Builder Magazine

From personal travel to Pinterest boards, global design has never had a greater influence on home building in the U.S. Bolstered by overseas tourism surging past pre-pandemic levels and social media platforms where international design trends are just a screen tap away, the distance between global inspiration and American homes is quickly shrinking.

The current chief financial officer will replace Buck Hunt in the top executive role in 2027. 3 MIN READ October 9, 2026 HHHunt has named Ann Kelly as the organization’s new CEO, effective July 1, 2027. Kelly, the current chief financial officer, will replace current chairman and CEO Buck Hunt. “I am honored to be entrusted with the CEO role and excited to continue building on a 60-year HHHunt legacy of values-driven success and innovation,” Kelly said.

Stephanie McCarty has always been a storyteller and becoming a chief marketing officer was never quite on her radar. With a natural instinct for finding and telling a good story, McCarty went to school for journalism. Starting from a place of curiosity, she spent the beginning of her career in media relations and executive communications helping organizations tell the right stories to employees, shareholders, investors, analysts, the media, and the public.

Builders are grappling with weak demand, renewed pricing pressure, and growing labor concerns. 2 MIN READ Adobe Stock October 9, 2026 Each month, Zonda surveys builders across the country to gauge sentiment around the housing market. This survey is intended to supplement Zonda’s proprietary database by asking builders more qualitative questions. The anonymous survey covers everything from consumer sentiment to broader macroeconomic topics like tariffs and immigration.

The expansion of the Explore by Del Webb brand is planned for 900 homes, a 10-acre lake, and more. 2 MIN READ PulteGroup October 9, 2026 Marking the latest expansion of its newest brand, PulteGroup is expanding Explore by Del Webb to Utah’s Jordanelle Ridge. Near Park City and Deer Valley, Explore by Del Webb Jordanelle Ridge is slated for approximately 900 homes. It will offer a unique Utah expression of the Explore lifestyle and year-round recreation.

The combined Baessler Hartford Homes will continue to serve buyers in the Northern Colorado region after the deal closes. 3 MIN READ Adobe Stock Fort Collins, Colorado October 8, 2026 Northern Colorado builders Baessler Homes and Hartford Homes announced plans to combine and operate under the single brand entity Baessler Hartford Homes. The merger is expected to be finalized by the end of the fiscal year. Both companies have deep roots in the northern Colorado market.

Long before Janet Benavidez was overseeing sales and marketing for Shea Homes nationally, she was a teenager spending weekends in the back office of a Shea division, organizing files, making copies, and getting a firsthand look at the home-building business. What began as a part-time job at 15 eventually became a 27-year career that took her from escrow and new-home sales to sales management and, ultimately, national sales and marketing leadership.

An increasingly resilient economy, steady population growth, and relative affordability are helping Fresno emerge as one of California’s most compelling opportunities for home builders. 2 MIN READ Adobe Stock October 8, 2026 It is no secret that California metros have struggled with population losses or stagnant growth since the pandemic, but Fresno has followed a different trajectory.

The acquisition triples Century Communities' community count in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro and expands its lot pipeline. 2 MIN READ October 8, 2026 Century Communities—No. 10 on the 2026 Builder 100 list—has acquired substantially all of the assets of HMH Lifestyles, doing business as HistoryMaker Homes. The acquisition deepens Century Communities’ position in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, tripling its community count and meaningfully expanding the company’s lot pipeline.

Some of the smartest innovations are the ones you hardly see. In this BUILDER Session, two leading builders explore how thoughtfully integrated products and systems can solve everyday challenges, improve home performance and livability, and deliver lasting value without calling attention to the engineering behind them.