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

Podcast: What the Blue Wave May Mean for Housing
On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez are joined by Chief Advocacy Officer Ken Wingert to discuss the immediate aftermath of the midterm elections.
NAHB Leadership Academy Prepares Next Generation of Member Leaders
In just three years, the NAHB Leadership Academy has grown into one of NAHB’s most impactful leadership development programs. The academy is now preparing to welcome its fourth cohort in 2027. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 16, 2026.
NAHB Poised to Advance Housing Priorities After Midterms
NAHB Chief Advocacy Officer Ken Wingert provides an election analysis.
New Reporting System Advances NAHB's Push for Better Appraisals
A new appraisal standard introduced by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Nov. 2 advances NAHB’s longstanding effort to ensure appraisals fully reflect new construction.
NAHB Chief Economist Provides 2027 Outlook in Free December Webinar
NAHB Chief Economist Dr. Robert Dietz will be featured in a live webinar on Dec. 8, 2026, hosted by Pro Builder.

Upcoming Meetings & Events

New Members

Eye On Housing

Mortgage Applications Decline as Higher Rates Boost ARM Share
Mortgage application activity declined in October as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose sharply again. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, fell 14.1% month-over-month in October on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared to a year ago, total mortgage applications were 39.8% lower. Higher fixed mortgage rates […]
Laundry Room Locations in New Homes and Apartments, 2025
In 2025, the majority of homes started featured laundry connections on the first floor (70%), according to the Census’s Survey of Construction. Laundry located on the second floor or higher was the second most prevalent at 27%. The basement, garage, and other locations all had a 1% or lower share. In NAHB’s What Home Buyer’s […]
Mortgage Rates Climb in October Amid Accelerating Inflation
Mortgage rates rose sharply again in October as the U.S. treasury yields surged. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.33% in October, up 47 basis points (bps) from September. The rate reached 7.40% in early October, its highest level since 2023, before easing toward the end of the month. Since the conflict […]
Construction Job Openings Rise in September
The number of open positions in the construction sector increased in September per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down from three years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing. Nonetheless, strength in construction in subsectors like data center construction is […]
Private Residential Construction Slips as Remodeling Weakens
Private residential construction spending decreased in September 2026 driven by a steep decline in improvement (remodeling) spending. According to the latest construction spending data from the U.S. Census Bureau, private residential construction spending came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $848.8 billion in September, down 5.5% from the revised August estimates and […]