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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Mortgage Rates Climb as Inflation Rebounds and Yields RiseMortgage rates continued to increase in April as ceasefire negotiations remain inconclusive. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.34% in April, 16 basis points (bps) higher than March. The average 15-year rate also increased by 13 bps to 5.69%. Despite the recent increase, both rates remain lower than a year ago by 39 bps and 21 bps, respectively.
Economics
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Student Housing Construction Investment Holds Steady in the First Quarter of 2026Private fixed investment in student dormitories edged up 0.1% in the first quarter of 2026, holding at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $3.9 billion. This modest gain marked a third consecutive quarterly increase, despite continued pressures from elevated interest rates. However, on a year-over-year basis, investments in dorms remained almost unchanged.
Economics
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