Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) with NAHB delegation during the NAHB Legislative Conference. photo: Herman Farrer

Record Number of Builders Carry Concerns to Capitol Hill

More than 1,350 builders from across the country arrived in the nation’s capital on May 10 to participate in NAHB’s annual Legislative Conference and to urge their members of Congress to maintain a national priority for housing and to increase housing opportunities for all Americans.

“A record number of builders trekked to Washington to call on their Capitol Hill lawmakers to enact policies that meet our nation’s ongoing housing needs,” said NAHB President David Pressly. “Be it tax policy, excessive regulations that harm housing affordability, property rights or other important issues that affect a builder’s business, the meetings provided a special opportunity for industry professionals to speak directly to their federal representatives and communicate the challenges that their businesses face every day.” ...

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The Race Is On for National Membership Day

National Membership Day — the federation-wide membership drive — is set for Tuesday, May 23. This year the theme is, "Driven to Be the Best," and NAHB members and state and local associations are preparing for this win/win event.

Having the drive helps local associations revitalize and grow their memberships. It can also help them to energize their members, create excitement, build momentum and even enter into a few friendly cross-state, cross-country or member-to-member rivalries.

Builders Face Higher Copper Costs, Drywall Shortages

With its price almost doubling since the start of the year, copper is the latest commodity causing headaches among builders who have seen record levels of construction activity, an abnormally destructive hurricane season and a changing global marketplace force up the costs of building materials faster than overall inflation, according to NAHB economist Michael Carliner.

There are about 440 pounds of copper in a new 2,100-square-foot, single-family home, according to the Copper Development Association — 200 pounds in wire and another 175 pounds in pipes and plumbing fixtures. Based on that estimate, Carliner calculated that increases in copper prices have boosted the price of a modest-sized home by more than $1,000 in the last three years, or $500 in just the last six months. ...