Home Builders & Remodelers Association of CT, Inc.

09/02/2026

Pints & Politics! 🍻

HBRA of Connecticut leadership enjoyed a great evening at last night’s Pints & Politics, co-hosted by the HBRA of CT in collaboration with CHCCA, ABC and IEC.

The event provided a valuable opportunity to connect directly with gubernatorial candidate Ryan Fazio, as well as other candidates and industry leaders, and discuss the challenges facing housing construction and development in Connecticut.

From housing affordability and regulatory barriers to the cost of construction and the need to increase housing production, these conversations are an important part of making sure the residential construction industry has a strong voice as Connecticut looks toward the 2026 election.

Thank you to our partner associations, the candidates who joined us, and everyone who came out for a great evening of conversation and collaboration.

08/28/2026

Our Summer Newsletter is here! ☀️

Visit HBRA-CT.ORG to read the latest news, events, and highlights!

Take a few minutes to check it out—and enjoy the rest of summer! 😎

08/06/2026

2026 HOBI AWARDS! Thursday November 12th. Don’t just attend. BE SEEN! Reserve your sponsorship TODAY! Visit HOBIAWARDS.COM or call the HBRACT office- 860-500-7796!

08/05/2026

https://www.nahb.org/blog/2026/08/podcast-080426

On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez are joined by Reps. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) to discuss the importance of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and how they worked together to finalize this once-in-a-generation h...

08/03/2026

Great morning in Waterbury! HBRA members joined Ed Brady, President & CEO of the Home Builders Institute (HBI), for a tour of the future home of our Construction Workforce Development Center at the former Sacred Heart High School.

This collaborative effort between HBRA of CT, HBI, the Northwest Regional Workforce Board, and the City of Waterbury will provide HBI's nationally recognized PACT pre-apprenticeship training and help build Connecticut's next generation of skilled construction professionals.

Thank you to Cathy Awwad and all of our partners for helping make this vision a reality!

07/06/2026

ANNUAL FIANO GOLF TOURNAMENT IS ON!! Let’s HAVE A DAY! ⛳️🏌️🏌️‍♂️☀️

06/24/2026

https://ctmirror.org/2026/06/24/ct-lawmakers-support-passage-of-federal-housing-bill-whats-in-it/

Housing affordability is one of the few issues still capable of bringing Republicans and Democrats together, and this week's overwhelming bipartisan passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a welcome sign that Washington is beginning to recognize what builders, developers, and homebuyers have known for years: we simply need to build more housing. The legislation contains a wide range of provisions aimed at increasing housing supply, reducing regulatory barriers, modernizing housing finance, encouraging local zoning reform, and expanding opportunities for aging Americans to remain in their homes and communities.

Earlier this month, HBRA of CT leaders were in Washington, D.C. as part of the NAHB Legislative Conference meeting directly with Connecticut's congressional delegation to advocate for many of these same priorities. We are grateful to Connecticut's members of Congress for supporting legislation that recognizes housing affordability starts with housing production.

Several provisions could be particularly impactful for Connecticut. Efforts to support aging in place can help seniors remain in their homes while creating opportunities for more efficient use of our existing housing stock. Likewise, the bill's focus on encouraging local land use and zoning reforms acknowledges a reality that Connecticut knows all too well: housing affordability cannot improve if communities lack the tools, flexibility, and political will to permit new housing where it is needed most.

While no single bill will solve a housing shortage decades in the making, this legislation represents one of the most significant federal housing initiatives in generations and an important step toward expanding housing opportunities for American families.

06/19/2026

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/government-regulations-add-132k-new-home-costs

Should anyone really be surprised that we can't build affordable starter homes for the next generation of Connecticut residents?

According to a new analysis highlighted by Fox Business, government regulations now add an average of $132,000 to the cost of a new home nationwide—more than 26% of the final sales price. That's before a family even picks out cabinets, countertops, or flooring.

These are national numbers, but Connecticut's housing challenges are even more severe.

Recent Realtor.com and Stateline analyses have consistently placed Connecticut near the bottom of the nation when it comes to housing affordability and housing production. Despite some recent progress, our state continues to struggle with high construction costs, restrictive land-use policies, lengthy approval processes, and an insufficient housing pipeline. Connecticut recently received a failing grade in Realtor.com's housing report card and ranked among the nation's "stagnant bottom" states for housing affordability and production.

At the HBRA of CT, we've spent years advocating for common-sense reforms that reduce unnecessary costs, improve predictability, streamline approvals, and encourage housing production. If we are serious about creating homeownership opportunities for young families, first-time buyers, and the workforce Connecticut employers desperately need, we must confront the cumulative impact of regulations on housing affordability.

Every new mandate, delay, fee, and requirement may seem small in isolation. Together, they are helping price an entire generation out of the American Dream.

A new NAHB report estimates federal, state and local regulations account for more than one-quarter of the price of a newly built single-family home.

06/15/2026

https://share.google/icC4UCTTWaBX4LHgi

A CT industry has 2,000 jobs open. Here's a plan to address worker shortages that hurt state economy!

Data on job postings gives a glimpse of the need in the construction industry. According to the state labor department, there were nearly 2,000 openings in April.

06/11/2026

Proud moment for HBRACT! Congratulations to our CEO, Jim Perras, whose work on Connecticut’s code bill is now being recognized as a national model. Following his presentation to the U.S. Codes and Standards Committee, a toolkit based on his bill and advocacy efforts will be developed to help guide others. Outstanding work, Jim! 👏👏👏

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has signed into law a bill that lays the groundwork to expand the state’s building code adoption cycle to every six years rather than the current three years.