Podcast: NAHB’s Position on Banning Gas Appliances and Congress Gets Back to Work
In the latest episode of NAHB’s Housing Developments podcast, NAHB CEO Jim Tobin and SVP Paul Lopez explain NAHB’s position on recent efforts to regulate gas appliances out of the market. The two also discuss pressing legislative issues now that Congress is working again and wrap up a busy week in Washington with NAHB’s Spring Leadership Meeting, Legislative Conference and the Innovative Housing Showcase.
Listen to Housing Developments wherever you get your podcasts, or watch a video of the full episode below.
Editor’s note: Read updates on the REINS Act, gas stoves legislation and the Fed’s meeting this week.
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The latest homeownership rate reached 65.5% in the third quarter of 2026, according to the Census’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS). While this was a modest quarterly decrease, the broader picture continues to reflect significant affordability challenges.
The Federal Reserve maintained the federal funds rate at a target range of 3.75% to 4% at the conclusion of its October policy meeting. Approved by a 10–2 vote, the decision followed September’s quarter-point increase. Federal Open Market Committee members Lisa Cook and Beth Hammack dissented, supporting another 25-basis-point increase for October.
High mortgage rates and economic uncertainty continued to keep potential home buyers on the sidelines and constrain new home sales in September. New home sales declined from August and remained below year-ago levels, with year-to-date sales also lagging for 2025.