What is NAHB?

NAHB is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association whose mission is to enhance the climate for housing and the building industry. Chief among NAHB’s goals is providing and expanding opportunities for all consumers to have safe, decent and affordable housing.  As “the voice of America’s housing industry,” NAHB helps promote policies that will keep housing a national priority.

Founded in 1942, NAHB is a federation of more than 800 state and local associations. About one-third of NAHB’s more than 175,000 members are home builders and/or remodelers. The remaining members are associates working in closely related fields within the housing industry, such as mortgage finance and building products and services. 

The association is member-driven, with a professional staff of more than 300 in Washington. More than 2,800 members serve on the association’s board of directors, which elects the association’s Senior Officers and helps set the association’s agenda.

NAHB's various groups analyze policy issues, take the industry’s story to the public through the media and other outlets, monitor and work toward improving the housing finance system, and analyze and forecast economic and consumer trends. They also provide a wide range of services to members and Home Builder Associations. The association also represents the industry’s interests on Capitol Hill and strives to ensure that housing remains a national priority when laws are made and policies are established. NAHB also works with federal agencies on regulations affecting the housing industry in areas such as mortgage finance, codes, energy and the environment. 

NAHB’s builder members construct about 80 percent of the new homes built each year in the United States.           

NAHB’s Annual Convention and Exposition, known as the International Builders’ Show or IBS, is the largest show of its kind for the residential and light commercial construction industry. In 2011, the International Builders' Show will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

NAHB’s affiliates include the NAHB Research Center, which develops, tests and evaluates new materials, methods, standards and equipment to improve the technology and the affordability of America’s housing; and the Home Builders Institute, NAHB’s workforce development arm, which develops and administers a wide range of educational and job training programs.

Acquisition, Development & Construction (AD&C) Financing Issues

Many have expressed deep concerns to NAHB about how your businesses continue to suffer from a severe lack of credit, and we have received a number of resolutions on how to tackle the acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) credit crunch that continues to afflict our industry. Let me assure you that ending the freeze in home building credit that is threatening countless building firms across the nation and impeding the housing recovery is our single-most important priority. This endeavor requires a federation-wide effort in order for us to succeed and we encourage your active participation.  

While the credit spigot has run dry for home builders and developers, those with outstanding loans are also facing mounting challenges. Lenders are cutting off funding for performing outstanding loans, or calling them, producing unnecessary foreclosures and losses on AD&C loans.  

Since the credit crisis began, NAHB has been working non-stop to improve the availability of credit for home builders. Resolving this crisis is a monumental task that requires the participation of our entire federation and I want to thank everyone from around the country who is contributing to this just cause. Click here to continue . . .

Home Size Continues to Decline;

Buyers Increasingly Opt for Single-Story Homes

June 14, 2010 - The size of new single-family homes completed declined last year, dropping to a nationwide average of 2,438 square feet, according to detailed information about the characteristics of new homes completed in 2009 that was released recently by the Census Bureau.

After increasing continually for nearly three decades, the average size of single-family homes completed in the United States peaked at 2,521 square feet in 2007. It was essentially flat in 2008, then dropped in 2009, Click here to continue . . .