Housing starts recede in July amid market headwinds

Washington, D.C.—Housing starts fell sharply in July as builders continued to contend with economic uncertainty, rising construction costs, labor shortages and elevated financing expenses, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Overall housing starts dropped 12.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.24 million units, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Census Bureau.

The annualized rate represents the number of housing units builders would start over the next 12 months if construction continued at the July pace.

Single-family starts fell 9.9% to an annual rate of 808,000 units. Single-family construction was also down 15.7% from July 2025.

The multifamily sector, which includes apartment buildings and condominiums, declined 16.8% to an annual rate of 431,000 units. Multifamily starts were down 8.9% from a year earlier.

“Builders continue to face significant challenges from elevated construction costs and affordability pressures,” said Bill Owens, chairman of NAHB and a home builder and remodeler from Worthington, Ohio. “Higher mortgage rates are keeping many prospective buyers on the sidelines, while rising material, gas and diesel costs are adding to the cost of construction. These challenges are making it increasingly difficult for builders to deliver homes at prices that buyers can afford.”

NAHB also pointed to broader weakness in the housing market as builders navigate softer demand.

On a regional, year-to-date basis, combined single-family and multifamily starts increased 11.7% in the Northeast. Meanwhile, starts declined 4.5% in the Midwest, 3% in the South and 3.8% in the West.

“The July decline in housing starts reflects broader weakness in the housing market,” said Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington, NAHB assistant vice president for forecasting and analysis. “Builders remain cautious as elevated mortgage rates, rising construction costs and economic uncertainty continue to limit demand. The drop in single-family construction is especially concerning given the persistent housing shortage in many markets. Looking ahead, permits are trending positively for both single-family and multifamily construction.”

Permits move higher

Despite the decline in housing starts, permitting activity improved in July. Overall permits increased 5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.44 million units. Single-family permits rose 2.5% to an annual rate of 894,000 units, a 1.1% increase from July 2025.

Multifamily permits, by comparison, increased 9.4% to an annual rate of 549,000 units, up 6.4% from a year earlier.

Regional permit activity also showed mostly positive results on a year-to-date basis. Permits increased 14.3% in the Northeast, 2.6% in the Midwest and 2.1% in the West. However, the South recorded a 4.7% decline.

Builders currently have 579,000 single-family homes under construction. The number of apartments under construction stands at 683,000 units.

The post Housing starts recede in July amid market headwinds appeared first on Floor Covering News.

Housing starts recede in July amid market headwinds Posted First on https://fcnews.net

Richard Quinlan joins Create Flooring

Calhoun, Ga.—Create Flooring has named Richard J. Quinlan senior vice president of sales and marketing. The appointment strengthens the company’s leadership team as Create Flooring expands its presence across the North American flooring market.

“Richard brings extensive industry knowledge, strong customer relationships and a proven ability to develop business across the flooring market,” said Candince Zhu, owner of Create Flooring. “His experience aligns extremely well with our strategy to expand Create Flooring’s customer base and market presence while continuing to provide the products, inventory and service our customers need to grow.”

Throughout his career, Quinlan has led sales, marketing, product development and growth initiatives. His experience spans national retail, independent retail, distribution, builder, commercial, OEM/private-label and e-commerce channels. He previously held senior executive positions with Armstrong Flooring, Mohawk Industries, Wellmade Performance Flooring and AHF Products.

Expanding across North America

Create Flooring, which operates as a division of Muchsee Wood Inc., imports, supplies, distributes and manufactures hardwood, SPC, LVT, laminate flooring and installation accessories. The company combines global sourcing and manufacturing resources with approximately 12 million square feet of flooring inventory housed in two facilities in Georgia.

“For more than 20 years, Create Flooring has been serving the U.S. flooring market,”  Quinlan said. “Our combination of a broad product offering, global resources, substantial domestic inventory and multi-channel capabilities creates a compelling value proposition for customers. I look forward to building on these strengths and expanding Create Flooring’s presence throughout North America.”

The post Richard Quinlan joins Create Flooring appeared first on Floor Covering News.

Richard Quinlan joins Create Flooring Posted First on https://fcnews.net

Tuesday Tips: Put the customer first

Dalton—The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) released a new “Tuesday Tips” this week. In the series, WFCA experts present short video tips for improving customer service and optimizing staff performance. In the end, it’s all about understanding the importance of doing 100 things just 1% better than your competition.

In this week’s Tuesday Tips, Tom Jennings, retail training expert, breaks down how putting the customer’s best interests first can help build trust and ultimately influence the buying decision.

The post Tuesday Tips: Put the customer first appeared first on Floor Covering News.

Tuesday Tips: Put the customer first Posted First on https://fcnews.net

Roppe Holding Company becomes 100% employee-owned

Fostoria, Ohio—Roppe Holding Company (RHC) has become a 100% employee-owned company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The move shifts RHC from family ownership to employee ownership while giving employees a direct stake in the company’s future.

RHC’s family of brands includes Roppe, Flexco, Seneca Millwork, ATECO, Six Degrees, RHC Logistics, Tuflex Sports Surfaces and TCB Holdings, Inc. The company primarily offers luxury and durable flooring solutions.

“Our brands are known for consistency, expertise and delivering on promises,” said Norman Freebeck, president of Roppe Holding Company. “We are recognized year over year for consistently delivering quality products to our industry partners. This reputation would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our long-term employees. Transitioning to employee ownership helps ensure that the individuals moving this company forward now have a direct stake in its future.”

Moreover, the transition builds on decades of family ownership and reinforces the company’s commitment to stability, independence and people-driven success.

Freebeck will continue to lead RHC’s executive team. The company will also remain focused on quality, service, strong partnerships and long-term sustainability.

The benefits

The ESOP structure allows RHC to remain privately held and locally rooted. The company will also continue operating as it has in the past.

“This change enables us to keep doing what we do best—serving customers, delivering quality products and running a values-driven business,” added Freebeck.

An ESOP is a retirement plan funded entirely by the company and invested in company stock. Employees receive individual ESOP accounts through the plan. Those accounts can grow as the company adds stock and the business performs well.

“The ESOP helps create a meaningful connection between our employees’ efforts and RHC’s long-term success,” Freeback added. “When the company grows and thrives, our employees share in that success financially through the ESOP.”

RHC said employee ownership reflects a mindset that has guided the company for generations: building things to last.

“Becoming employee-owned is a pivotal moment for us,” said Seth Brickner, chief operating officer. “It’s a testament to the strength we’ve built over more than 70 years. This structure allows us to reward our people and reinforce accountability. It’s not something many companies offer and we’re excited about what it means for our future as we move forward together.”

The post Roppe Holding Company becomes 100% employee-owned appeared first on Floor Covering News.

Roppe Holding Company becomes 100% employee-owned Posted First on https://fcnews.net

NWFA completes 88th Gary Sinise Foundation home

St. Louis, Mo.—The National Wood Flooring Association has provided flooring for its 88th home in support of the Gary Sinise Foundation Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment (R.I.S.E.) program.

The foundation dedicated the latest home to U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. James “Eddie” Wright on March 26 in Montgomery, Texas. NWFA member Mullican Hardwood Flooring donated the flooring for the project.

Wright completed two deployments in Okinawa and the Middle East. He later joined the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion and deployed to Fallujah, Iraq. In 2004, insurgents ambushed Wright’s unit while he rode in the lead vehicle of a convoy. During the firefight, a rocket-propelled grenade struck his rifle and exploded. The blast severed his right arm below the wrist and his left arm below the elbow.

“I’m told that even while tourniquets were being applied to slow his bleeding, Sergeant Wright still managed to calmly direct other Marines to safety,” said Stephanie Owen, NWFA president and CEO. “He received 40 pints of blood over the course of his medical evacuation to the U.S. and 40 more to save his life. His rehabilitation has been long and grueling, but he has never lost his positive attitude. We’re honored to partner with Mullican to provide beautiful real wood floors for his new home.”

The R.I.S.E. program builds mortgage-free homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. The organization customizes each smart home to meet the recipient’s needs.

A list of participating companies is available at nwfa.org/giving-back.

The post NWFA completes 88th Gary Sinise Foundation home appeared first on Floor Covering News.

NWFA completes 88th Gary Sinise Foundation home Posted First on https://fcnews.net

TrueTouch Floors names new VP of logistics, operations

New Smyrna Beach, Fla.—TrueTouch Floors has named Ryan O’Boyle vice president of logistics and operations.

O’Boyle joins the company as TrueTouch continues to expand its operations and distribution network. He brings extensive experience in supply chain management, global procurement and product development.

Before joining TrueTouch, O’Boyle spent eight years at The Dixie Group. During his tenure, he helped expand the company’s Hard Surfaces division by 525%.

O’Boyle managed relationships with international vendors and oversaw international freight operations. He also assisted product development and marketing teams with new product launches. His responsibilities included supporting a sales team of more than 200 representatives. He also addressed inventory, claims and technical product questions.

O’Boyle completed his MBA while working at The Dixie Group.

“I’m excited to bring my expertise to TrueTouch Floors and be part of a company that’s growing so quickly,” O’Boyle said. “It’s really nice to join this vibrant team that feels like family.”

Before joining The Dixie Group, O’Boyle spent two years in the automotive industry. He worked with about 20 suppliers to help ensure timely, high-quality product delivery.

O’Boyle also has experience leading global procurement efforts for a residential planning division. In that role, he managed several hundred SKUs from international vendors.

TrueTouch said O’Boyle’s supply chain experience will support the company as it continues to grow. His background also includes vendor negotiations and product innovation.

 

The post TrueTouch Floors names new VP of logistics, operations appeared first on Floor Covering News.

TrueTouch Floors names new VP of logistics, operations Posted First on https://fcnews.net

Multifamily developer confidence weakens in second quarter

Washington, D.C.—Multifamily developer confidence weakened in the second quarter compared with a year earlier, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

The NAHB Multifamily Market Survey produces two indices that measure production and occupancy conditions.

The Multifamily Production Index fell three points from a year earlier to 43. The Multifamily Occupancy Index declined eight points to 74.

Multifamily production declines

The MPI measures builder and developer sentiment about current production conditions in the apartment and condo market. The index uses a scale of zero to 100. A reading below 50 means more respondents view conditions as poor than good.

The MPI measures four market segments. Three cover built-for-rent properties while one measures the built-for-sale, or condominium, market.

The garden and low-rise component fell two points to 48. The mid- and high-rise component declined four points to 32. Subsidized units dropped seven points to 54.

Built-for-sale units provided the only increase, rising three points to 38.

Apartment occupancy remains positive

The MOI measures the multifamily industry’s view of occupancy conditions in existing apartments. A reading above 50 indicates more respondents view occupancy as good than poor.

Despite its decline from a year earlier, the overall reading of 74 indicates apartment owners remain positive about occupancy.

All three built-for-rent components declined compared with a year ago but remained above 50.

Garden and low-rise units fell seven points to 77. Mid- and high-rise units declined 11 points to 62. Subsidized units dropped eight points to 82.

“Multifamily developer sentiment is currently constrained by regulatory barriers and difficulty obtaining financing,” said Kip Lewis, director of construction management at OCCH in Columbus, Ohio, and chairman of NAHB’s multifamily council. “The recently enacted 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act should provide some help with respect to these challenges, but these policies will take time to implement. Meanwhile, rental housing demand is being supported by improving job growth during the second quarter of 2026.”

NAHB also pointed to financing costs, regulatory issues and construction challenges as obstacles for developers.

“It is clear that supply-side headwinds continue to weigh on multifamily developer sentiment,” said Robert Dietz, NAHB chief economist. “In addition to relatively high interest rates and other financing issues, developers are finding it difficult to obtain approvals and utility connections in some parts of the country. High material prices and shortages of skilled labor also remain significant impediments.”

NAHB redesigned the survey in 2023 to make the results easier to interpret. The organization also aligned the survey with the format of its other industry sentiment studies.

NAHB said changes in the MPI and MOI should only be evaluated on a year-over-year basis until enough data are available for seasonal adjustments.

The survey also asked developers to compare current conditions with those three months earlier. In the second quarter, 14% said conditions had improved while 15% said they had worsened. Most respondents saw little change. Seventy-one percent said market conditions were about the same as they were three months earlier.

The post Multifamily developer confidence weakens in second quarter appeared first on Floor Covering News.

Multifamily developer confidence weakens in second quarter Posted First on https://fcnews.net