NAHB Now
- NAHB Applauds HUD and USDA Action to Roll Back Costly Energy MandateNAHB Chairman Bill Owens issued the following statement after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement today to rescind the rule that would impose the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1-2019 as the minimum energy-efficiency standards for certain single-family and multifamily housing programs.
- Shrinking Share of Tradesmen in the Construction WorkforceThe American construction labor force is continuing its momentum away from construction trades and towards management, business and technical roles, according to NAHB’s analysis of the latest 2024 data from the American Community Survey (ACS).
- U.S. Customs Announces First Phase to Apply for Tariff RefundsThe U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has launched a new landing page for “International Emergency Economic Powers (IEEPA) Duty Refunds,” rolling out a process for seeking recoupment of IEEPA tariffs. Only importers of record and authorized customs brokers can apply for tariff refunds, and many questions regarding refunds remain unanswered.
- Population Growth and Housing Supply Dynamics at the County LevelU.S. population growth slowed notably in the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, with the nation expanding by just 0.5% in 2025, roughly half the pace of the prior year.
- Housing’s ‘Silver Tsunami’ Is Coming, But It Won’t Hit Every MarketThe so-called “silver tsunami” describes the wave of millions of homes expected to hit the market as older Americans increasingly decide to sell their properties. However, industry experts are noting that this “tsunami” isn’t landing where it’s needed most.
Upcoming Meetings & Events
New Members
Eye On Housing
- Homeownership Rate Edges Down to 65.3% The latest homeownership rate declined to 65.3% in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Census’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS). 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 is at a multidecade low. […]
- The Silver Tsunami Isn’t Landing Where It’s Needed MostThe “silver tsunami” refers to the wave of housing inventory expected as older homeowners downsize or transition out of their homes. According to the latest American Community Survey, there are an estimated 61.2 million people in the U.S. aged 65 years or older, representing about 18% of the population. This cohort, which includes the Boomer […]
- State-Level Employment Situation: February 2026February’s labor market data point to a notable pullback in employment, with job losses concentrated across a majority of states and only modest gains elsewhere. While January showed solid momentum, February’s decline reflects emerging softness in hiring conditions, alongside uneven performance across the country. In February, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 14 states compared to […]
- Population Growth and Housing Supply Dynamics at the County Level in 2025U.S. population growth slowed notably in the latest Vintage 2025 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, with the nation expanding by just 0.5% in 20251, roughly half the pace of the prior year. The deceleration was primarily driven by a sharp decline in net international migration (NIM), which dropped from 2.7 million to 1.3 […]
- Construction Workforce Shifts: Fewer Tradesmen, More White-Collar JobsThe long-running shift in the construction labor force away from construction trades and toward management, business, and technical roles is ongoing and gaining momentum, according to NAHB’s analysis of the latest 2024 data from the American Community Survey (ACS). Although total industry employment now slightly exceeds the levels reached during the 2005–2006 housing boom, the […]
