NAHB Launches Podcast Hosted by CEO Jerry Howard and Chief Lobbyist Jim Tobin
This post has been updated.
NAHB today launched Housing Developments, a new podcast co-hosted by CEO Jerry Howard and Chief Lobbyist Jim Tobin, who will provide expert analysis on the latest news in the housing industry and inside NAHB. The show will also feature special guests who will share inside knowledge and unique perspectives on key issues impacting the industry.
In the the first episode, Howard and Tobin recap the International Builders' Show – including speeches given by HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson and congressional leaders – and discuss the state of Washington politics leading up to the 2020 election. Listen to the podcast here or at nahb.org/podcast.
Latest from NAHBNow
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released the NAHB Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the third quarter, posting a reading of 62—up one point compared to the previous quarter.
For the first time since 2022, the share of new homes with two-story foyers increased, according to the Census Bureau's Survey of Construction (SOC). Despite the increase, the market share of two-story foyers has generally trended downward since 2017, with most new single-family homes being built without a two-story foyer both nationally and regionally.
Latest Economic News
In the third quarter of 2026, the NAHB Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 62, up one point compared to the previous quarter. The RMI has remained within a narrow band between 59 and 70 for the past four years.
Mortgage application activity declined as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose sharply. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, decreased 7.7% month-over-month in September on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared to a year ago, total mortgage applications were lower by 35.4%.
Mortgage rates rose sharply in September as multiple factors applied significant upward pressure on the U.S. treasury yields. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.86% in September, up nearly 20 basis points (bps) from August.