Our Blog
White House Announces Plans to Boost Housing Supply, Help Renters
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 Urges SCOTUS to Restrain Federal Agencies’ Power to Interpret Regulations
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
New OSHA Rules on Injury Recordkeeping and Reporting Go Into Effect Jan. 1
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
Connect with NAHB Peers to Solve Business Challenges
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
New Home Sales Cool in June on Higher Mortgage Rates
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
Sign Up for NAHB’s Student Chapter Membership, Save Big
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
Which Markets Have the Highest Homeownership Rates?
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
Housing, Industrialized: Designing for Off-Site
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
Register for NAHB Virtual Townhall Meeting on Aug. 30
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
New HBI Report Shines Spotlight on Labor Shortages
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
NAHB Chief Economist: ‘The Housing Market is Diverging’
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
Congress Completes Busy Week on Housing Appropriations
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
Best in American Living Awards Celebrating 40 Years of Design
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
Indiana HBA Leader Testifies Before Congress on Affordability Issues
At the invitation of Sen. Mike… Continue reading
White House Announces it is Taking on ‘Junk Fees’ in Rental Housing
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 Passing of Former Staff Member Ignacio Cabrera
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 Starts Decline in June but Permits Post Solid Gain
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
Is Your Business Prepared for a Natural Disaster?
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
Podcast: Cautious Optimism for the Next Six Months
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
Builder Confidence Edges Higher Despite Rising Rate Concerns
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
Learn Tips to Stay Cool in Record Heat
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
Is Inflation Cooling? Building Material Prices Indicate Yes
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
NAHB Opposes Move by House GOP Appropriators to Eliminate Job Corps
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
New Guide Identifies Best Practices for Wood Balcony and Deck Construction
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.
Register Now for the 2023 Fall Leadership Meeting
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
NAHB Tells Congress How Excessive Regulations and Codes Harm Housing Affordability
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
Museum Partnership Expands NAHB’s Workforce Development Outreach
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
Remodeling Market Sentiment Edged Down in Second Quarter
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
Free Webinar to Explore Helmets vs. Hard Hats in Construction
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
Own vs. Rent: Where are the Best Regions for Home Seekers
For those who are looking to rent their next home—and want to find something fast—the South and the Midwest regions of the United States might be their best bet. Those regions have the highest rental vacancies in the nation, in… Continue reading
IBS 2024 Show Boasts Next-Level Insulation
Construction of The New American Home 2024, the official exhibit home of the 2024 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS), is on track as the project has already passed mechanical, electrical and plumbing inspections.
The next major step is… Continue reading
Construction Job Openings Rise in May, But Long-Run Trend is Declining
The count of open, unfilled jobs for the overall economy moved lower in May, falling to 9.8 million. While ongoing tight labor market conditions have likely confirmed one to two more Fed rate hikes through the start of the fall,… Continue reading
Pro Builder Highlights Top Builders in 2022
Pro Builder recently released its annual Housing Giants list based on builder production in 2022, which included several NAHB members.
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NAHB Awards Program Now Accepting Applications
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has announced that its awards program is now open. The NAHB Awards Program highlights the best and brightest in the residential construction industry in a variety of categories.
Applications are now open for… Continue reading
Slab vs. Crawl Spaces: What is the Difference?
A strong foundation is essential to the safety and longevity of any home. In most cases, the type of foundation contractors use will depend on the style of the home and the geographic location. Two of the most common types… Continue reading
Video: NAHB Chairman Recognizes Members’ Efforts on Capitol Hill
In this month’s Chairman’s Update, NAHB Chairman Alicia Huey recaps the success of the recent Legislative Conference, which featured more than 300 meetings between members and their legislators on Capitol Hill.
Watch the video below to learn more about… Continue reading
Learn Business-Boosting Strategies During This Month’s ‘Shop Talks’
Learn from some of the most experienced and successful industry pros alongside other NAHB members, all from the comfort of your own home and for free.
Shop Talks are informal, peer-to-peer discussions that explore many topics across the home building,… Continue reading
Hammers in Full Swing During Montana Summer Camp
In Montana, 5th and 6th grade students learned to measure twice and cut once this summer. This essential life lesson and other fun activities were all part of the HBA of Great Falls (Mont.) kids construction camp held June 20-22.… Continue reading
Is Cannabis in Your Walls?
As the search for sustainable home building materials expands, some are looking at a head-turning option: cannabis. The use of industrial hemp, the name for cannabis that contains less than 0.3% THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana), in construction is… Continue reading
The Fed: Driving While Using Only the Rear-View Mirror
NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz provided the following housing market overview in his biweekly newsletter Eye on the Economy.
Markets are increasingly expecting the Federal Reserve to increase the short-term federal funds rate by 25 basis points in July and… Continue reading
Supply-Chain Issues Lengthened Single-Family Build Times in 2022
The 2022 Survey of Construction (SOC) from the Census Bureau shows that the average completion time of a single-family house is around 9.6 months — almost six weeks longer than what the average completion time was in 2021 — reflecting… Continue reading
Effective Strategies for Leading Your Remodeling Company Through Challenging Times
The flight path for custom builders and remodelers can be turbulent. Luckily, experts Vince Butler, CAPS, GMB, GMR, and Doug Howard, director of consulting at Remodelers Advantage, have compiled eight strategies for piloting your company through rough air.
Through the… Continue reading
Your Chance to Weigh In on Canadian Lumber Duties
Importers or purchasers of Canadian softwood lumber products who have been impacted by antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) are encouraged to fill out a questionnaire from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) (links below). Your responses could help… Continue reading
New NAHB Resource Manual Provides State-by-State Insights on Inclusionary Zoning
NAHB’s latest resource on inclusionary zoning is now available. Prepared by Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP, “Policy, Practical, and Legal Challenges to Inclusionary Zoning: A Resource Manual for NAHB Members” provides a list of policy, practical and legal… Continue reading
How to Minimize Risk for Your Business
Every build or remodeling project comes with risk no matter how experienced your team is. That’s why it’s important to stay ahead of the worst-case scenarios by having a detailed game plan in place.
So how can you manage these… Continue reading
National Log Homes Open House Month Celebrates 12 Years of Log Home Heritage
This July marks the 12th annual National Log Homes Open House Month. NAHB Log and Timber Homes Council members and builders across the nation observe the event throughout the month with home tours, log-raising demonstrations, mill tours, seminars and… Continue reading
Podcast: An Industry Pulse Check
In the latest episode of the Housing Developments podcast, NAHB CEO Jim Tobin and SVP Paul Lopez take a look at home building from multiple perspectives and discuss what the current business environment means for housing in the short- and long term.
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Research Report by Massachusetts HBA Urges Action on Housing and Climate
The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts (HBRAMA) recently released a report, “Public Policy for Net Zero Homes and Affordability,” in which researchers from the MIT Center for Real Estate and Wentworth Institute of Technology analyzed the… Continue reading
Don’t Miss Your Chance to Apply for an IBS Scholarship
The IBS Scholarship Program is a remarkable opportunity for emerging residential construction professionals to attend the NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) in Las Vegas, Feb. 27-29.
The IBS Scholarship is a prestigious program aimed at supporting and empowering… Continue reading
FHFA Publishes Transparent, Aggregate Data on Appraisals
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today published its 2023 first quarter data for the Uniform Appraisal Data (UAD) Aggregate Statistics Data File that will allow the public to visualize and analyze national, state, regional and local trends in appraisal… Continue reading
Catalyzing Innovation in Offsite Construction
NAHB is partnering with Ivory Innovations and MOD X on an educational webinar — “Catalyzing Innovation in Offsite Construction,” taking place July 12 at 11 a.m. MT — about innovative building methods and how to improve housing affordability… Continue reading
NAHB Urges for Immediate Guidance on WOTUS
NAHB Chairman Alicia Huey issued a letter this week to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) requesting them to finalize a revised regulatory definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) that clarifies the… Continue reading
FHA Increases Eligibility Threshold for Standard Underwriting for Large Multifamily Loans
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced increases to the threshold for large multifamily loans from $75 million to $120 million. This is the first increase in the threshold since 2014 and will enable more FHA multifamily insurance applicants to… Continue reading
NAHB Fund Helps HBAs Reduce Barriers to Housing Affordability
At the 2023 Spring Leadership Meeting, NAHB’s State and Local Government Affairs Committee awarded seven HBAs with financial assistance through the State and Local Issues Fund (SLIF), totaling $105,000 to help with advocacy efforts on housing affordability issues.
Fund recipients… Continue reading
Learn How Offsite Construction Can Take Your Business to the Next Level
The Building Systems Housing Summit — the premier conference dedicated to offsite construction — will take place Oct. 15-17 at the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C. This one-of-a-kind event features complementary education tracks, bringing together experienced systems-built construction professionals… Continue reading
Federal Agencies Update Workplace Posters for Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Following passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in December 2022, federal agencies have updated several of their workplace posters for businesses to display when the new law goes into effect June 27.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)… Continue reading
New Home Sales Jump in May
A lack of existing inventory coupled with solid consumer demand helped to boost new home sales in May to their highest level since February 2022.
Sales of newly built, single-family homes in May increased 12.2% to a 763,000 seasonally adjusted… Continue reading
IBS 2024 Show Home Off to an Impressive Start
With the installation of windows, plumbing and roofing all well underway, The New American Home 2024 is off to an impressive start.
“I currently feel the build is going really well,” said Mark Schlachter, superintendent for Sun West Custom Homes… Continue reading
Alabama Building Camp Introduces Middle School Girls to the Trades
The Baldwin County Home Builders Association (BCHBA) recently completed its first Baldwin Girls Build Camp to introduce local girls to opportunities in the home building industry.
The concept for the Baldwin Girls Build Camp stemmed from the chartering of a… Continue reading
House Passes Bill to Block New Fee Structure on Fannie-Freddie Home Loans
The House today passed the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act, legislation that would block the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) from implementing a new pricing framework for single-family home loans eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that… Continue reading
Using Outlet Boxes to Streamline Plumbing Installation
Fixture and appliance outlet boxes provide many benefits during plumbing installations for sinks, toilets, washing machines and ice makers that help expedite the installation process. Also known as rough-in boxes or mounting boxes, these play a crucial role in providing… Continue reading
NAHB Legal Action Fund Awards Grants to HBAs to Fight Local Issues
At the 2023 NAHB Spring Leadership Meeting, the Board of Directors approved the recommendation of the NAHB Legal Action Committee to provide financial assistance through the Legal Action Fund to three local and state associations fighting impact fees and building… Continue reading
Army Corps Official Signals Next Steps in WOTUS Rulemaking
This blog post has been updated.
During a June 22 congressional hearing on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) FY 2024 budget request, it was revealed that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Corps would use an administrative… Continue reading
NAHB Honors Industry Legends with National Housing Center Awards
Several industry leaders were recently honored for their contributions to the housing industry during the National Housing Center Awards Ceremony on June 6 in Washington, D.C. The ceremony recognized the recipients of the Exemplary Service to Home Building Award and… Continue reading
NAHB Publication Offers Inside Look into the Financial Records of Remodelers
Remodelers now have a unique opportunity to see how their business stacks up against the competition with a new publication from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). NAHB’s publishing arm, BuilderBooks, recently released the 2023 edition of the Remodelers’… Continue reading
Despite a Cooling Housing Market, Home Prices and Rents Remain High
The annual State of the Nation’s Housing report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Study (JCHS) highlights the growing housing affordability crisis, despite a slowdown in housing prices.
“Rent growth slowed over the past year, and home prices declined… Continue reading
What Will the Fed Do Next? New Webinar to Explore Expectations
As noted in this recent post, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee maintained the federal funds rate at a top target rate of 5.25% at the conclusion of its June meeting. The Fed will also continue to reduce its… Continue reading
Podcast: Has the Housing Upturn Begun?
In the latest episode of the Housing Developments podcast, NAHB CEO Jim Tobin and SVP Paul Lopez discuss two positive economic indices released this week: housing starts had a huge jump in May and builder confidence is in positive territory… Continue reading
NAHB, Other Groups Urge Supreme Court to Take New York Rent Control Case
NAHB and three other organizations are calling on the Supreme Court to consider whether a New York rent control law acts as a regulatory taking because the property owners have been deprived of all meaningful rights with respect to their… Continue reading
Video: NAHB Chairman Opens the Innovative Housing Showcase
For this month’s Chairman’s Update, Alicia Huey appears on the National Mall at the Innovative Housing Showcase, co-hosted by NAHB and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Highlighting the need for more access to attainable housing, Huey… Continue reading
It is Vital to Focus on Digging During Trench Safety Stand Down this Week
Trenching accidents almost always involve an unthinkable event that can lead to injury or death: Being buried alive. But every trench failure is avoidable with proper planning, training and safety measures.
Beyond the obvious motivation to avoid serious injuries and… Continue reading
How to Better Manage Your Business Budget
How much profit is your business really making? Are you juggling business operations expenses and job expenses correctly? Jake Harris, cofounder and CEO of BuildWallet, answers these questions in the latest BizTools video, “Part 3: Process Cash Flow.”
Part one… Continue reading
Single-Family Starts Post Solid Gain in May
Limited existing inventory combined with solid demand and improving supply chains helped push single-family starts to an 11-month high in May.
Overall housing starts in May increased 21.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.63 million units, according to… Continue reading
Builder Confidence Moves into Positive Territory in June
Solid demand, a lack of existing inventory and improving supply chain efficiency helped shift builder confidence into positive territory for the first time in 11 months.
Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes in June rose five… Continue reading
Podcast: NAHB’s Position on Banning Gas Appliances and Congress Gets Back to Work
In the latest episode of NAHB’s Housing Developments podcast, NAHB CEO Jim Tobin and SVP Paul Lopez explain NAHB’s position on recent efforts to regulate gas appliances out of the market. The two also discuss pressing legislative issues now that… Continue reading
Don’t Let Change Limit Your Growth
It can be challenging to make a living as a contractor. Material costs are constantly on the rise, qualified labor is getting harder to find, and your work schedule is at the whim of the housing market and Mother Nature.… Continue reading
OSHA Provides Enforcement Update, Details New Safety Helmet Pilot Program at NAHB Meeting
At the NAHB Spring Leadership Meeting in Washington last week, Scott Ketcham, director of OSHA’s Office of the Directorate of Construction, provided a robust update on the safety agency’s activities and enforcement agenda in the NAHB Construction Safety and Health… Continue reading
Watch Video Highlights of the 2023 Spring Leadership Meeting
NAHB members who were unable to join us in Washington, D.C., last week for the 2023 Spring Leadership Meeting can watch some of the highlights on nahb.org. HBAs can also stream these videos during their membership meetings. Highlights include:
- Chairman… Continue reading
House and Senate Lawmakers Unveil NAHB-Supported Transformer Bill
At NAHB’s urging, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) have introduced identical House and Senate bills — Protecting America’s Distribution Transformer Supply Chain Act — that would delay for five years any rulemaking on energy-efficiency standards for… Continue reading
IRS Releases Draft Regulation, FAQ on Transferability of Energy Tax Credits
The Internal Revenue Service released a draft regulation and a list of frequently asked questions regarding the new election taxpayers may take to transfer certain energy tax incentives to other parties. For purposes of residential construction, this option generally applies… Continue reading
Third Annual Innovative Housing Showcase Draws Thousands to the National Mall
Visitors to the National Mall this past weekend had a unique opportunity to see the latest housing innovations firsthand through the third annual Innovative Housing Showcase, presented by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and NAHB, and learn… Continue reading
House Approves REINS Act to Limit Executive Overreach
In an important victory for NAHB and common-sense regulatory reform, the House today approved the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2023.
This legislation would restore meaningful congressional oversight to regulatory rulemaking by requiring Congress… Continue reading
A Hawkish Pause: Landing Flare for the Fed?
The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee maintained the federal funds rate at a top target rate of 5.25% at the conclusion of its June meeting. The Fed will also continue to reduce its balance sheet holdings of Treasuries and mortgage-backed… Continue reading
Builders Should Treat Mental Health and Substance Abuse as Safety Issues
Every week during National Safety Month, NAHB and other partners will focus on a different aspect of jobsite safety. This week is mental health and substance abuse.
Everyone agrees that substance abuse carries a very real safety issue on… Continue reading
Lot Shortage Eases but Still a Problem
Obtaining lots for new homes remains a challenge for many of NAHB’s builders, but the shortages are not as widespread as they were in 2021, according to responses to the May 2023 survey for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index… Continue reading
NAHB-Supported Gas Stove Bills Back on the Front Burner
This post has been updated.
After delaying action last week, the House today approved an NAHB-supported gas stove bill and is expected to pass a companion measure tomorrow.
Lawmakers approved H.R. 1615, the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act —… Continue reading
NAHB Announces Partnership with MANUAL to Advance Men’s Health and Wellness
June is Men’s Health Month, and NAHB is excited to announce a pilot partnership with MANUAL, a men’s health and wellness company that provides self-paced programming tailored for young men.
Men’s health — and especially men’s mental health —… Continue reading
Build Your Knowledge this Summer with NAHB Courses
NAHB Education is offering some of its most popular live online courses this summer. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn from some of the best instructors in the industry.
Register for these interactive, live online courses held on Tuesdays… Continue reading