Podcast: Member Activation on Important Building Code Legislation
In the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and SVP Paul Lopez discuss an important bipartisan bill up for a vote in Congress that would give home builders and local governments flexibility in rebuilding after natural disasters. NAHB is encouraging members to contact their representatives and urge them to vote for the bill.
Jim and Paul also discuss the broader economy and the increasing likelihood of the Federal Reserve getting its “soft landing.” And on the heels of the winter Board of Directors meeting, the two talk about some recent changes at NAHB under a new strategic plan and organizational restructuring.
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Latest from NAHBNow
Sales of newly built single-family homes declined 10.5% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 607,000, following a sharply upwardly revised June estimate, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The pace of new home sales was 6.3% lower than a year earlier.
The escalating U.S.-Canada trade dispute is a setback for residential construction. Talks between the two countries collapsed last Friday, and President Trump proceeded with his threat to impose 50% tariffs on about $20 billion in Canadian goods.
Latest Economic News
Elevated borrowing costs, rising inflation and broad economic uncertainty continue to curb buyer demand and hold back new home sales.
According to NAHB analysis of quarterly Census data, the count of multifamily, for-rent housing starts increased year-over-year during the second quarter of 2026.
Material costs increased by 6.7% over the previous year, according to results from the survey for the July 2026 NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).