Podcast: Uncertainty Reigns in Washington and For Housing
On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez delve into the immediate- and long-term impacts of the government shutdown on housing.
“It doesn’t lend to a lot of confidence in the consumer base that now the time to buy a house,” Tobin noted. “It adds more uncertainty, and it’s just kind of tough.”
Notable advocacy wins for NAHB are currently on hold, including access to lowered multifamily mortgage insurance premiums and updated tax regulations for small businesses stipulated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“There’s a lot of downstream effects to this,” Tobin observed. “The sooner we get past this nonsense, the better.”
Tobin and Lopez also speculate on this week’s election results, including the mayoral race in New York City, gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, and Prop. 50 in California, which involves redistricting — a topic that has received substantial press, but doesn’t necessarily have a significant impact on the day-to-day issues NAHB members face, Tobin noted.
“[Those issues are] what we’re working on day in and day out — whether it’s permitting reform, whether it’s Clean Water Act revisions that honor the Supreme Court, whether it’s dealing with HUD and FHA, whether it’s dealing with the potential of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac getting released and privatized,” he explained. “Really big issues that will affect this industry and our members for the next decade.”
These issues and more will be discussed at the upcoming Fall Leadership Meeting in Denver on Nov. 17-19.
NAHB is also prepping for the 2026 International Builders’ Show in Orlando. Register today to take advantage of the latest deals.
Listen to Housing Developments on any podcast provider or watch below for more. Check out the podcast archives on YouTube for past episodes.