Podcast: Could the 90-Day Tariff Pause Save the Spring Home Buying Season?

On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez delve into the whipsaw of tariff activity and what it could mean for the home building industry.

President Trump’s decision to put a 90-day pause on global reciprocal tariffs has brought some stability back to the market after stocks initially tanked. China was the exception to that rule, with a substantially increased tariff rate, and also fueled discussion on what its investment in the United States could mean for the U.S. economy and housing market.

“I think [China owns] 15% of our debt,” Tobin shared. “But we all know the U.S. economy is incredibly resilient, and we know that the dollar is still the currency of choice for reserve policies across the world.”

As the president’s policies on tariffs, immigration, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and deregulation continue to play out and intersect, the nation will get a fuller picture of the economic impact these actions will have, Tobin added.

“We know President Trump is going to break some things a long the way and put them back together,” he added. “We’re months away from truly knowing what the Trump economy looks like.”

Lopez and Tobin also unpack how the recent budget bill will affect the housing industry and the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, which will improve the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). 

The episode closes out with special guest Tammie Ross, author of Breaking Ground, Breaking Glass Ceilings: A Guide for Finding Success in Male-Dominated Industries. Ross shares insights from her professional experience in both the auto and housing industries, how to deal with imposter syndrome, and more.

Listen to the full episode of the podcast below and subscribe to Housing Developments through your favorite podcast provider, or watch all the episodes on YouTube.