Smaller Builders Report Higher Material Costs
Building material costs increased by 6.7% over the past 12 months, according to results from the survey for the July 2026 NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). A large majority (72.9%) of the home builders responding to the survey reported that their cost of materials for the same house increased by up to 15% over […]
Understanding Maine’s “Millionaires’ Tax”: What Business Owners and High-Income Individuals Need to Know
Maine has enacted a significant change to its individual income tax system. As part of a supplemental budget bill signed by Governor Janet Mills in April 2026, the state added a 2% income tax surcharge on very high earners — commonly referred to as the “millionaires’ tax.” Below, we break down what the law actually […]
How Home Builders Associations Can Help Members Show Up in AI Search
The way homeowners find contractors has shifted faster than most of the industry has noticed. A meaningful and growing segment of homeowners, especially buyers and homeowners under 45, are no longer starting their contractor search on Google. They’re asking AI tools directly. ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google’s AI Overview. They type something like “best custom home builders […]
Annual Lobster Bake
Every year, members of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Maine gather for what has become one of the most anticipated events on our industry calendar and the 2026 Annual Meeting and Lobster Bake is shaping up to be our best yet.
Maine Makes Major Moves on Housing
The 132nd Legislature wrapped its second regular session this month after more than three months of debate, producing a supplemental budget and a sweeping package of housing reforms that advocates are calling the most consequential in a generation. With an estimated 80,000-unit housing shortage statewide, lawmakers from both parties focused on the cost of living, […]
Do Business with NAHB Members
Do Business with an NAHB Member is an initiative aimed to foster relationships among Builder, Associate and Affiliate members. When NAHB members do business together, everyone benefits. Working together keeps things close to home, supports local building communities and ensures a strong housing market, now and in the future.
Ladder Safety Month Can Help Save Lives and Money
March is Ladder Safety Month, an annual public awareness campaign presented by the American Ladder Institute (ALI) and sponsored by NAHB. It’s the perfect time to review your safety policies and procedures for using one of the most common — but dangerous — pieces of equipment on a job site.
The Evolving Landscape of the Construction Industry in 2026
The construction industry in Maine is undergoing significant transformation, influenced by technological advancements, sustainable practices, and the ongoing challenges of workforce development. For builders, remodelers, and trade professionals in the Pine Tree State, keeping pace with these trends is crucial to maintaining competitiveness and delivering high-quality projects that meet the unique needs of local communities.
NAHB Offers Lawmakers Recommendations on National E-Verify System
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) offered Congress several recommendations to make a national E-Verify employment verification system workable for small businesses and members of the residential construction industry. Testifying on behalf of NAHB before the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Chris Gamvroulas, president of Ivory Development, a land acquisition and […]
Are Today’s Building Codes Enough to Improve Home Resilience?
In the face of rapidly increasing losses from natural disasters, many housing advocates are pushing for more stringent building codes to make homes more resilient to disaster. Arguably, the roughly 119 million homes built before 2010 suggest that retrofitting the existing housing stock should be a higher priority to achieve resiliency than boosting the building […]