The home building industry has long operated on familiar foundations: build model homes, staff sales centers, and guide buyers through a well-worn path from lot selection to closing. But that model is under serious pressure. Consumer expectations have been reshaped by Amazon, Uber, and Airbnb, and home buyers now expect the same seamless, self-directed experience […]
Major Building Code Overhauls Reshaping Residential Construction The landscape of residential construction is shifting rapidly as municipalities across the United States adopt updated building codes and standards that directly affect how home builders design, engineer, and construct new housing. Since the beginning of 2025 alone, several major jurisdictions have initiated or completed significant code modernization
Every home builder eventually faces the question of what happens next. After decades of building homes, managing teams, and navigating market cycles, the moment arrives when the founder must decide how to pass the torch. Mike Brodsky of Hamlet Homes spent years working through this very challenge — conducting a national executive search, structuring an
Codes and Standards Update for Home Builders: February Policy Shifts, Smart Energy, and Market Trends Staying current with building codes, regulatory shifts, and emerging standards is essential for home builders who want to deliver safe, efficient, and market-responsive homes. The February landscape brings developments across technology platforms that streamline construction management, demographic changes that reshape
State and local governments across the United States continue to introduce regulatory changes that directly affect how home builders operate, from flood resilience and wage compliance to insulation standards and design control. Staying informed on these developments is essential for builders navigating an increasingly complex compliance landscape. This codes and standards update covers five key
Building on a steep hillside presents a unique set of challenges that separate exceptional custom homes from ordinary tract housing. The New American Home 2019, perched above the Las Vegas Valley in the exclusive Ascaya community of Henderson, Nevada, offers builders and designers a master class in luxury hillside construction. Designed by Dan Coletti of
Rethinking Density in Residential Development The word “density” often triggers negative reactions among homeowners, community stakeholders, and even some builders. It conjures images of overcrowded apartment blocks, traffic congestion, and loss of neighborhood character. Yet as housing affordability continues to tighten across the United States, density is emerging as one of the most effective tools
Construction Industry Fraud Task Forces Signal Tougher Regulatory Oversight The Pittsburgh City Council recently voted to establish a Joint Task Force on Construction Industry Fraud, responding to allegations of widespread financial misconduct in the building trades. This task force targets unfair trade practices including tax fraud, wage violations, and under-the-table payments that cost Pennsylvania hundreds
Building codes and standards continue to evolve at a rapid pace, bringing new requirements and opportunities for residential construction professionals. From updated guidelines on shipping containers as building components to advancements in passive fire protection and modular construction, recent developments are reshaping how builders approach their projects. Staying informed about these changes is essential for
The path to solving America’s persistent housing affordability challenges increasingly runs through public-private collaboration. With federal agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development actively seeking ways to engage private capital and expertise, builders, developers, and construction professionals have a growing stake in understanding how policy directions shape the market. Recent insights from HUD
