Podcast: Trump Kicks Off Second Term With Focus on Housing
On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez discuss President Donald Trump’s initial days in office as he kicked off his second term with a focus on housing.
On his first day in office, Trump sent out an executive order that stated the need to fix housing — and housing affordability specifically — and directed all agencies and departments to look at policies that were impeding the construction of new homes and apartments. NAHB had already met with his transition team prior to his inauguration to discuss NAHB’s policy priorities and how the administration could help solve these issues.
“Housing and housing construction has been at the forefront of the president’s economic pitch, so he’s fulfilling his promises to elevate this issue,” Tobin stated.
NAHB looks forward to engaging the administration to move housing forward and getting housing affordability to the level it needs to be.
Tobin and Lopez also discuss legislation coming down the pike, including the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, cabinet appointments, and the future of conservatorship for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
Following Housing Developments is another special episode of Builders’ Show Insider. Denise Miller, VP of Marketing and Brand Management, and Sarah Weber, senior director of workforce development and student chapters, highlight the Student Competition taking place at the International Builders’ Show. The competition — now in its 34th year — is designed to expose students, ranging from high school to graduate programs, to an in-depth residential construction project from concept to closing.
Listen to the full episode of the podcast below, and subscribe to Housing Development through your favorite podcast provider or watch all the episodes on YouTube.
Latest from NAHBNow
May 06, 2026
Mortgage Rates, Inflation and Yields All Rise in AprilMortgage rates continued to increase in April as ceasefire negotiations remain inconclusive. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.34% in April, 16 basis points (bps) higher than March.
May 05, 2026
Philadelphia BIA Member Shifts How Local Community Views the TradesFor Jordan Parisse-Ferrarini, a member of the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia, a career that began with his family’s small business and tools from a pawn shop has flourished into multiple companies, numerous advisory roles and a passion for developing the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
Latest Economic News
May 04, 2026
Mortgage Rates Climb as Inflation Rebounds and Yields RiseMortgage rates continued to increase in April as ceasefire negotiations remain inconclusive. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.34% in April, 16 basis points (bps) higher than March. The average 15-year rate also increased by 13 bps to 5.69%. Despite the recent increase, both rates remain lower than a year ago by 39 bps and 21 bps, respectively.
May 01, 2026
Student Housing Construction Investment Holds Steady in the First Quarter of 2026Private fixed investment in student dormitories edged up 0.1% in the first quarter of 2026, holding at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $3.9 billion. This modest gain marked a third consecutive quarterly increase, despite continued pressures from elevated interest rates. However, on a year-over-year basis, investments in dorms remained almost unchanged.
Apr 30, 2026
Housing’s Share of GDP Dips Below 16% for First Time Since 2019Housing’s share of the economy was 15.9% in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest estimates of GDP produced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This share is down from 16.0% in the fourth quarter and is lower than 16.5% registered just one year ago.