Katie Sweeney, CEO

AIME Members, 

Summer is an especially exciting time here at AIME. It marks the arrival of our annual celebration, National Mortgage Brokers Day (NMBD), now in its sixth consecutive year. When NMBD was first created, it was a way for mortgage professionals across the country to build awareness of independent mortgage brokers in their local communities. Today, we are taking that awareness a step further by focusing the full strength of our efforts on Capitol Hill.

We’re commanding legislative attention by bringing important homeownership issues directly to policymakers in Washington, D.C. For the first time, our newly appointed state captains will participate in an in-depth training day on Capitol Hill.

They will learn to become effective advocates for ensuring our voice is represented in the policy decisions made by our state and federal lawmakers.

I also encourage each and every wholesale mortgage professional to celebrate the impact of independent brokers by hosting your own local NMBD festivities. Wear your “Brokers Are Better” t-shirts and connect with borrowers in your community to let them know that brokers are their neighborhood mortgage experts.

Now is the time for us to recognize our importance to the larger housing market. Together we can stand up for the independent voices in our communities. The celebration and recognition that accompany NMBD serve as an opportunity for us to be bold and make a statement — brokers are here, and they are better for consumers

 Alicia Huey, President and CEO

NAHB Members, 

Almost 11 million people — including self-employed workers — worked in construction across the U.S. in 2021. Economists at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analyzed the data, which comes from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and estimate that out of the 11 million, roughly 4.5 million people worked in residential construction, representing 2.9% of the employed civilian labor force.

It comes as no surprise that California, the nation’s most populous state, has the most residential construction workers. It accounts for over 3.5% of the state’s employed labor force. Fast-growing Florida comes in second with almost 440,000 residential construction workers. NAHB economics’ assessment also looked at home building employment by congressional district. The average congressional district has about 760,000 residents, of which roughly 10,300 work in residential construction. That number is significantly higher in some high-growth districts. For example, Montana’s lone congressional district has 27,400 residents working in the industry. Montana gained a second congressional district in 2022 after the 2020 U.S. census.

This assessment of residential construction employment includes self-employed workers. It is important to count such workers in estimates of home building employment, as one-person enterprises have traditionally made up a larger share of the labor force in this sector than in most other industries. It is important to note that these employment estimates only include workers directly employed in the home building industry and do not count jobs created in related industries, such as building materials manufacturing and supply, engineering and architecture, furniture making and finance. As a result, the estimates understate the overall impact of home building on employment. Demand for skilled construction workers is growing. NAHB, along with its workforce development partners, the Home Builders Institute and the National Housing Endowment, are investing in education and training for the next generation of skilled workers who will build the homes of the future.

Kenny Parcell, President

NAR Members, 

The Washington Post reported earlier this year that stability was the No. 1 trait members of Generation Z seek from prospective employers as this group continues its graduation into the U.S. workforce.

Stability in many ways represents one of the most attractive features of homeownership. Home is where we start families, raise children and grow old beside those we love. These structures offer safety, comfort, financial security and one of the best possible paths toward long-term wealth. It’s no surprise then, given this generation’s desire for permanence and security, that many Gen Zers are already pursuing their own piece of the American dream. NAR’s most recent Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends report examined similarities and differences of home buyers and sellers across various age groups. One of the most noteworthy findings is the fact that Generation Z now makes up 4% of homebuyers in the U.S. “As the youngest generation of home buyers and sellers, it’s encouraging to see Gen Z entering the market,” NAR’s deputy chief economist and vice president of research Jessica Lautz noted when the report was released.

“Their desire for homeownership is strong and many are relying on family support systems to help them make their first real estate purchase.” Another surprising revelation from the report, is the fact that baby boomers once again represented the largest segment of U.S. home buyers. Millennials had been the biggest from 2014 to 2022. Despite the advanced age of this demographic, baby boomers are showing a prolonged ability to capitalize on the equity many have accumulated through decades of homeownership. “The majority of baby boomers are repeat buyers who have housing equity to propel them into their dream home,” Lautz added. “Baby boomers are living healthier, longer lives and making housing trades at later stages in their lives.”