NAHB is a Washington, DC-based trade association whose mission is to enhance the climate for housing and the building industry. Chief among NAHB's goals is providing and expanding opportunities for all consumers to have safe, decent and affordable housing. As "the voice of America's housing industry," NAHB helps promote policies that will keep housing a national priority.

Founded in 1942, NAHB is a federation of more than 800 state and local associations. About one-third of NAHB's 215,000 members are home builders and /or remodelers. The remaining members are associates working in closely related fields within the housing industry, such as mortgage finance and building products and services.

The association is member-driven, with a professional staff of over 350. More than 2,800 members serve on the association's board of directors, which elects the association's Senior Officers and helps set the association's agenda.

NAHB analyzes policy issues, takes the industry's story to the public, monitors and works toward improving the housing finance system, and analyzes and forecasts economic trends. The association also represents the industry's interest on Capitol Hill and strives to ensure that housing remains a national priority when laws are made and policies are established.

In 2003, NAHB's builder member constructed about 80% of all new housing in America, making housing one of the largest and most powerful engines of economic growth in the country.