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
- NAHB Completes Fall Prevention Training Pilot Program at 20 HBAs Across U.S.NAHB, the Job-Site Safety Institute (JSI), and the National Housing Endowment (NHE) are proud to announce the successful completion of the Fall Prevention Training Pilot Program.
- U.S. House Price Appreciation Slows from Rapid Pandemic-era PaceHigher mortgage rates, persistent affordability challenges and softer demand weighed on price growth nationally. Local market conditions varied, with some states and metro areas seeing solid gains while others saw declining or flattening house prices.
- Highest Paid Occupations in Construction in 2025The median wage of payroll workers in construction was $61,370 in 2025, with the top 25% earning at least $83,480. In comparison, the U.S. median annual wage was $50,980, while the highest paid 25% earned at least $80,520.
- Top OSHA Violations of 2025; No Increase in Penalties for 2026In 2025, improper fall protection was once again the most-cited violation of OSHA jobsite rules. A failure to protect against falls also featured prominently in three other violations in the top 10.
- Public and Private Partnerships Jumpstart Hawai’i Workforce ProgramsSupported by government, community and private partners, the Building Industry Association of Hawai'i will soon lead its 10th workforce development training cohort to prepare individuals for careers in the local residential construction industry.
Upcoming Meetings & Events
New Members
Eye On Housing
- U.S. Labor Market Remains Resilient in MayDespite rising inflation and ongoing economic uncertainty, the U.S. labor market remained resilient in May. Nonfarm payrolls increased for the third consecutive month, and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%. Job gains were concentrated in leisure and hospitality, local government, and health care, while financial activities experienced a decline in payroll employment. Wage growth […]
- Mortgage Rates Increase Further as Inflation Remains ElevatedMortgage rates continued to increase in May as inflation accelerated. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.41% in May, up 7 basis points (bps) over April. Since the conflict in the Middle East began, the 30-year mortgage rate has increased by 36 basis points. The average 15-year rate averaged 5.76% in May, […]
- Highest Paid Occupations in Construction in 2025The median wage of payroll workers in construction was $61,370 in 2025, with the top 25% earning at least $83,480. In comparison, the U.S. median annual wage was $50,980, while workers in the top quartile (the highest paid 25%) earned at least $80,520. These estimates come from the latest release of the Bureau of Labor […]
- House Price Appreciation by State and Metro Area in the First Quarter of 2026U.S. house prices continued to rise in the first quarter of 2026, but appreciation slowed markedly from the rapid pace seen during the pandemic-era housing boom. Higher mortgage rates, persistent affordability challenges, and softer demand weighed on price growth nationally. At the same time, local market conditions varied considerably. Some states and metropolitan areas continued […]
- State-Level Employment Situation: April 2026State labor market conditions remained generally positive in April, with most states recording employment gains despite signs of moderating national job growth. Construction employment also posted modest gains across much of the country, while unemployment rates continued to vary widely by state, reflecting differences in regional economic conditions and labor market strength. In April, nonfarm […]
