Newsletter Stories

• Phius awards spotlight the next generation of passive homes
  The 2026 Phius Passive Projects Design Competition is highlighting advancements in high-performance residential construction, recognizing projects that demonstrate energy efficiency, sustainability and climate resilience. This year’s honorees include the New Hope Passive House in Pennsylvania, a source-zero energy home in Michigan and a residence designed for a wildfire-prone region in Santa Rosa, California. The projects […]
• NKBA sees wellness and resilience reshaping kitchen design
  Wellness, sustainability and resilience are emerging as key priorities in residential kitchen design, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) 2027 Kitchen Trends Report. The findings point to growing interest in features that support healthier indoor environments, improved safety and greater household efficiency. Ventilation systems, water filtration, leak detection, automatic shutoff valves, backup […]
• Toll Brothers opens new luxury model in Alpharetta
  Toll Brothers is adding another point of visibility in metro Atlanta with a new model home at Kennemore in Alpharetta. The community targets the upper end of the market with estate-sized homesites and luxury residences beginning at approximately $1.15 million. For the builder, the model opening is part of a broader effort to keep its […]
• D.R. Horton marks 25 years as the nation’s largest homebuilder
  D.R. Horton closed fiscal 2026 with another major industry milestone: 25 consecutive years as the nation’s largest homebuilder by volume. The company closed 84,202 homes during the year and continues to operate across a broad mix of entry-level, move-up, active-adult and luxury segments. The scale of that platform is matched by continued market expansion. D.R. […]
• Dream Finders expands national reach as closings hit records
  Dream Finders Homes entered the final stretch of 2026 with record closing activity and a substantially larger national footprint. The builder reported record third-quarter closings of 1,967 homes and record year-to-date closings of 6,127, giving the company positive operating momentum despite a difficult housing environment. It’s acquisition of Beazer Homes adds another layer to that […]
• New appraisal standard gives high-performance homes more visibility
  A new residential appraisal standard from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could give builders a more consistent way to document the features that distinguish today’s higher-performance homes. NAHB says Uniform Appraisal Dataset 3.6, which took effect Nov. 2, represents one of the most significant changes to appraisal reporting in more than a decade. The revised […]
• NAHB sees opening for housing action after midterms
  The 2026 midterm elections reshaped Congress, but the National Association of Home Builders sees housing as one of the issues most likely to retain bipartisan attention. NAHB says affordability, housing supply, permitting, workforce development and the cost of building materials remain central concerns for lawmakers and voters alike. For builders, the important takeaway is less […]
• The Fine Homes Edition
  October 2026 The post The Fine Homes Edition appeared first on Builder and Developer Magazine.
• Fed holds benchmark rate
  On Oct. 28, 2026, the Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate target range at 3.75%–4.00%. In a 10-2 vote, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) maintained a restrictive policy stance. Inflation remains elevated above the Fed’s 2% target. The Fed signaled it will wait for additional economic data before making further rate adjustments, like […]
• Lennar eyes new mall-to-mixed-use redevelopment in Florida
  Lennar, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, is planning to purchase the Boynton Beach Mall. The mall is currently scheduled to close in early 2027 and sits on 91 acres in Boynton Beach, Fla. The builder intends to transform the space with townhomes and mixed-use opportunities. “Although planning is in the early stages and we […]