Podcast: NAHB Puts Residential Construction Front and Center on the Hill
On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez are joined by NAHB member David Price, a remodeler from Greenville, N.C., to talk about his experience at NAHB’s Legislative Conference and his perspective on the current housing market.
Housing has been a priority in Congress of late, which NAHB members were eager to discuss.
“Nowadays, we really have a couple of the hot-button issues,” Price noted. “We have affordable housing, obviously, and we have workforce development. And both of those are kind of buzzing right now. So when you can talk about those, we got quite a bit of reception from [members of Congress] — and from both sides of the aisle.”
NAHB’s Spring Leadership Meeting offered a number of opportunities for NAHB members to interact with their members of Congress and key administration officials on not just housing affordability and workforce development, but immigration, small business advocacy and environmental issues as well.
NAHB Spotlights Increased Cost of Regulations
One of the key talking points NAHB members shared with policymakers was NAHB’s latest cost of regulation study. Based on the latest analysis, regulatory costs jumped 40% in the last five years, adding $131,734, or nearly 27%, to the cost of a new single-family home.
“That’s a 3 [percentage point] increase in two to three years since we came up here, and we’re having the same conversations,” Price noted. “And yet we’re going the wrong direction. Something’s going to have to give.”
How Housing Policy Impacts Remodeling
As a remodeler, Price is able to shine some unique light on how regulations not only impact the construction of new homes, but updates to existing homes as well. For example, municipalities may enact a unified development ordinance (UDO) intended for small developments, but it could also trickle down to include future additions or other housing updates, Price noted.
“That’s a great connection,” Tobin noted, highlighting the value of remodeling to the housing industry over the next 10 years. “We think so much of permitting and delays with new construction, but ... that’s a good a reminder that the issues are so similar and they are connected in so many different ways.”
How NAHB is Moving the Industry Forward
Tobin spotlights NAHB’s continued efforts to get the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act over the finish line, and the issues that NAHB will monitor moving forward, including the government’s funding efforts, midterm elections, and economic indicators for the housing market.
One indicator NAHB is using in its efforts is the Industry Pulse Check, part of NAHB’s Blueprint to 100 initiative. The Pulse Check is open through June 15, and offers industry professionals an opportunity to share their input on how NAHB can continue to be a resource.
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.