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American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)

What modern building codes really do to home prices [Monday MINUTE]

Published about 13 hours ago • 3 min read

August 31, 2026, Edition

#CreatingWherePeopleLive

This weekly newsletter

is created by and for those designing homes in North America.

Its editorial staff is the American Institute of Building Design, Inc., the premier association of residential design professionals.

Here's what you get:

  • Field Notes
  • Nuts & Bolts
  • Highlights
  • Workshops & Gatherings
  • What We're Up To
  • Amazing sponsors who help keep this newsletter free for the industry.

Let's dive in.

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Field Notes

Study finds that building codes do not raise home prices

A study by University of Alabama researchers analyzed 2.7 million home sales across 26 states and found no sustained price increases following the adoption of modern residential codes—in fact, homes up to ten years old saw price decreases more often than hikes.

Source: Housingwire

Is the housing market cooling on new construction?

The U.S. Census Bureau’s July 2026 data show new home sales dropped 10.5% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 607,000, pushing inventory up to a 9.6-month supply.

Expect a shift toward cost-efficient plan revisions, value engineering, and standout design details that help builders compete in a tighter market.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

CoStar buys Zonda for $800 million, stretching into homebuilding space

CoStar Group has acquired Zonda, uniting platforms like NewHomeSource.com and Livabl under one roof. For designers, this means visualization tools and market analytics are set to become more integrated and essential for new residential projects.

Source: CoStar Group

Nuts & Bolts

Beyond Code: Managing Moisture Risk in Modern Residential Construction

Tighter wall assemblies mean less drying potential—which makes moisture control your most critical envelope detail. In the recent BUILDER Session, Beyond Code: Managing Moisture Risk in Modern Residential Construction, high-performance builders share practical strategies for tackling moisture at key transitions and trade handoffs before small errors turn into costly failures.

Source: BUILDER

Please support our sponsor:

Our smooth, quiet, and dependable door and window automation systems are preferred by leading architects, designers, builders, and installers globally.

For more information, call 480-500-5468 today or visit https://www.summitautomation.com/AIBD​

Highlights

Welcome New Members

And those returning

David Tosher, Design Studio David Tosher (NY), Professional

Thanks for Referring AIBD

This week's movers and shakers:

Thank you, Professor S. Voltolin, at the University of Central Missouri, for sending us a new Student Member! 🎉🥳

Workshops & Gatherings

AIBD Chapters, Boards, and Councils

Click the links to view the topics and add them to your calendar.

September 2 - Board of Directors - everyone welcome!

September 4 - AIBD Office Hour (Virtual) - 11:00 am ET - 60 minutes (or so) of open discussion and collaboration (Members Only)

September 24 - AIBD Colorado Connect - 9 am to 4 pm - Douglas County Libraries, 100 S. Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, CO, 80104

November 17 - National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC) quarterly meeting

February 2, 2027 - AIBD's Viva Las Pizza Party (In Person) - Las Vegas, NV - 5:30 to 9:00 pm - More info to come.

AIBD Webinars

September 1 - Members Helping Members: A Wall Bracing Methodology for Residential Design, by Seda Collier

September 11 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Rising Stars. Meet AIBD's future. (1.0 Elective CE)

September 15 - ​High-Performance Homes Team​ - 2:00 p.m. ET - Water Collection and Reuse Strategies (1.0 P4 CE)

September 29 - CE Watch Party - 2:00 p.m. ET (45 min) - Discover the Future of Solar Roofing (1.0 P4-CE)

Please support our sponsor:

Training Events

Hosted By AIBD CE Providers

AEC Daily - ​Look for in-person and virtual events.

CEDIA Expo 2026 - September 1-4, 2026 - Denver, CO - Registration is open!​

Green Home Institute - ​Look for in-person and virtual events.

International Builders Show - February 2-4, 2027 - Registration opens September 1.

NAHB Fall Leadership Meeting - October 6-8, 2026, Detroit, MI - Registration is open!​

SelectSIPs Expo and Annual Meeting 2027 - March 8-9, 2027 - Phoenix, AZ - Registration is Open!​

SoftPlan - Virtual & On-Demand Training​

Traditional Building Conference - November 3-4, 2026 - Charleston, SC. Registration is Open​

What We're Up to

AIBD Board of Directors Meeting, Wednesday.

Everyone Welcome!

4:00 PM ET, Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Get an inside look at how AIBD operates! All members are invited to sit in on this Wednesday's Board of Directors meeting to stay informed, hear key leadership updates, and see what’s on the horizon for our association.

Have a triumphant week.

Thank you to our AIBD Corporate Partners. Their generous support champions our profession, and we encourage you to support them in return.

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One more thing—in the spirit of transparency, we want to let you know that AI was used to help edit this email.

American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)

The American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) is a professional association that promotes the highest standards of excellence in residential building design. AIBD offers a variety of resources to its members, including continuing education, networking opportunities, and marketing assistance. AIBD is a valuable resource for anyone interested in a career in residential building design. If you want to improve your skills, network with other professionals, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends, AIBD is the perfect organization for you.

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