NAHB Podcast: Jim Tobin Celebrates One Year as CEO
On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, Jim Tobin reflects on his first year as CEO with COO Paul Lopez while on the road — this week, in Idaho, along with NAHB Chairman Carl Harris, NAHB Chief Economist Dr. Robert Dietz and NAHB Chief Lobbyist Lake Coulson.
“It’s been quite a ride,” Tobin shared. “It’s been interesting because I’m not a newbie to NAHB — I’ve been here for over 20 years — but in the new role, it’s been really fun. It’s been intensely gratifying for me to travel around the country and start moving the association forward.”
Bright spots have included the strategic plan and setting the direction for the Federation, and the renewed energy among the membership and NAHB staff following some of the pivotal changes from this past year. Membership and implement of the strategic plan will be continued focuses going forward, as well as advocacy efforts during an election year.
“Just these next few months politically and what we deal with at the national level from a policy and legislative perspective are really going to be important and really set us up or set us back for the next few years,” Tobin stated.
Listen the full episode below and subscribe to Housing Development through your favorite podcast provider or watch all the episodes on YouTube.
Latest from NAHBNow
President Trump on Oct. 22 signed an executive order to lower single-family and mortgage costs, and the Treasury Department released new institutional investor rules.
NAHB Chairman Bill Owens issued the following statement today regarding President Trump’s housing executive order.
Latest Economic News
The share of new homes with decks inched upward, from an all-time low of 17.4% in 2024 to 17.8% in 2025, according to NAHB tabulation of data from the HUD/Census Bureau Survey of Construction (SOC).
State-level employment data for September continued to show a mixed labor market, with job gains and losses split across the county. Although national nonfarm payroll employment increased modestly, year-over-year job growth varied considerably across states
Diversifying the construction labor force remains a key priority amid persistent skilled labor shortages. According to NAHB analysis of the 2024 American Community Survey, non-Hispanic White workers account for the majority of the construction industry at 55.8%. Hispanic workers now represent nearly one-third of the labor force at 32.8%, followed by non-Hispanic Black workers at 5% and non-Hispanic Asian workers at 1.8 %.