Podcast: Landmark Housing Legislation a Win for Housing and Home Buyers
On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez discuss the latest economic developments and advocacy updates, including passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by the House of Representatives.
Landmark Housing Package
Last week, the House Financial Services Committee cut a deal on the Senate version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act that addressed some components NAHB was not in favor of, particularly in the single-family built-for-rent housing segment.
“The work of NAHB to lead the housing coalition to continue to make changes resulted in a deal between [Chairman] French Hill, [Ranking Member] Maxine Waters and, more importantly, the White House and Speaker Johnson to further refine that House package and get it onto the House floor,” Tobin stated.
“It is now our hope that the Senate will take this up ‘as is’ and move it quickly to the president’s desk,” he added. “And really deliver a win for the American people, the home-buying population, the home-building public.”
This is a once-in-a-lifetime housing package that represents true bipartisan efforts, which signifies its durability, and a full-court press by the entire NAHB advocacy team.
Economic Updates
The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) went up 3 points to 37 earlier this week. But rates continue to increase, which indicates the HMI numbers are likely to remain in the 30s. NAHB Chief Economist Rob Dietz, who provided insights on the last podcast episode, is forecasting a softer 2026 than initially thought.
“There’s still so much uncertainty out there, and people are just seeing what we’re seeing in terms of the rates,” Lopez noted. “And prices on lumber and everything else in terms of building materials keep going up.”
Get Involved – Spring Leadership Meeting and Industry Pulse Check
Tobin and Lopez spotlight key events and initiatives for NAHB:
- NAHB’s Spring Leadership Meeting will take place June 9-13, including the Legislative Conference on June 10.
- The Industry Pulse Check, the first step in NAHB’s Blueprint to 100 initiative, only takes 10 minutes and provides members and non-members from all housing segments a chance to share their perspective and help guide NAHB's evolution.
Listen to the full episode of the podcast below and subscribe to Housing Developments through your favorite podcast provider, or watch all the episodes on YouTube.