NAHB Podcast: Successful Advocacy Efforts and the Latest Economic Data

On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez touch base on the success of NAHB’s Legislative Conference during the 2024 Spring Leadership Meeting and highlight recent data from NAHB’s Economics team.

More than 900 members trekked to Capitol Hill on June 12 to call on Congress to ease the chronic headwinds that are fanning the nation’s housing affordability crisis and impeding builders from boosting housing production. The energy of the event was felt throughout the week at the Spring Leadership Meeting as members networked and addressed key business for the Federation.

“The vibe was so amazing, and I think we had such a great turnout,” Lopez touted.

This optimism may be surprising, given some of the recent economics numbers — namely the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) reading amid continued high interest rates.

“I’m amazed at the resiliency — always have been — with our members, with interest rates hovering at 7%,” Tobin stated. “The market is slow, but they’re all busy.”

“There is optimism that once we get these rates moving in the right direction — and that’s down — that things will start picking up,” he added.

NAHB’s Economics team dives into the latest numbers, including Chief Economist Robert Dietz’s analysis of the current housing supply, on eyeonhousing.org.

Tobin is once again on the road — this time to visit the Charleston Home Builders Association with Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington, NAHB’s assistant vice president for forecasting and analysis. Prior to that, he was in Texas with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to participate in a roundtable of CEOs.

Listen the full episode below and subscribe to Housing Development through your favorite podcast provider or watch all the episodes on YouTube.