Podcast: NAHB Legal Expert Sheds Light on Next Steps for WOTUS
In the latest episode of NAHB’s Housing Developments podcast, co-hosts CEO Jim Tobin and SVP of Communications Paul Lopez welcome VP of Legal Advocacy Tom Ward to help explain the implications of the recent Supreme Court decision that rescinded key parts of the Biden Administration’s “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule.
Ward provides insight into the new test to determine whether a wetland can be regulated under the Clean Water Act, after the Supreme Court rejected the previous significant nexus test. Learn more about the impact of the decision.
Listen to Housing Developments wherever you get your podcasts or watch a video of the full episode below.
Latest from NAHBNow
Multifamily
Jul 28, 2026
High-Density Building Completions Hold Highest Multifamily Market Share in 2025For the ninth consecutive year, most new multifamily units were in buildings with 50 or more units (labeled as high-density buildings) at 57%, the highest share since 2021.
Resiliency
Jul 27, 2026
Building A Resilient Home from the Ground Up With Climate Responsive DesignAs climate pressures intensify, builders are being asked to deliver homes that perform under more challenging conditions. The most effective place to start is at the site and planning level, where architects, engineers and builders work together.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jul 28, 2026
How a Home Purchase Boosts Consumer SpendingThe housing market has changed greatly since the COVID-19 pandemic, along with consumer spending behaviors. During this period, housing demand surged, home prices appreciated rapidly, inflation increased, supply-chain disruptions happened, and mortgage rates moved from historic lows to elevated levels.
Economics
Jul 28, 2026
Median Lot Value Stabilizes as Regional Trends DivergeFollowing a multi-year run of record highs, the national median lot value for single-family detached spec homes largely stabilized in 2025. According to NAHB’s analysis of the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), the U.S. median lot value for homes started in 2025 was $59,000, compared with $60,000 a year earlier.
Economics
Jul 27, 2026
Share of Apartments Built in Buildings with 50+ Units Moves Higher in 2025Following the highest number of multifamily completions in nearly 40 years in 2024, completions declined in 2025 to 484,000, according to NAHB analysis of the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction. For the ninth consecutive year, a majority of new multifamily units were in buildings with 50 or more units (labeled as high-density buildings) at 57%, the highest share since 2021.