Welcome to the Athens Area Home Builders Association
The Athens Area Home Builders Association is a non-profit professional trade association made up of member companies, representing residential and light commercial builders, subcontractors, suppliers, and many other service providers to the building industry throughout Athens-Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Stephens, and Walton Counties. Together we are the foundation for the local home-building industry - building pride in our community through interaction, commitment, professionalism, education, community service, and environmental responsibility.
NAHB Now
- 2027 NAHB Awards Deadline ExtendedInterested applicants for NAHB’s prestigious award programs now have additional time to submit top projects and individuals for consideration.
- NAHB Members: Apply Now for 2027 Committees and Council BoardsMembers interested in serving the housing industry are encouraged to apply to one of NAHB’s committees or council board of trustees for the 2027 leadership year.
- Why Growth Breaks Builders Who Aren't Ready for ItFinancing should be a strategic growth tool, not a substitute for a sound business. The right capital, aligned with the right projects and deployed at the right time, helps builders move when opportunity arrives.
- House Bill Seeks Tariff Relief for Building MaterialsNAHB worked with Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) on legislation aimed at lowering housing costs by establishing a tariff exemption process for building materials. The Housing Tariff Exclusion Act (H.R. 10416) would automatically exempt many home building materials from President Trump’s current and future tariffs and give importers a process to seek exemptions for additional materials.
- ‘Elevated Uncertainty’ Prompts Fed to Hike RatesFacing 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%.
Upcoming Meetings & Events
New Members
Eye On Housing
- Wood Framing Continues to Dominate Single-Family ConstructionWood framing continues to dominate the U.S. single-family home construction market, according to NAHB analysis of 2025 Census Bureau data. In 2025, wood framing accounted for 94% of all completed single-family homes, maintaining its position as the leading construction method. Concrete-framed homes represented 5% of completions, while steel-framed homes remained relatively rare, comprising half a […]
- State-Level Employment Situation: August 2026State labor markets showed mixed results in August, with nonfarm payroll employment increasing in a majority of states. At the same time, construction employment posted a net gain nationally, although employment trends varied across states. The unemployment rate also remained relatively low in several states, while D.C. continued to record the nation’s highest rate. In […]
- Single-Family Starts Rebound but Market Challenges PersistSingle-family housing starts rebounded in August, but production remains down 4.7% year to date as builders contend with rising construction costs, lot and labor shortages, and economic uncertainty. Overall housing starts decreased 2.6% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.28 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing […]
- With Inflation Uptick, Fed Hikes and Signals More to ComeThe Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points at the conclusion of its September policy meeting, bringing the target range to 3.75% to 4%. The decision comes amid renewed inflation concerns and an increase in long-term interest rates. Notably, the decision was unanimous 12-0 vote, reflecting a unified view to tackle […]
- Builder Sentiment Falls on Higher Interest Rates and CostsHigher mortgage rates, worsening labor shortages and rising material costs are weighing on builder sentiment. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes fell three points to 32 in September, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. Buyer traffic has weakened across much of […]
