search
home builders
Trends
- 1US Housing Faces Shortage of 300,000 Skilled Trades Workers▼Skilled Trades Shortage Hits Housing: 300,000 Unfilled Jobs - News and Statistics
The housing sector is short an estimated 300,000 skilled trades workers, a gap that is delaying construction and adding to costs. Builders report persistent difficulty filling electrician, plumber and carpenter roles, which limits how fast new homes can come to market. Industry analysts say the shortage is a key constraint on easing housing supply problems.
- 2Home Builders Group Slams Immigration Enforcement Over Labor Shortages●NAHB Criticizes Immigration Enforcement Due to Affect on Housing Construction
The National Association of Home Builders has publicly criticized US immigration enforcement, arguing that deportations and tighter controls are depriving the housing construction industry of needed workers. The group says losing immigrant labor threatens homebuilding output and worsens the housing supply shortage, adding the industry's voice to ongoing debates over enforcement policy.
- 3US Starter Home Market Down 300,000 Homes Since 2019▼The Starter Home Market Is Down 300,000 Homes From 2019
The supply of entry-level starter homes in the United States has fallen by roughly 300,000 units compared with 2019. Analysts point to rising construction costs, high mortgage rates and builders favouring larger, higher-margin properties. The shortage is making it harder for first-time buyers to enter the market, fueling debate about housing affordability.
- 4Immigration crackdowns reshape the US construction workforce▼How immigration crackdowns are affecting the building landscape
Immigration enforcement is tightening labor supply in the building industry, where foreign-born workers make up a large share of trades like roofing, drywall and carpentry. Dealers, contractors and builders report project delays, rising labor costs and slower home construction as workers stay off job sites, prompting calls for policy changes and workforce development.
- 5Austin residential permits slide as construction costs spike▼Austin’s residential permitting figures slide further amidst spiking construction costs
Austin's residential permitting numbers have fallen further, a new report shows, with builders pulling back as construction costs climb. The decline adds to concerns about the city's housing supply, since fewer permits today point to fewer homes coming to market in the years ahead. Industry watchers are tying the slowdown to rising material and labor expenses squeezing development margins.
- 6New Colorado Neighborhood Showcases Future of Home Energy Use●New Colorado Neighborhood Could Offer Glimpse into the Future of Home Energy Use
A new residential development in Colorado is being presented as a preview of how American homes may produce and consume energy in the future, according to reporting by Inside Climate News. The neighborhood is drawing attention for its approach to home energy use, a topic of growing interest as utilities, builders and policymakers weigh how residential communities can cut emissions and adapt to a changing grid.
- 7Maker unveils quadruped robot built for rough terrain●Introduction The quadruped robot, dogsbod , represents a culmination of meticulous design, construction, and programming
A hobbyist robotics project called dogsbod has been presented online: a homemade quadruped robot designed, built and programmed from scratch to walk across complex terrain. The writeup describes the design and construction process and cites the builder's long-standing fascination with four-legged robots as the motivation for the build.
- 8Home builders and environmental groups clash over Supreme Court natural gas ruling▼Home builders, environmental groups react to Supreme Court's ruling on natural gas initiative
Home builders and environmental groups are responding to a Supreme Court ruling on a natural gas initiative. The two sides have taken sharply different positions, with builders generally backing expanded natural gas access in new construction while environmental groups oppose it on climate grounds. The decision is expected to influence how states and cities regulate gas hookups in residential building.
- 9Where homebuilder discounts are biggest and who is still buying●Where builder discounts are biggest and who is still buying
New housing market analysis identifies the US regions where homebuilders are offering their steepest discounts on new homes, and profiles the buyers still active despite high mortgage rates. Coverage highlights that elevated rates and rising inventories have pushed builders to cut prices or offer incentives, while demand persists mainly among targeted buyer groups.
- 10KB Home says housing market weakened since June▼KB Home: The housing market has weakened since June—and Texas resale sellers 'capitulate a little bit more'
KB Home executives said the US housing market has weakened since June, with the softening most visible in Texas, where resale home sellers are 'capitulating a little bit more' by cutting prices to close deals. The builder's comments point to growing seller concessions in previously hot Sun Belt markets as elevated mortgage rates and slower demand weigh on home sales.
- 11Skilled Labor Shortage Adds $2,500 to Cost of New Homes, Homebuilding Leader Says▼VIDEO: Homebuilding Leader Says Skilled Labor Shortage Adds $2,500 to Cost of New Homes
A homebuilding industry leader says the ongoing shortage of skilled construction workers is adding roughly $2,500 to the cost of every new home built in the United States. The comments highlight how labor shortages, alongside high material costs and interest rates, continue to pressure housing affordability and slow construction of badly needed new housing supply.
- 12
A family from Devon has appeared on the BBC's DIY SOS programme after the sudden death of the father. The show's team of builders and volunteers carried out work to support the family following the loss. Viewers are responding to the emotional story of how the community and the programme came together to help the family rebuild their home and lives.
- 13New construction now cheaper than existing homes in overbuilt markets▼Homebuyers can find new construction cheaper than existing homes in some overbuilt markets
In some US housing markets with an oversupply of newly built homes, buyers can find new construction priced below comparable existing homes. Reports note builders are cutting prices and offering incentives to move inventory, flipping the usual premium that new builds carry over older homes. The trend highlights uneven conditions across the national housing market, where affordability pressures persist even as supply gluts emerge in certain areas.
- 14JBR-001: open-source 3D-printable desktop robot launched●JBR-001 – An open-source 3D printable desktop robot https:// projecthub.arduino.cc/syntheti caidata/jbr-001-a-desktop-co
A new open-source project called JBR-001 offers a fully 3D-printable desktop companion robot powered by an Arduino Uno Q. The design and build instructions are published on Arduino's Project Hub, letting anyone download, print and assemble the robot themselves. Makers and hobbyists are sharing the project, praising its accessibility and the growing range of open-source robotics hardware available to home builders.
- 15Homebuilders warn of US housing slowdown as mortgage rates top 7%▼Homebuilders Sound Alarm on US Housing Slowdown as Mortgage Rates Top 7% — KBH, LEN Warn Conditions Have
Major US homebuilders, including KB Home and Lennar, are warning that housing market conditions are deteriorating as 30-year mortgage rates climb above 7%. The builders say elevated borrowing costs are cooling buyer demand and squeezing sales, raising concerns about a broader slowdown in residential construction and home sales across the United States.
- 16Homebuilders Point to Data Centers and Tariffs as Housing Costs Climb▼Housing Costs Keep Rising: Lennar Points to Data Center Labor Demand While KB Home Flags Fuel, Tariff and
US homebuilders Lennar and KB Home say housing costs keep rising, but they blame different pressures. Lennar points to competition for construction labor from booming data center projects, while KB Home flags higher fuel costs, tariffs and other input expenses. The comments highlight how factors beyond traditional housing demand are pushing up build costs and, ultimately, home prices for buyers.
- 17Homebuilder launches sales at luxury Bellevue development▼Homebuilder starts sales for luxury development in Bellevue
A homebuilder has begun sales at a new luxury residential development in Bellevue, Washington. The project targets the high end of one of the Seattle area's most competitive housing markets. Further details about the builder, the site, and pricing were not immediately available.
- 18Signature Homes bets on 100-day builds to win smaller markets▼Signature Homes thinks 100-day builds can win in a smaller market
Homebuilder Signature Homes says its 100-day construction model can give it an edge in smaller housing markets, where speed and efficiency matter more than scale. The company argues that faster builds reduce costs and help it compete against larger national builders. The approach is drawing attention as builders look for ways to operate profitably outside major metro areas.
- 19Madison-area Parade of Homes opens 15 new houses to visitors▼Tour 15 new homes during the Madison-area Parade of Homes
The Madison-area Parade of Homes is inviting the public to tour 15 newly built homes across the region. The annual event, covered by the Wisconsin State Journal, gives buyers and design enthusiasts a look at the latest in local home construction, architecture and interior trends, with builders showcasing their newest work.
- 20New homes cheaper than resales across many US markets▼New homes still cost less than resales in many U.S. markets
Builders in many U.S. markets are pricing new homes below comparable resale properties, according to HousingWire. The reversal reflects incentives, rate buydowns and completed inventory that builders are pushing to move, while existing homeowners remain reluctant to sell. Buyers shopping for a home may find better value and fresh construction on the new-build side than in the resale market in much of the country.
- 21Economists warn of a sustained high interest rate era▼Economists think we are entering a period of sustained high interest rates. High interest rates increase the cost of bor
Economists increasingly believe the world economy is entering a period of persistently high interest rates, reversing the era of cheap borrowing that followed the 2008 financial crisis. Higher rates raise the cost of mortgages and loans, cutting home buyers' purchasing power. Debate is focused on how buyers, renters, and builders will adjust, and what sustained expensive credit means for housing markets and policy.
- 22Housing Stocks Face More Downside as Interest Rates Soar▼Housing Stocks: More Downside Likely As Interest Rates Soar (NYSEARCA:XHB)
Analysts warn that homebuilder and housing-related stocks are likely to fall further as interest rates climb sharply. Higher borrowing costs raise mortgage rates and cool demand for new homes, squeezing builders' margins and sales. The commentary points to continued pressure on housing sector ETFs and related equities until rate expectations ease.
- 23Homebuilders group breaks with Trump over ICE detentions halting projects▼NAHB breaks with Trump as ICE detentions cancel home builds
The National Association of Home Builders has publicly broken with the Trump administration, saying ICE detentions of construction workers are forcing builders to cancel or delay residential projects. The industry group argues that aggressive immigration enforcement is worsening labor shortages and undermining housing supply, putting it at odds with a president it has traditionally supported.
- 24NAHB Launches Weekly Safety Tip Video Series●NAHB Launches Social Media Video Series: Safety Tip of the Week
The National Association of Home Builders has launched a social media video series called Safety Tip of the Week, aimed at sharing practical safety guidance with builders and contractors. Details about the specific topics covered or the response from the industry have not yet been made clear.