Podcast: WOTUS Decision, Good Housing Data and Politics
In the latest episode of NAHB's podcast, Housing Developments, co-hosts CEO Jim Tobin and SVP of Communications Paul Lopez discuss the importance of yesterday's Supreme Court decision rescinding key parts of the Biden Administration's Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule.
The pair also talk about some recent positive data for the housing and home building industry and the political landscape now that the Republican presidential nominee field is rapidly growing.
Listen to Housing Developments wherever you get your podcasts or watch a video of the full episode below.
Latest from NAHBNow
The Trump administration announced that it is seeking to fully rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (“Roadless Rule”), which bars road building on more than 44 million acres of federal forest land.
After three consecutive quarters of modest improvement, housing affordability declined in the second quarter as higher mortgage rates, rising construction costs and economic uncertainty weighed on the market.
Latest Economic News
Second quarter 2026 data reveal softer conditions for townhouse construction as housing affordability challenges affect homebuyer demand, particularly in larger metropolitan markets.
With overall single-family construction down almost 7% for the first seven months of 2026, custom home building has been a relative bright spot for the residential construction industry.
Housing starts fell in July as economic uncertainty, rising construction costs, labor shortages and elevated financing expenses continued to challenge builders.