NAHB National Housing Update: October 2026

Here’s how the latest national housing developments may affect your business.

NAHB’s October update gives members timely talking points for conversations with policymakers, the media, civic leaders and consumers. Key developments include:

• Amid a severe labor shortage, NAHB members say increased immigration enforcement and jobsite raids are further straining the construction workforce. Uncertainty also remains over TPS for Salvadoran workers in the U.S.
• The NAHB-supported Housing Tariff Exclusion Act would automatically exempt many home building materials from current and future tariffs.
• A new EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) proposal would eliminate the "wet season" concept.
• A New York housing leader testified on behalf of NAHB about how energy mandates are driving up construction costs.
• Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution to extend the National Flood Insurance Program through Dec. 11.
• Facing persistent inflationary pressures, the Federal Reserve unanimously decided at its September policy meeting to raise the federal funds rate to a target range of 3.75% to 4%.
• Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes fell in September. In August, sales of newly built single-family homes increased and housing starts decreased.

Members can follow the supporting links for additional details and subscribe to the NAHBNow blog for future national housing updates.