NAHB Now
- Sept. 1 Deadline Looms for Code Changes on Outdoor Outlets, GFCIsOn Sept. 1, 2026, a temporary exception in the National Electrical Code (NEC) is scheduled to expire, which requires ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection for outdoor HVAC equipment.
- Chairman's Update: What the Industry Pulse Check Told Us About Our FederationIn his August update, 2026 NAHB Chairman Bill Owens spotlights the feedback received through NAHB’s Industry Pulse Check and next steps on the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act implementation.
- New NHE-Funded Tool Maps Training Opportunities NationwideConstructionSkillsMap.org, a new nationwide tool funded by the National Housing Endowment, makes it easier to find skilled trades training opportunities in communities across the country.
- Achieving NGBS Green+ Certification to Stay Competitive in the MarketplaceThe newly released 2025 National Green Building Standard (NGBS) provides many options for building more sustainably. NGBS Green Certification provides independent, third-party verification for a home, building, or land development. For those who wish to provide even more value for their clients, NGBS Green+ certifications recognize NGBS Green homes that go “above and beyond” in […]
- Jobsite Safety Depends on Engaged Workers Using a Defined PlanA key duty of owners and managers of residential construction firms is to create an environment where everyone is empowered to honestly discuss jobsite safety.
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Eye On Housing
- Building Material Prices Show Growth In JulyResidential building material prices, excluding energy, rose 0.4% in July and were up 5.0% from a year ago. Energy prices fell again in July but remained significantly higher than a year ago. Meanwhile, prices for services were down 0.3% over the month but were 6.2% higher than a year ago. The Producer Price Index for […]
- Homeownership Rate Edges Down to 65%The latest homeownership rate declined to 65% in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Census’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS). The homeownership rate was unchanged from a year ago, and not statistically different than the rate in the first quarter of the year (65.3%). While this was a modest quarterly decrease, the broader picture continues to reflect significant affordability challenges. With mortgage interest rates remaining elevated, and housing supply still tight, housing affordability […]
- Inflation Eased Slightly in JulyLed by declines in gasoline and diesel prices, inflation eased for the second consecutive month after reaching a three-year high in May. As energy prices moderated, shelter resumed its role as the largest driver of headline inflation, accounting for one-third of the annual increase and over two-thirds of the monthly increase. Though easing inflation and […]
- Mortgage Applications Fall Across Loan Types in JulyMortgage application activity slowed in July amid continuation of the war in Iran. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, declined 6.6% month-over-month in July on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared to a year ago, total mortgage applications declined 1.5%, the first year-over-year decline in two years. […]
- Existing Home Sales Fall in JulyExisting home sales continued to slow in July as record-high home prices and elevated mortgage rates weighed on buyers. Mortgage rates resumed an upward trend after the ceasefire ended in early July. Heightened geopolitical uncertainty and an increasingly hawkish stance from the Fed pushed rates to nearly 6.7% last week, the highest level since July […]
