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 — economic, policy and regulatory — and discuss what the current business environment means for housing in the short- and long term.
Listen to Housing Developments wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video version of your hosts in-studio at the link below.
Editor’s note: Find more in-depth analyses on housing data on NAHB’s economics blog, Eye on Housing.
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Housing Affordability Edges Up in First Quarter but Challenges PersistWhile housing affordability remains out of reach for millions of Americans, particularly first-time and entry-level buyers, conditions have improved modestly in the last year, according to the latest data from the NAHB/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI). The CHI results from the first quarter of 2026 show that a family earning the nation’s median income of $106,800 needed 32% of its income to cover the mortgage payment on a median-priced new home.
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Single-Family Starts Fall Amid Economic Uncertainty and Affordability PressuresOverall housing starts decreased 2.8% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.47 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Who Drives Remodeling Spending?Residential remodeling is an important and growing sector of the housing market, particularly as elevated mortgage rates and limited housing inventory encourage many homeowners to improve their existing homes rather than move.
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Builder Sentiment Posts Gain in May but Significant Affordability Challenges PersistBuilder confidence posted a modest gain in May even as buyers grapple with rising mortgage rates and economic uncertainty while builders continue to contend with elevated land, labor and construction costs.