Skip to content

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.

RSS NAHB Now

  • The Hidden Jobsite Multiplier: How Installer-First Design Unlocks Efficiency
    Product innovation is largely driven by aesthetics and material costs, with the installer often being the last consideration. It's time for a paradigm shift. We must start evaluating products through an "installer-first" lens, prioritizing ease of installation on par with design and price.
  • 3 Ways to Utilize Construction Site Surroundings to Optimize Design
    Home design isn’t just about color swatches and backsplashes. Architecturally, building professionals can look toward climate responsive design and ambient design, which both involve using the elements around a home to the client’s advantage.
  • Remodeling Market Sentiment Improves in Third Quarter
    NAHB released its NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the third quarter, posting a reading of 60, up one point compared to the previous quarter. With the reading of 60, the RMI remains solidly in positive territory above 50, but lower than it had been at any time from 2021 through 2024.
  • 4 Lessons Learned from Women in the Building Industry
    The 2025 Building Women Magazine illustrates PWB Chair Carrie DeWeese's journey from lobbyist for the state of Oklahoma to becoming a top-leading real estate agent and respected leader in the home building community, and shares insights from additional leaders in the industry.
  • How Do Median Square-Foot Prices Differ by Region?
    Median square-foot prices for new single-family detached homes started in 2024 grew modestly, according to NAHB’s analysis of the latest Survey of Construction data. See how they differ by region.

Upcoming Meetings & Events

New Members

RSS Eye On Housing

  • Remodeling Market Sentiment Improves in Third Quarter
    In the third quarter of 2025, the NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 60, up one point compared to the previous quarter.  With the reading of 60, the RMI remains solidly in positive territory above 50, but lower than it had been at any time from 2021 through 2024. Overall, remodelers remain optimistic...
  • Refinancing Activity Surges in September
    Refinancing activity surged in September, marking the largest monthly increase since the COVID-era of ultra-low interest rates. This increase followed mortgage rates dropping below 6.5% for the first time since October 2024 in anticipation of rate cuts that ultimately materialized. ­­­ The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application...
  • Minority-Owned Residential Building Firms Continue to Rise
    The share of minority-owned new residential builders and remodelers has more than doubled since the Great Recession, with noticeable gains from 2017 to 2022.  Nevertheless, when compared to the overall U.S. population, minority-owned firms continue to be underrepresented within both housing sectors. New Residential Builders Based on data from the Annual Business Survey (ABS) from...
  • Shorter Apartment Construction Time in 2024
    The average time needed to complete construction of a multifamily building after obtaining authorization edged down in 2024, according to the 2024 Survey of Construction (SOC) from the Census Bureau. On average, it took 19.6 months from permit to completion, about 0.3 months shorter than in 2023. While construction timelines remain lengthy, this modest decline...
  • Supply-Side Cost Pressures Drove Housing as Inflation Leader in 2024
    Though the rate of inflation peaked in June 2022, consumer prices continued to increase throughout 2023 and 2024 as inflation drove further price growth, according to 2024 CPI review from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nonetheless, the rate of inflation slowed from 3.4% in 2023 to 2.9% in 2024. All major categories experienced price increases...