Welcome to the Athens Area Home Builders Association
The Athens Area Home Builders Association is a non-profit professional trade association made up of member companies, representing residential and light commercial builders, subcontractors, suppliers, and many other service providers to the building industry throughout Athens-Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Stephens, and Walton Counties. Together we are the foundation for the local home-building industry - building pride in our community through interaction, commitment, professionalism, education, community service, and environmental responsibility.
NAHB Now
- Housing Starts Retreat on Market HeadwindsOverall housing starts decreased 12.4% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.24 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.
- HUD Releases New HOME and HTF Energy Standards Following NAHB WinFollowing key code victories secured by NAHB earlier this year, HUD has revised the energy standards that HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Participating Jurisdictions and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) grantees must meet for newly constructed housing.
- Affordability Pressures Keep Builder Confidence LowBuilder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes inched up one point to 35 in August, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today.
- Administration Acts on 3 Key NAHB Deregulatory PrioritiesTwo regulations will become effective under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on Aug. 20, and a third final rule rescinding the ESA’s 45-year-old “harm” regulatory definition becomes effective next month.
- Key Land-Use and Zoning Provisions in Landmark Housing LawThe newly enacted 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop voluntary federal guidelines for state and local zoning best practices. Although not mandatory, the guidelines will help shape how communities are evaluated for federal grants and give states a model for developing their own enabling legislation.
Upcoming Meetings & Events
New Members
Eye On Housing
- Housing Starts Retreat on Market HeadwindsHousing starts fell in July as economic uncertainty, rising construction costs, labor shortages and elevated financing expenses continued to challenge builders. Overall housing starts decreased 12.4% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.24 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. […]
- Cash Purchases of New Homes Fall to Lowest Share Since 2007New home sales rose in the second quarter but were lower than a year ago, according to the U.S. Census Bureau New Residential Sales release. The share of homes purchased with conventional financing remains high, while the share purchased with Federal Housing Administration (FHA) financing rose to its highest level since early 2021. The share […]
- Consumer Credit Slowed in Q2 In the second quarter of 2026, consumer credit growth slowed over the quarter and was lower than a year ago. According to the Federal Reserve’s G.19 Consumer Credit Report, total outstanding U.S. consumer credit reached $5.17 trillion in the second quarter of 2026. This marked a 2.60% increase at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) from the first quarter. Compared to a year ago, the total outstanding credit amount was 2.43% higher. Nonrevolving Credit Nonrevolving credit, which is primarily made up of student and auto […]
- Affordability Pressures Keep Builder Confidence LowBuilder sentiment remains muted from economic and geopolitical uncertainty, elevated mortgage rates and rising construction costs. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes inched up one point to 35 in August, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). August marked the 16th straight month that […]
- Single-Family Permitting Declines Through June in Contrast to MultifamilySingle-family permitting activity continued to weaken through the first half of 2026, while multifamily permitting remained somewhat stronger compared with the same period last year. Over the first six months of the year, the number of single-family permits issued nationwide reached 465,301. Compared with the same period in 2025, this represents a 4.2 percent decline […]
