New research from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 2025 Member Census shows that residential remodeling accounts for an estimated 21% of NAHB builder members’ primary business. The report also notes that a majority of remodeling firms have a median of five employees and generate median annual revenue of $2.1 million. This is a 24% increase compared to 2024’s $1.7 million median annual revenue. “Almost a quarter of residential remodelers (23%) reported a dollar volume of less than $500,000 in 2025, 13% reported between $500,000 and $999,999, 52% (majority)…
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Construction labor turnover at lowest level since 2000
According to the August release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), construction jobs, especially in the housing market, declined month to month. Despite the slight decrease from 299,000 in July to 251,000 in August, the sector still remains stronger than a year ago. Quits in the sector remained stagnant at 2.2% while the layoff rate decreased to 1.3% in August. “The August JOLTS data indicate that both the demand for and supply of construction workers are decreasing,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.…
Read MoreDIY declines, more homeowners opt for the pros
Do-it-yourself (DIY) was widely marketed as an easier alternative to hiring a professional; however, that segment of improvement spending is on a steady decline. The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) reported that DIY spending made up about 26.9% of the market in 2003. That segment declined to about 15.9% in 2023. Looking at a more recent time frame, from 2021 to 2023, spending increased by 14% for professional projects, while DIY spending dropped 13%. Spending also declined for the most DIY ambitious age group: homeowners under 35. This JCHS…
Read MoreNAHB supported Housing Tariff Exclusion Act introduced in House
A new bill introduced in the House by Rep. Nanette Barragán, the Housing Tariff Exclusion Act (H.R. 10416), would create a tariff exemption process for building materials. With building material costs rising, tariffs further strain builder margins and ultimately lead to higher prices for buyers. “This bill would help relieve tariff-driven cost pressures on building materials, provide businesses with greater certainty and support broader efforts to improve housing affordability,” said NAHB Chairman Bill Owens. The Housing Tariff Exclusion Act would establish a Commerce Department process to request an exception and grant refunds…
Read MoreFed raises rates for the first time in 3 years
On Sept. 16, 2026, the Federal Reserve increased its benchmark interest rate target range by 25 basis points to 3.75%–4.00%. This bump is not a shock, as many economists predicted the Fed would increase rates to combat rising inflation. However, this is the first rate hike since July 26, 2023. The unanimous decision to raise rates is the first real movement in nearly a year, holding steady throughout 2026 after the last cut in December 2025. Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh described this decision in the post-decision press conference as a…
Read MoreWomen in working in construction reaches record high
According to the National Association of Home Builders, the share of women working in construction has risen to a 20-year high. Recent data puts women’s share of the workforce at 11.3%. From 2024 to 2025, an estimated 31,000 women joined the industry, adding to the 1.37 million total. NAHB reports that this is a wide comeback for women’s participation since the Great Recession. From 2007 to 2010, an estimated 300,000 women left the industry workforce. This increase is largely attributed to more white-collar positions in the industry, such as administrative…
Read MoreNARI introduces a new member benefit
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) introduced a new benefit for its members: the NARI SecureFuture 401(k) Plan. This plan allows NARI member businesses to support their employees without taking on the burden of administrative work. The association explained that this initiative reflects a shift in how it supports its members’ professionalism and business success. NARI cites that, as critical skilled labor is to the industry, this new offering would help member businesses attract and retain valuable staff. This is especially valuable as many NARI member businesses are…
Read MoreExisting home prices outpace new homes nationally
The headline may read, “Existing home prices outpace new homes nationally,” but the flip in recent years tells a different story regionally. Normally, new homes are more expensive than existing homes. However, since the pandemic, the housing market faced an unusual accumulation of headwinds: buyers who bought with prime low mortgage rates are not willing to give them up, supply chain pressures and tighter inventory. Now, new homebuilders are offering solutions such as building on smaller lots and incentives, among other solutions. Yet, this headline is only relevant to specific markets…
Read MoreAverage home build time falls to 8.8 months
New research from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction and analysis from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) show that the timeline from permit to completion of a new single-family home has decreased from the post-pandemic highs. Estimates in the most recent data from 2025 report that it now takes about 8.8 months on average from start to completion. While this is higher than the 2015 estimate of 7.2 months, the downward trend from the 2023 high of 10.1 months exhibits signs of cooling in supply chain holdups. The…
Read MoreGE Appliances announces $1 billion investment in the largest appliance manufacturing site in U.S.
GE Appliances recently announced a major investment in manufacturing in the U.S. A $1 billion transformation is coming to Appliance Park in Louisville, Kentucky. The company says the investment will bring an estimated 4,700 production jobs to the facility. Targeting Buildings 1, 2 and 5 in Appliance Park, GE plans to expand the capabilities of production. With this investment, GE’s Appliance Park will become America’s largest home appliance manufacturing site. The company reported it will continue to produce millions of refrigerators at its Decatur, Alabama plant and in Selmer, Tennessee. “We’re…
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