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.
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Mortgage rates rose sharply in September as multiple factors applied significant upward pressure on U.S. treasury bond yields, a key factor in mortgage rates.
According to NAHB’s most recent member census from 2025, approximately two-thirds of NAHB’s total members are Associate members. These members include those involved in a wide range of support industries and professions including, trade contractors, manufacturers, retailers/distributors, designers, and architects.
Latest Economic News
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.
In 2025, around a quarter of new homes were built with a two-story foyer, slightly up from 2024, according to data obtained from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) and tabulated by NAHB.