Newsletter Stories

• Prime land prices rise, outlying land readjusts
  Well-located land is in high demand, as seen in research from John Burns Research and Consulting (JBREC). The company’s 2Q26 Residential Land Survey of the top land brokers nationwide reported the following: Demand remains lower than it was a few years ago. In 2Q24, 76% of brokers rated land demand as Hot or On Fire, but […]
• 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 […]
• Mortgage rates hold steady
  Results from Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey revealed that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.66% on Aug. 27, 2026. This is the second time in August that mortgage rates have averaged 6.66%. Mortgage rates remain relatively unchanged throughout the month, holding steady. “Mortgage rates changed little this week, averaging 6.66%,” said Sam Khater, […]
• Berkshire Hathaway doubles down on housing market investment
  Berkshire Hathaway just raised its stake in the housing game, upping its stock in production builder Lennar to an estimated 30% or $1.157 billion. That’s not the only builder the firm bolstered its investment in. Berkshire Hathaway also purchased stakes in D.R. Horton, the nation’s largest homebuilder, valued at around $580,000. This all comes about […]
• Slump continues in July AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index
  The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently released the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index® (ABI) for July. The score is 46.6, a dip from June. Important to note, it reports on all architectural billings, not residential alone. Multifamily residential received a stronger score than overall at 48.4. AIA announced that the slump in billings is the […]
• Mattamy Homes announces new CEO
  Mattamy Homes, a family-owned homebuilder in North America that just surpassed 150,000 homes delivered, announced the retirement of its current CEO, Keith Bass. Bass has led the company since 2020 and will retire Sept. 1, 2026. Chris Lindhorst, the current Chief Operating Officer at Mattamy Homes, will succeed him as CEO. Lindhorst joined the company […]
• Pace of new home sales softens
  According to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau, newly built single-family home sales declined 10.5% in July to a seasonally adjusted rate of 607,000, following an upward estimate of new home sales in June. New home sales were 6.3% lower than a year earlier, […]
• Goodbye cool interiors, hello earthy tones
  Throughout 2026, we have seen interior design move away from cool interiors and clean lines and instead towards spaces that feel warmer and more personal. There has been a growing emphasis on natural materials, earthy tones and pieces that bring individuality into the home. Warm, earthy tones continue to influence interiors in 2026, bringing depth […]
• Home Building Outlook
  The near-term outlook for home building is difficult, even as the long-term supply story remains favorable. Single-family construction weakened in 2025, with starts falling 6.9% to 943,000 units and 2026 data points to another soft year for the industry. Through May, single-family starts were down 6.3% on a year-to-date basis. The three-month moving average of […]
• KBIS 2027 Calls for Presenters
  The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is now accepting speaker submissions for NEXTStage and the LUXURY Lounge at KBIS 2027. Additionally, the KBIS Podcast Studio is seeking hosts to record live on the show floor. KBIS 2027 will be at the Las Vegas Convention Center from Feb. 2- 4, 2027. Experienced professionals are encouraged […]