President Donald Trump’s decision to impose steep new tariffs on imported wood, furniture and home fixtures is drawing criticism from economists, builders and housing experts who warn the move could further strain an already fragile housing market.

New tariffs in these sectors were first announced Sept. 26 by Trump on social media, with further details rolled out earlier this week.

Beginning Oct. 14, the U.S. will levy a 10% tariff on imported timber and lumber — and a 25% tariff on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and upholstered furniture.

On Jan. 1, tariffs on cabinets and vanities will rise to 50%, while upholstered furniture will be taxed at 30%.

Trump said in a proclamation that the duties were needed to protect domestic manufacturers from “the large scale flooding of these products” into the U.S.

Builders express concern

In a New York Times article, analysts cautioned that higher costs could slow construction, worsen the housing shortage and offset any relief from falling mortgage rates.

“These tariffs are really hard to understand given that the president has said to his supporters, ‘I want to bring down inflation, I want to bring down interest rates, I want to help create an ownership society for you and your other friends and family members,’” Anirban Basu, chief economist at the Associated Builders and Contractors, told the Times.

Builders said the new policy will increase the cost of homes and renovations at a time when high interest rates have already depressed sales and construction.

“These new tariffs will create additional headwinds for an already challenged housing market by further raising construction and renovation costs,” said Buddy Hughes, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders.

Some developers said the timing could stall projects.

William Cote — CEO of Hudson Meridian Construction Group in New York — told the Times many clients were preparing to move forward with projects after pausing during the rate hikes.

“Tariffs are obviously throwing a monkey wrench in all that and creating another uncertainty,” he said.

Potential tariff benefit, economists weigh in

The duties drew praise from the American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance, which thanked Trump for a “commitment to rebuild domestic manufacturing.”

Last month, the group urged the president to take new tariff action.

The American Home Furnishings Alliance told the Times that tariffs could benefit some U.S. factories — but added that “a complex global supply chain fuels both domestic manufacturing and import operations in the U.S. furniture industry.”

Economists warned the tariffs could ripple beyond housing.

“The direct impact is it’s going to be worse for the economy,” said Wayne Winegarden, an economist at the Pacific Research Institute.

“The housing market is not in a great place, to put it mildly,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather.

A New Jersey Superior Court judge has dismissed lawsuits from a coalition of state municipalities seeking to overturn a new affordable housing law — dealing a major setback to opponents of the policy.

Assignment Judge Robert Lougy on Tuesday rejected two suits filed by the Local Leaders for Responsible Planning, a group led by Montvale, New Jersey, Mayor Mike Ghassali.

An 81-page opinion dismissed the cases with prejudice and barred them from being refiled, NJ Spotlight News reported.

“The significant opinions of our Supreme Court have defined what the Constitution requires in providing affordable housing and emphasized the important role of the legislative and executive branches in fulfilling that obligation,” Lougy wrote.

Lawsuit argued law is an overreach

The coalition of about three dozen towns argued that the 2024 law exceeded the requirements of the state Supreme Court’s Mount Laurel doctrine, which established that municipalities must allow their “fair share” of low-income housing.

Lougy rejected that claim, along with all others raised.

The ruling effectively ends the mayors’ challenge in state court. Previous efforts to block the law during litigation failed at the appellate and state Supreme Court levels.

A federal lawsuit, however, is still pending.

That case argues the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause by exempting the state’s most densely populated “urban aid” municipalities from future obligations — though they must rehabilitate existing affordable units, NJ Spotlight News added.

Municipal plans accused of falling short

Affordable housing advocates praised Lougy’s decision.

“It’s outrageous that a handful of wealthy towns are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money trying to block the affordable homes New Jerseyans desperately need,” Josh Bauers of Fair Share Housing Center told NJ Spotlight News. “Thankfully, Judge Lougy saw through their baseless claims — and the overwhelming majority of municipalities are already moving forward to create the homes our families, seniors and people with disabilities urgently need.”

New Jersey set housing obligations of about 81,000 units last year.

This summer, 423 municipalities filed affordable housing plans — the largest participation in the 50-year history of the process.

Some towns, including East Brunswick, Galloway Township and Paramus, are redeveloping malls and other sites into mixed-income housing, local reports said.

Municipalities with approved plans are reportedly shielded from so-called “builder’s remedy” lawsuits, which can force high-density construction if towns fail to comply.

Fair Share Housing has challenged 16 municipal plans — contending they fall short. Those disputes are now in mediation and could move to expedited court hearings in early 2026.

Final housing plans must be in place by March 15.

Georgia’s housing market presents stark contrasts. The state reports a median 70 days on market for single-family homes. HW Data highlights a sharp divide, with some Georgia metros selling in weeks while others take months to turn.

Quick-selling metros

Hinesville-Fort Stewart leads the state’s larger markets with homes selling in a median of 42 days. The metro’s 126 active listings have a median price of $310,000. Its 1.7 months of inventory signals tight supply and steady buyer demand.

Athens–Clarke County also shows faster movement, with homes spending a median of 49 days on market. The 113 active listings have a median price of $299,000. With months of supply near 2.0, our Market Action Index shows Athens leaning toward a seller’s market.

Slower markets in Brunswick and Albany

Brunswick listings linger for nearly five months. The metro’s 165 active listings have a median price of $1.8 million, reflecting a market skewed toward higher-end homes. Days on market sits at 147, with months of supply approaching 4.8, and the Market Action Index signals conditions that favor buyers.

Albany shows a different dynamic, with lower median prices but slower turnover. With more than 100 active listings priced between $79,000 and $135,000, homes here remain on the market for 126 to 133 days. Months of supply ranges from 5.0 to 8.5, and our Market Action Index places Albany firmly in a buyer’s market.

Local dynamics in the data

HW Data shows that price mix and supply balance are key drivers behind these differences. Metros with mid-market price points, such as Hinesville and Athens, tend to move faster. Areas at the higher and lower ends of the price spectrum, such as Brunswick and Albany, show longer selling times.

Takeaway for buyers and sellers

The Georgia data highlights how market composition influences velocity. For buyers, mid-market metros remain competitive, while slower-moving areas may offer more room to negotiate. For sellers, realistic pricing and market expectations are critical across all markets.

Better’s chief financial officer, Kevin Ryan, is retiring from the company, according to an SEC filing on Friday, and will be joining PennyMac Financial Services as a senior managing director, chief strategy officer.

According to the filing, Ryan announced on Sept. 30 that he would be retiring but it is not clear when his last day will be. On Friday, Ryan posted about his new role on LinkedIn.

“Very happy to announce that I will soon be joining PennyMac Financial Services, Inc as a Senior Managing Director, Chief Strategy Officer,” Ryan’s post reads. “Very excited to join David, Doug and the entire team. The financial services and residential financing markets are going through tremendous change and i am looking forward to being a part of shaping that change. Thank you to all my colleagues and friends I have met over the last 25 years and looking forward to working together going forward.”

In a statement to HousingWire, Vishal Garg, Better’s founder and CEO, said “We thank Kevin for his years of service and wish him the very best moving forward. He remains committed to ensuring continuity as the company continues to execute on its strategy.”

The filing says that Better has commenced a search process to identify the next chief financial officer and, to ensure leadership continuity, Ryan will assist in the transition of CFO duties.

“This transition is without cause and Mr. Ryan has informed the Company that it is not due to any disagreement with the Board, the Company or management on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices,” the filing reads.

“[T]he last 5 years I have spent at Better have been the most rewarding of my career. Vishal and the team have built an AI-first company that is ready for the next stage of its evolution as the market improves and technological advancement in the industry accelerates. There is no company in the world better positioned to take advantage of these changes,” Ryan said in the filing. “As I transition, I will do everything I possibly can to support Better on its path to the next stage of market leadership. Congratulations to the Better team on all we have built and will continue to build.”

The filing also includes this statement from Garg:

“Kevin has done so much for Better in the past 5 years, from preparing us to IPO, to negotiating with our investors over $1.25 bln of additional capital raised, to working with us post-public listing to build our finance functions as a public company. We are indebted to him for all of his contributions and wish him the best of success in whatever he chooses to pursue in the future.”

The Mississippi housing market continues to show one of the slowest absorption rates in the nation, with homes sitting on the market well above the U.S. median. The state now ties with Louisiana, Hawaii and Florida for the longest days on market (DOM), underscoring a widening gap between local conditions and the national trend.

HW Data shows Mississippi’s median DOM for single-family homes at 91 days, compared with a national median of 70 days. On a 90-day horizon, Mississippi posts a median of 70 days, also above the national 56-day figure. The alignment between short- and long-term measures confirms the slowdown reflects a persistent trend rather than temporary seasonality.

Mississippi ranks among slowest state markets

Mississippi’s position alongside Louisiana, Hawaii and Florida at 91 DOM highlights how regional markets can diverge sharply from national benchmarks. By contrast, Texas and Alabama report 77-day medians, while Arizona, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Oregon align with the U.S. 70-day average.

Gap with national market widens

While Mississippi has historically posted longer timelines, the 2025 data shows the divide widening. Homes now take three weeks longer to sell than the U.S. median, pointing to extended absorption periods and shifting leverage toward buyers.

Regional perspective

While Mississippi and parts of the South show longer timelines, many regions are holding closer to national norms. This variation underscores the value of localized data, giving housing professionals a clearer view of market dynamics and helping them identify opportunities that national averages may not capture.

Implications for absorption and pricing

Extended days on market directly affect how quickly inventory clears. Longer timelines may contribute to slower turnover rates and can pressure sellers to revisit pricing strategies if listings remain active beyond seasonal averages. For professionals tracking supply and demand, Mississippi’s DOM trends provide an early indicator of where inventory could accumulate and how buyer leverage may evolve heading into the winter season.

Why it matters for professionals

For agents, Mississippi’s elevated DOM serves as a signal of slowing velocity. Extended listing times affect pricing strategies, contract negotiations and inventory turnover. Monitoring this widening gap is critical for anticipating shifts in demand, guiding client expectations and benchmarking local performance against national trends.