Toolbox Newsletter October 2025
New Home Sales Post Unexpectedly Large Gain in August
A modest drop in mortgage rates led to a surprisingly large jump in new home sales in August that could be revised lower next month. Sales of newly built single-family homes jumped 20.5% higher in August, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 800,000 from an upwardly revised reading in July, according to newly released data from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. The pace of new home sales is up 15.4% from a year earlier. The three-month moving average of new home sales was 713,000, an increase from the 656,000 in July. New home sales remain down 1.4% on a year-to-date basis. A new home sale occurs when a sales contract is signed, or a deposit is accepted. The home can be in any stage of construction: not yet started, under construction or completed. In addition to adjusting for seasonal effects, the August reading of 800,000 units is the number of homes that would sell if this pace continued for the next 12 months. New single-family home inventory declined for the third straight month to 490,000 residences marketed for sale (of all stages of construction) as of August. This is 1.4% lower than the previous month and 4.0% higher than a year earlier. At the current sales pace, the months’ supply for new homes was 7.4 compared to 8.2 a year ago. The median new home sale price was $413,500, up 1.9% from a year ago. New home sales have also been buoyed by home builders use of incentives. Recent NAHB survey data shows 37% of builders reported cutting prices in August and 66% reported using sales incentives.
Calendar of Events (Dates Subject to Change) PARADE OF HOMES Coming soon! PULL & PLATE OCTOBER 16TH AT THE GRAND BLANC HUNTSMAN'S CLUB, We look forward to seeing those who purchased tickets for our First Annual Pull & Plate! 2026 MEMBER DIRECTORY ADVERTISING OPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE!
Leadership List
Board of Directors 2025 -President, Kevin Maurer -Vice President, Jeff Wedding -Secretary, Mike Zemla -Treasurer, Mindy Ball -Immediate Past President, Jeremy Morgan Director Mark Eneix Director Matthew Paruch Director Zach Phillips Director Jamie Richmond Director Lisa Sears Director Daneille Stuber Executive Officer Christy VanSchoten
DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO ADVERTISE IN THE HBA OF MID-MICHIGAN 2026 MEMBER DIRECTORY! ADVERTISING OPTIONS ARE A MEMBER ONLY BENEFIT Not a member? Sign up prior to November 1st to have your business listed with 3 counties of trusted professionals in our 2026 Member Directory! PLEASE NOTE THE DIRECTORY IS PRINTED IN BLACK AND WHITE, ONCE YOU'VE PURCHASED YOUR ADVERTISING OPTION ONLINE, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR HIGH QUALITY ADVERTISEMENT TO INFO@HBAOFMID MICHIGAN.COM
Join NAHB’s Attorney Network Doing business with fellow members is a core value of the NAHB Federation. To that end, NAHB is building a network of attorney members to assist peers with legal services. Across the country, members face both unprecedented challenges and opportunities in growing their businesses. Attorney members are mission-critical allies who can help advance home building through the courts. NAHB member attorneys can opt-in to the network using this form.
Fall Leadership Meeting In Denver, Nov. 17-19 NAHB committee and council mem- bers, delegates to the Leadership Council, members of the Board of Directors, and executive officers should make plans to attend the Fall Leadership Meeting, Nov. 17-19, at the Hyatt Regency in Denver. This is a great opportunity to shape NAHB’s response to the challenges that most affect the housing industry, such as burdensome regulations, workforce challenges, high mortgage rates, and other concerns. You can view the schedule, register and book your hotel room at nahb.org/flm. Apply Now for an NAHB Committee or Council Board NAHB relies on volunteer leaders to provide guidance and develop association policy. Members interested in serving the housing industry are encouraged to apply to serve on one of NAHB’s committees or council board of trustees for the 2026 leadership year. Committees and councils meet during the Spring and Fall Leadership Meetings and at the International Builders’ Show to discuss legislative and regulatory news, business updates, and consider association policy. The application deadline is Nov. 23, 2025. No applications will be accepted after the deadline.
Boost for Multifamily Housing In an important win for NAHB members, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that effective Oct. 1, it is reducing the FHA multifamily mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) for all multifamily programs to 25 basis points – the statutory minimum the agency must charge. Lower MIPs will reduce multifamily financing costs and help expand the supply of rental housing. FHA is eliminating three MIP categories: Green and Energy Efficient Housing, Affordable Housing, and Broadly Affordable Housing.
NAHB Advocates for Energy Choice NAHB called on Congress to help ease the housing affordability crisis by supporting policies that preserve energy choice. Testifying before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes called on Congress to support and advance the Energy Choice Act, legislation that would prevent state and local governments from banning the use of natural gas energy in new homes.
NAHB has opened online registration and housing for the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS), the largest annual light construction trade show in the world. The show will return to Orlando, Fla., for the final time before permanently moving to Las Vegas for all future shows. IBS 2026 will take place Feb. 17-19, at the Orange County Convention Center, where it will again co-locate with the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS) for the 13th Annual Design & Construction Week® (DCW). The two shows will host more than 2,350 exhibiting brands spanning over 1.2 million net square feet of exhibit space, with 115,000+ expected attendees, making it the largest annual gathering of the residential design and construction industry in the world.
Coalition Promotes More Housing NAHB has joined a diverse coalition of nearly 60 housing experts, advocates and industry leaders to endorse four key principles aimed at increasing the supply of housing. The “Principles for Enhancing Housing Availability and Affordability” was developed by Pew as a part of their Housing Policy Initiative. The coalition signatories agree that overly strict zoning and land-use regulations are limiting the availability of new housing. The four key common-sense housing solutions are: enable more housing types; avoid inflexible mandates; spur the creation of apartment buildings and townhouses in high-use areas; and lower administrative barriers.
Make Plans Now to Attend IBS 2026 in Orlando
NAHB Explains ‘No Tax On Tips’ “No tax on tips,” alongside “no tax on overtime,” are two of the most publicized tax changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. On Sept. 22, the Treasury Department released its official notice of proposed rulemaking with this additional information. “No tax on tips” provides a temporary, above-the-line tax deduction for workers in fields that customarily and regularly receive tips. The Treasury Department has released its primary list of qualifying jobs. NAHB AVP of Government Affairs JP Delmore explains no tax on tips and overtime in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in a two-minute video.
Remodeled Show Home Makes Something New of Old Bones
Remodeling projects can range from small cosmetic updates to extensive overhauls. The New American Remodel® 2026 lands somewhere in the middle, taking a “soft remodel” approach that will revitalize the home and still retain much of its original character. The Phil Kean Design Group is overseeing the 2026 remodel, converting an existing 3,341-square-foot home built in 1951 into a contemporary residence with 3,905 total square feet. Even though the home is not undergoing major structural changes, the strategic design updates and modern product integrations will transform the Winter Park, Fla., property from a dated, energy-guzzling residence into a sustainable, high-performance gem. The finished home will be officially unveiled during the 2026 International Builders' Show® in Orlando, Feb. 17-19. All registered Builders’ Show attendees will have the opportunity to tour the home and see the latest trends in home remodeling. Learn more and register to attend IBS at BuildersShow.com.
AJ Johnson Construction Co. Inc Acrisure Alexandra Edwards of Phillips Insurance Alliance Grounds Services LLC Alta Vista Builders Antcliff Windows & Doors Architectural Glazing Systems, Inc. New member Beth Roman of Carter Kitchen & Bath Ben Staley of Staley Construction Company LLC Bois Insurance Agency Boots Construction Bossman Construction Co LLC Brokaw Group/Brokaw Commercial Builders First Source Brian Christiansen of Staley Construction Company LLC Carbs Contracting LLC NEW Cardinal Roofing Corp. Carter Lumber Company Carter Kitchen & Bath Chuck Thompson Holdings Inc. Church's Insulation CF Legal, PC Construction Management Services LLC Consumers Energy Creekside Hearth Patio & BBQ Davison Overhead Door Co Deborah Sipes of Phillips Insurance Dynamic Home Solutions DF Floor Covering D&M Service Pros
HBA OF MID-MICHIGAN MEMBERSHIP 2025
Forsythe Bros Lawn Services LLC Genesee Ceramic Tile Glendale Construction LLC Grand Legacy Homes Inc. Great Lakes Grills LLC GreenStone Farm Credit Services Gross Construction Harrod Painting Hill Steel & Builders Supply IL Construction Iversons Lumber Company JW Morgan Construction LLC Kile Sayer of the Stone Specialists Lake & Land Custom Homes LLC Lake Michigan Credit Union LeaSon Builders LLC Linda Leach of Genesee Ceramic Tile Linden Kitchen & Bath Lucas Brothers Construction Lunghamer Ford of Owosso Mark Elasivich of Staley Construction Company LLC Markita Henige of Phillips Insurance Mason Burgess Title Agency Master Seal Asphalt Maintenance Inc. Maurer Heating Co Metamora Building & Development Metcalf Electric Meyer Electric Inc M I Homes NEW Michigan Lumber Company Michigan Propane Commission
Mike Building Co. Modern Concrete NEW PHI Home Services Phillips Insurance Pine Hollow Custom Homes Group Inc. Pinkleman Custom Homes Purves Construction Randal J Cizek Architect Rod Kulhanek Builders LLC Roe Enterprises Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership Signet Residential Inc Sherman Heating and Cooling Shiawassee Chamber of Commerce Staley Construction Company LLC Staley's Plumbing & Heating Inc Stone Specialists Inc Superior Lawn & Landscape Inc Swank Builders Inc Sweers Roofing The State Bank Timothy Elasivich of Staley Construction Company LLC Timbergate Construction LLC Triple H Ideal Contractors LLC Vantage Homes, Inc Vetcon Inc Vets Access LLC NEW Vylla Home Weekes Forest Products Weir Building Company Werth Roofing & Siding Co Wimsatt Building Materials/SRS DIstribution Yeo & Yeo CPA's & Advisors