Newsletter Stories

• Mortgage applications decline in August
  Mortgage application activity continued to decline in August, as shown in the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume. The MBA declined 3.2% month-over-month in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, marking the sixth consecutive monthly decline. Compared to a year ago, total mortgage applications declined 9.1%. Applications […]
• A tale of two cities and their housing markets
  According to a new analysis from Redfin, San Francisco and Seattle are two of the nation’s leading technology hubs. However, the cities are currently at opposite ends of the housing market. San Francisco’s housing market continues to boom, while Seattle’s is beginning to cool. San Francisco’s median home-sale price jumped 6% year over year in […]
• Trumark Homes expands presence in Washington
  Trumark Homes announced its first land acquisition in Poulsbo, Washington, for Sandstone Ridge, a new 87-home community. This comes after the company acquired Washington-based homebuilder JK Monarch in March. Trumark Homes also announced its plans to transition ten active communities from JK Monarch’s name under the Trumark Homes brand.  This Washington Division joined the existing […]
• Select markets see stronger housing growth
  According to the September 2026 U.S. Home Price Insights report from Cotality, national home price growth remained modest, rising 1.4% year over year. Mortgage rates continue to impact the housing market, as July experienced a cooldown. However, as Cotality’s Chief Economist Dr. Selma Hepp points out, beneath the headline numbers, momentum is shifting meaningfully. Select […]
• AI & The Trades
  Why skilled labor still matters  Now more than ever, it is essential for school counselors, educators and administrators to actively champion the skilled trades as a valued, rewarding and viable career option for the next generation. By introducing students to the wealth of opportunities in these fields, we can close the skilled labor gap, strengthen […]
• Mortgage rates reflect buyers adapting to market conditions
  Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey on Sept. 3, 2026, revealing that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.71%. The FRM remains stable, reflecting homebuyers’ adaptation to current market conditions. “The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.71% this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Purchase demand has remained relatively […]
• Building in Malibu’s Coastal Bluffs
  A collaborative effort to exceed environmental and architectural standards Tucked away in the coastal bluffs of Malibu, Calif., sits Paradise Cove, the embodiment of strategic architecture and oceanfront luxury. Built by Scott Halley & Associates and designed by Studio Bracket, the project was designed to exist harmoniously with the environment.  The 9,392-square-foot, two-story custom home […]
• Why you shouldn’t miss our upcoming webinar
  In today’s shifting housing market, builders, architects and design-build firms face a shared strategic challenge: expanding project margins and revenue without overextending operational capacity. The solution increasingly lies in targeted, high-margin residential interventions—most notably specialized bathroom design and remodeling. Driven by surging demand for universal design, barrier-free living and aging-in-place functionality, bath renovations offer fast […]
• Report from the show floor: BIS 2026
  Builder Media is a proud sponsor of the Building Industry Show (BIS) 2026. Presented by the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC) at Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California, this show brings together the homebuilding industry for unparalleled networking opportunities, featuring renowned keynote speakers, fostering invaluable connections and much more. We […]
• B&D Interview: Scott Ilizaliturri, President, Promontory HOMES
  In the September issue of Builder and Developer, Ilizaliturri discusses what sets Promontory HOMES apart Builder and Developer: Tell us the story behind founding Promontory Homes:  Scott Ilizaliturri: Promontory HOMES’ roots run back to the earliest days of Promontory. It was the original construction arm of Promontory’s developer, referred to as the Cabins. Promontory’s Cabin […]