting in Washington, D.C. The program is a key initiative to help educate and inspire the next generation of building professionals.… Continue reading →

Each October, the home building industry celebrates Careers in Construction Month, a time to recognize the professionals in the field and spotlight opportunities available for the next generation. This is the second story in a weekly series highlighting the… Continue reading →

October 5-11 is National Fire Prevention Week, an annual public outreach and awareness campaign by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

The NFPA focus this year is on the safe use and disposal of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries commonly found… Continue reading →

To help members articulate key housing priorities, NAHB’s Monthly Update provides the latest messaging framework for the Federation. Some highlights for this month include issue updates and talking points related to:

• How the government shutdown will impact housing;

• New tariffs… Continue reading →

The NAHB website uses cookies. We do this to provide a personalized experience, improve our content, and monitor the site performance. By clicking Accept you consent to NAHB’s use of cookies in accordance with its Privacy Policy. To learn… Continue reading →

Every builder knows the grind.

The average new home requires over 300,000 components and coordination with more than 100 companies. With schedules already hanging by a thread, the last thing you… Continue reading →

On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, COO Paul Lopez is joined by NAHB Chief Economist Dr. Robert Dietz and Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale to delve into the good, the bad and the ugly of today’s housing… Continue reading →

Two Vermont Builders and Remodelers Association (VBRA) members stood with Gov. Phil Scott on Sept. 17 as he signed Executive Order No. 06-25, which takes effect immediately and addresses regulatory barriers, permitting challenges and energy code standards in the… Continue reading →

NAHB’s Legal Action Fund provides support for members facing critical legal challenges that directly impede their ability to develop land and build homes. The current deadline to apply for support is October 28.

Since 2020, more than $450,000 has been… Continue reading →

Each October, the home building industry celebrates Careers in Construction Month, a time to recognize the professionals in the field and spotlight opportunities available for the next generation. This is the first story in a weekly series highlighting the… Continue reading →

This post has been updated.

The White House and Republican and Democratic congressional leaders failed to reach an agreement to extend government funding on Tuesday, resulting in a shutdown of most federal government functions at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct.… Continue reading →

In a move that will raise housing costs, the U.S. Commerce Department today imposed a 10% tariff on all timber and lumber imports and an additional 25% tariff on kitchen cabinets and furniture after announcing that it found that imports… Continue reading →

Industry professionals across the country encounter a wide variety of opportunities and challenges, many of which are specific to their region. To help prepare the leaders of state and local associations who support those industry pros, NAHB continues to collaborate… Continue reading →

The 2025 Fall Recruitment Competition, powered by LG Pro Builder, is off to the races as Builder and Associate members compete to recruit as many new members as possible.

The winners of the contest, which spans from Sept. 1 to… Continue reading →

Massachusetts is facing a housing deficit, and the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Massachusetts (HBRAMA) continues to work with legislative leaders to find solutions. On Sept. 9, Gov. Maura Healey released draft regulations that would speed up housing development… Continue reading →

The best and brightest young talents in construction are set to compete at the NAHB Student Competition during the annual International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando. The competition is an opportunity for up-and-comers to apply their skills to real construction… Continue reading →

On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez discuss the potential of a government shutdown, the latest economic data, and upcoming events NAHB members don’t want to miss.

The question looming in… Continue reading →

In a move that could raise construction costs, President Trump on Sept. 25 announced he would impose a 50% tariff on imported kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, along with a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture, effective on Oct. 1.

Trump… Continue reading →

For three years, the Quad Cities Builders & Remodelers Association‘s (QCBRA) Trades for Tomorrow initiative has supported student-built projects to raise awareness of the importance of trades education. The annual initiative helps local high school trades programs to build… Continue reading →

Don’t miss your chance to enter NAHB’s prestigious awards programs, which highlight the best and brightest in the home building industry in a variety of categories. 

The deadline to apply for the following programs is Monday, Oct. 6:… Continue reading →

Delays, rework, and measurement errors remain some of the most common and expensive challenges on both residential and commercial projects. Even small errors in layout or material estimation can quickly escalate into significant financial losses, from wasted labor hours to… Continue reading →

Future home sales expectations hit a six-month high in September after rumblings that the Federal Reserve would cut federal funds. Those expectations came to fruition on Sept. 17 as the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee voted to reduce the short-term… Continue reading →

The scale of remodeling projects can range from small cosmetic updates to extensive overhauls. The New American Remodel® 2026 lands somewhere in the middle, taking a “soft remodel” approach that will revitalize the home and still retain much of its… Continue reading →

A modest drop in mortgage rates led to a surprisingly large jump in new home sales in August that could be revised lower next month.

Sales of newly built single-family homes jumped 20.5% higher in August, to a seasonally adjusted… Continue reading →

Doing business with fellow members is a core value of the NAHB Federation. To strengthen that commitment, NAHB is building a network of attorney members to assist peers with legal services.

Across the country, members face both unprecedented challenges and… Continue reading →

In an important win for NAHB members, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that effective Oct. 1, it is reducing the FHA multifamily mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) for all multifamily programs to 25 basis points.

The Department of Housing and… Continue reading →

These are challenging times for the home building industry, but what will 2026 bring for your business? Share your insights and predictions for the coming year by completing Pro Builder’s 2026 Housing Forecast Survey.

Complete the survey by Oct. 8… Continue reading →

With salaries on the rise and plenty of available jobs, now is a great time for students or for anyone to make a career change to pursue a career in construction.

Job openings have remained steady in construction in 2025,… Continue reading →

In two votes today, the Senate blocked Republican-led and Democratic-led plans to keep the government funded, increasing the odds that a government shutdown will occur at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1.

Prior to the votes, NAHB sent a letter to… Continue reading →

Although the construction industry continues to face a shortage of skilled labor, the portion of women in construction is growing. In 2024, women represented 11.2% of the construction workforce, the highest share in two decades.

Share of Women in… Continue reading →

NAHB is home to more than 140,000 members working together to strengthen the home building industry. The value of utilizing this strong membership network is critical to the continued growth… Continue reading →

NAHB relies on volunteer leaders to provide their knowledge and guidance to develop policy to support the home building industry. Members interested in serving the housing industry are encouraged to apply to one of NAHB’s committees or council board of… 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, Nov. 17-19, at the Hyatt Regency in Denver.

You can view… Continue reading →

After keeping rates steady through most of 2025, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee (FOMC) voted at its September meeting to cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points, bringing the target federal funds rate down to 4.25%.

Fed… Continue reading →

Professional Women in Building (PWB) councils of all sizes are helping reshape the narrative in the home building industry nationwide. They provide spaces where women not only thrive professionally, but also build lasting relationships and advocate for meaningful change. In… Continue reading →

Challenging affordability conditions continue to act as headwinds for the housing sector, but the industry could see lower interest rates in the near future with the Federal Reserve expected to cut short-term interest rates this afternoon.

Overall housing starts decreased… Continue reading →

Expanding the construction workforce to include more women is a work in progress. Making up just 11% of total employment within the industry, the number of women working in trade roles is even smaller at 2.8%, according to NAHB’s Eye… Continue reading →

This post has been updated.

The Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (KCHBA) called on Congress today to oppose energy code mandates that raise the cost of housing and do very little to increase energy efficiency for home owners.… Continue reading →

Builder sentiment levels remained unchanged in September but lower mortgage rates and expectations that the Federal Reserve will soon cut the federal funds rate led to higher future sale expectations in the coming months.

Builder confidence in the market for… Continue reading →

NAHB has joined a diverse coalition of nearly 60 housing experts, advocates and industry leaders to endorse four key principles aimed at increasing the supply of housing. The “Principles for Enhancing Housing Availability and Affordability” was developed by… Continue reading →

Now more than ever, women play a critical role in shaping the future of the home building industry. NAHB’s Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council is dedicated to breaking down barriers and opening doors in this male-dominated field.

While there… Continue reading →

Associate members are vital contributors to the home building industry whose work includes construction suppliers, service providers and manufacturers. Their efforts help make the American dream a reality for millions.

Every year, NAHB honors two of the association’s top associate… Continue reading →

For the first time in 15 years, the share of new homes with patios declined in 2024, according to NAHB tabulation of data from the Survey of Construction. Of the roughly 1 million single-family homes started during the year,… Continue reading →

September is National Preparedness Month, an annual federal initiative to raise awareness and equip individuals, businesses and communities with the tools they need to prepare for disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has designated this year’s theme as “Preparedness… Continue reading →

Each year, the NAHB International Builders’ Show^® (IBS) recognizes the outstanding building products and services from exhibiting companies in nine categories with the Best of IBS Awards:

• Best Business Solution Software
• Best Energy Efficient Product … Continue reading →

Remodelers constitute nearly one quarter of NAHB’s membership. Twenty-one percent of builder members listed residential remodeling as their primary business activity in the 2024 Member Census. Most of these companies are small, operating with five employees.

In 2024, the median… Continue reading →

“No tax on tips,” alongside “no tax on overtime,” are two of the most publicized tax changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Related: What to Know about “No Tax on Overtime” and “No Tax on Tips”

“No tax… Continue reading →

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee voted yesterday to cut fiscal year 2026 funding for Job Corps to $880 million from the current $1.7 billion. The bill passed strictly on party lines.

However, an NAHB-supported amendment offered by Reps. Lauren Underwood… Continue reading →

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today called on Congress to help ease the housing affordability crisis by supporting policies that preserve energy choice, ensure access to a full range of appliances and maintain flexibility in building energy codes… Continue reading →

Do you have a clear view of your land acquisition pipeline today? Which builders are quietly assembling tracts next door — and how soon will you know before those growth corridors become crowded?

For home builders and land acquisition teams,… Continue reading →

NAHB’s Professional Women in Building (PWB) Week will take place Sept. 15-19, 2025, celebrating women as a vital part of the residential construction industry. Join NAHB for a week of inspiring content, including Shop Talks, a webinar, blog posts and… Continue reading →

This post has been updated.

NAHB’s Associate members constitute a large portion of the home building industry including subcontrators, manufacturers and accountants. Their tireless work is vital to the industry’s success and for the support of builders.

As part of… Continue reading →

Job growth slowed sharply in August, and the unemployment rate rose to its highest level in nearly four years. The latest jobs report, along with downward revisions to previous months’ data, indicates a continued cooling in the U.S. labor market.… Continue reading →

Average mortgage rates in August continued their steady decline and are now at their lowest rate since last November. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.59%, 13 basis points (bps) lower than July. Meanwhile, the 15-year… Continue reading →

Although shortages are not quite as widespread as they were in 2021, obtaining lots remains a challenge for many home builders, according to recent results from the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) survey. 

In special questions on the… Continue reading →

The count of open, unfilled positions in the construction industry increased in July, per the June Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) as the national labor market cooled.

The number of open jobs for the… Continue reading →

For the 14th straight quarter, builder credit conditions have tightened, according to a recent NAHB survey.

This isn’t a blip. It’s a pattern.

Many banks are requiring more cash upfront, piling on stricter covenants and dragging out approvals —… Continue reading →

The devastating flash floods in Central Texas in July were the latest in a string of tragic flooding incidents involving rivers and streams. As with the mountain river floods in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, many people are wondering how… Continue reading →

NAHB is celebrating the successes and contributions of its roughly 70,000 Associate members during September for the annual Associate Member Appreciation Month.

Associate members comprise nearly two-thirds of NAHB’s membership and represent numerous specialties including financial services, retail and wholesale,… Continue reading →

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) officially opened online registration and housing today for the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS), the largest annual light construction trade show in the world.

The show will return to Orlando, Fla., for… Continue reading →

In a sign of a soft housing market, single-family construction posted declines in nearly every geographic region in the second quarter of 2025, with the largest percentage drop of 3.8% occurring in large metro, suburban counties where most permit activity… Continue reading →

Join NAHB in recognizing Construction Suicide Prevention Week (CSPW), Sept. 8-12. This annual campaign aims to spread mental health awareness for workers in the construction industry.

Construction workers are five times more likely to die by suicide than from a… Continue reading →

NAHB has developed a new state-by-state map of impact fee enabling statutes designed to give builders, policymakers and housing advocates a clearer picture of where and how these fees are authorized across the country.

This resource is part of NAHB’s… Continue reading →

To help members articulate key housing priorities, NAHB’s Monthly Update provides the latest messaging framework for the Federation. Some highlights for this month include issue updates and talking points related to:

• anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian lumber imports;

• two… Continue reading →

On the latest episode of NAHB podcast Housing Developments, NAHB CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez discuss how the rest of the year looks as Congress gets ready to return to Washington next week.

The first order of… Continue reading →

In 2024, 28,000 single-family homes were built using modular or panelized/pre-cut construction methods out of 1,019,000 total single-family homes completed, making the total market share for offsite construction just 3%, according to the Census Bureau Survey of Construction data and… Continue reading →

Townhouse construction expanded more than 9% on a year-over-year basis per data from the second quarter of 2025.

According to NAHB analysis of the most recent Census data of Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, during the second… Continue reading →

Universal design is a broad term that involves the craft of designing, remodeling, or building a home that’s usable, accessible, comfortable, and safe for people of all ages and abilities — without calling unnecessary attention to itself. And it’s a… Continue reading →

The National Housing Center Board of Governors is seeking nominations for NAHB’s two highest honors: Membership in the National Housing Hall of Fame and the Exemplary Service in Home Building award.

• The National Housing Hall of Fame was established in… Continue reading →

New figures from NAHB highlight the enduring role of small businesses in the residential construction industry. According to the latest NAHB member census, most builder members continue to operate on a modest scale amid a housing industry facing affordability challenges,… Continue reading →

NAHB helped ensure housing was at the forefront of discussions during last year’s presidential election and continues to provide thought leadership on housing in the media, from TV broadcasts to industry podcasts.

NAHB CEO Jim Tobin and other senior leaders… Continue reading →

High mortgage rates, rising construction costs and economic uncertainty continue to deter many potential home buyers during this summer season.

Sales of newly built single-family homes edged 0.6% lower in July, falling to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 652,000… Continue reading →

While acknowledging that ongoing uncertainty complicates policymaking, Federal Reserve Chair Powell gave a mostly green light for monetary policy easing in September, following a policy pause that has lasted since the end of last year.

Noting that inflation remains elevated,… Continue reading →

Whether you’re looking to cut business costs or make smarter personal purchases, the NAHB Member Savings Program offers a wide variety of exclusive benefits. And in 2025, NAHB unveiled several new savings opportunities designed to make membership even more valuable.… Continue reading →

To benefit the community and provide students hands-on construction experience, the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association (SFAHBA) recently completed the Northern New Mexico Ice Box Challenge. In partnership with Habitat for Humanity and YouthWorks, a local nonprofit… Continue reading →

While new homes remain largely unaffordable, builder efforts to improve housing affordability paid dividends in the second quarter of 2025, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI). The… Continue reading →

An analysis of census data by NAHB economists shows that custom home building grew 4% in the second quarter of 2025 as high interest rates and home prices suppress demand for traditional spec home production.

There were 54,000 total custom… Continue reading →

As the cost of housing rises and regulations continue to mount, the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (KCHBA) has launched a regional public awareness campaign – “Let Builders Build” – that spotlights how burdensome regulations, inefficient local zoning… Continue reading →

The cost of running air conditioning in the summer heat isn’t the only reason that home owners and renters might be experiencing higher-than-usual electric bills. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, residential electricity prices in America are surging,… Continue reading →

Single-family housing starts posted a modest gain in July as builders continue to contend with challenging housing affordability conditions and a host of supply-side headwinds, including labor shortages, elevated construction costs and inefficient regulatory costs.

Led by solid multifamily production,… Continue reading →

Single-family housing permits continued a downhill trend for the sixth month in a row in June, while an uptick in multifamily permits suggests a potentially stabilizing trend, though it’s important to note its volatility. The housing market’s mixed signals —… Continue reading →

Elevated mortgage rates, weak buyer traffic and ongoing supply-side challenges continued to act as a drag on builder confidence in August, as sentiment levels remain in a holding pattern at a low level.

Builder confidence in the market for newly… Continue reading →

Natural disasters have been increasing in frequency and severity over the last decade. Meanwhile, state insurance regulators have struggled to address the challenges associated with inadequate coverage and excessive premiums for single-family and multifamily dwellings. As a result, home insurance… Continue reading →

Home builders associations (HBAs) across the United States are raising funds for BUILD-PAC, NAHB’s bipartisan political arm, during its 2025-26 cycle. BUILD-PAC supports the election of pro-housing and pro-building candidates for federal office.

These two recent HBA events raised… Continue reading →

HBAs are all too familiar with barriers to boosting the local housing supply, from impact fees to moratoriums. When it comes down to it, local regulations and unofficial policies that have become “standard practice” play an outsized role in determining… Continue reading →