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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Why Cooling Material Costs Won't Lower Home Prices [Monday Minute]
Published about 2 hours ago • 4 min read
January 19, 2026, Edition
Ignite your mind and improve the way you are #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.
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Field Notes
Nuts & Bolts
Highlights
Workshops & Gatherings
What We're Up To
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Field Notes
Is the Construction Slowdown Finally Cooling Material Prices?
Despite a cooling housing market, residential building material costs aren't dropping as quickly as you might expect. While some essentials like softwood lumber and concrete are providing much-needed relief, other categories—specifically metal products—are seeing massive year-over-year surges.
Which materials are finally stabilizing, and which are still skyrocketing? How a 4.6% jump in energy costs is rippling through the supply chain, and a look at current framing lumber prices and future trends.
Building costs aren’t to blame for high home prices
Discover why bringing down building costs might not be the "silver bullet" for affordability and see which cities have the widest gap between price and reality.
New research from UChicago Booth reveals a startling shift: the historical link between construction costs and home prices has officially broken down.
Remodeling outlook rises as home building sentiment sinks
Why are contractors pivoting to renovations, and what does the "structural advantage" of the remodeling sector mean for the 2026 housing market?
The gap between building a new home and fixing up an old one has never been wider. While U.S. home builder sentiment just took another hit in January, the remodeling sector is seeing a massive surge in optimism.
State and Local Efforts Cut Red Tape to Stimulate Home Building
From legislators forming coalitions to builders leading grassroots efforts, real progress is being made, and efforts and successes offer a roadmap for others to follow.
Frustrated by the slow pace of construction, builders, local officials, and buyers alike agree that we do not have enough housing supply to meet demand.
The creators of SimCity wanted to create a realistic city-building game. The absurdities of America's parking policies made that impossible.
That's how many Millennials were first introduced to urban planning, complete with municipal budgets, zoning ordinances, and utilities. But there’s one aspect of city planning the creators were forced to fudge.
Exceptional homes are about more than just aesthetics. Great architecture emerges from a deep understanding of space, light, and how people live. Your client's home should reflect their personality while working in harmony with their lifestyle. Here are our seven principles to help you facilitate good design.
Murus high-performance building enclosures simplify designing sustainable, energy-efficient, and net-zero residential and light commercial buildings. For more information, call 570-549-2100 or visit www.murus.com.
Workshops & Gatherings
AIBD Chapters, Boards, and Councils
Click the links to view the topics and add to your calendar.
January 19 - Central Colorado Chapter (in person) - Walter S White Home Tour - 12:30 pm MT - Colorado Springs, Colorado
A new fee for suspended CPBDs to recertify is taking effect.
Starting January 1, 2026, the National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC) will implement a $45 recertification fee for Certified Professional Building Designers (CPBDs) with suspended certifications.
Suspensions occur when certification maintenance isn’t completed within 60 days of the expiration date.
For questions about this fee, contact Certification Director Rusty Hudnet.
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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