Single-family construction lending strengthened in the third quarter, even as the broader real estate lending environment continued to cool. Loans for 1–4 family construction rose to $91.2 billion, the first annual increase in more than two years, showing a small but meaningful uptick in residential building activity. Overall AD&C lending, however, continued its decline for the seventh consecutive quarter, dropping to $463 billion, driven mostly by reduced lending for other types of real estate development. Despite the modest improvement in single-family construction loans, lending levels remain far below historical highs…
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Framing Lumber Price Declines
Framing lumber reaches its lowest level in more than a year. The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) recent study on material costs give insight of the behaviors within the U.S. framing lumber market. Summary of the week-to-week lumber prices and plywood prices for the week ending on Sept. 19, 2025: The framing lumber composite price was down 1.6%(-6.5% YoY). The price of lumber futures was up 4.6% (+11.5% YoY). The lumber futures price is down 5.4% from a month ago. The structural panel composite price was down 0.9% compared to…
Read MoreNAHB Residential Remodelers Profile
In the 2024 NAHB Member Census, 21% of members reported residential remodeling as their primary source of building business. This is the second most popular primary activity for NAHB builders, behind single-family home building with 63%. Member Profile Members with a remodeling business often are smaller, employing an average of 5 people full time. This number does not include subcontractors. 89% of residential contractors reported to be male while a growing number of 11% are female. The median age is 59. 51% reported gaining an advanced degree and 26% have…
Read MoreHow Remodelers Can Capitalize On The State of The Housing Market
Now is the perfect time for remodelers to market themselves. With the market for newly built single family homes soft, many homeowners are looking to revamp their current homes or invest in older homes. Leo Lantz of Leo Lantz Construction, Inc talked to NAHB about essentials for remodelers to succeed in this moment. Lantz advised remodelers to ensure consistent client communication, superb craftsmanship, and having a paper trail of all receipts, contracts and permits Read More
Read MoreMaine HBA Brings Real-World Training to State’s Future Builders
The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Maine has teamed up with Sanford Regional Technical Center to give high school students hands-on training in building homes so they can jumpstart careers in the skilled trades. Now in its seventh year, the program has completed five homes, with multiple others underway, and uses materials donated by industry partners while funding future builds through home sales. Students also receive significant support upon graduation, with over $40,000 awarded in scholarships and tools last year to help launch them into the workforce. Read More
Read MoreFraming Lumber Prices
Lumber prices continued their decline for the 11th straight week, with the framing lumber composite price falling to $424 per 1,000 board feet—the lowest since October 2024. Although prices are down 4.1% over the past month, they remain 13.1% higher year-over-year. U.S. lumber availability also hit a low not seen since 2019, as both domestic production and imports, especially from Canada, decreased in the first quarter of 2025. Read More
Read MoreApril Private Residential Construction Spending Dips
Private residential construction spending declined for the third month in a row in April, driven by drops in single-family construction and home improvement projects. Compared to a year earlier, total residential spending was down 4.8%, with single-family spending falling 1.1% in April—ending a seven-month growth streak—and multifamily spending down 11.3% year-over-year. Elevated mortgage rates, material tariff concerns, and broader economic uncertainty continue to weigh heavily on the housing sector. Read More
Read MoreAging-in-Place Remodeling Work Fell
In the first quarter of 2025, only 56% of professional remodelers reported undertaking projects designed to allow homeowners to age in place (AIP), which marked the lowest percentage since the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) began tracking this data in 2004. This decline is due to economic uncertainties, high interest rates, and stock market volatility, which have dampened consumer spending and investment in home modifications. However, awareness of AIP concepts remains high, 98% of remodelers noting that most or some of their clients are familiar with AIP. According to…
Read MoreBuilding Material Price Growth Minimal in April
In April 2025, building material prices for new residential construction experienced minimal growth, offering a measure of relief to the housing industry. According to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for inputs to residential construction—excluding capital investment, labor, and imports—fell by 0.4% in April, following a revised increase of 0.8% in March. Year-over-year, the index grew by 0.6%, indicating a modest rise in construction input costs. Breaking down the components, the goods segment, which accounts for approximately 60% of the total…
Read MoreWhat Are the Highest Paying Jobs in Construction?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) publishes data on approximately 400 occupations in the construction industry. At the top of the list of the highest-paying occupations in construction are managers. In the construction trades, elevator installers and repairers earn over $100,000 annually, followed by first-line supervisors of construction trades, who make over $80,000. According to NAHB, “In 2024, the highest paid occupation in construction is lawyers with wages of $180,520 per year, and the top 25% making over $238,720. Traditionally, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) occupy…
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