A Thanksgiving Message To Homebuilders Across America

Thanksgiving. A moment to reflect, be grateful, take stock.

This year, as I consider the people who make up the homebuilding and residential development community, I’m struck by how much there is to be thankful for, especially in this uncertain and challenging time.

The fact is, the road ahead isn’t easy. Housing affordability is a crisis. Sustainability and resiliency demand solutions we haven’t yet fully realized. The next generation of human talent is looking for purpose and alignment with work that makes a difference. Economic crosswinds — rising costs, policy shifts, and the transformative force of new technologies — are rewriting the rules of how homes are built, bought, and lived in. And layered on top of all that are environmental disruptions, a shortage of land and materials, and persistent gaps between the homes we need and the homes we have.

These challenges are real. They’re complex. And yet, something equally real cuts through this uncertainty: a DNA of spirit and resolve. Character. Equal parts bravery and humbleness.

Every day, in every corner of this country, you do what you’ve always done. You show up. You problem-solve. You create. You adapt. Whether you're a laborer on a job site, a land developer navigating endless approvals, a supplier grappling with logistics, or a leader charting a path forward in tough times, you push forward. Together, you’re building not just houses, but life's most important memories and hope — hope for families, communities, kids, grandkids, and other people's kids, and on and on.

It’s easy to lose sight of that bigger picture when the daily grind overwhelms. But your work is at the heart of much more than just business. It’s about creating a sense of belonging, giving people a foundation to build their lives on, and shaping the places we call home.

In a recent piece in The Atlantic, housing bard Jerusalem Demsas observes,

The places we live in can nurture us—or limit us—profoundly. The contours of opportunity are shaped by where we build and for whom we build.”

Your work directly influences those contours, determining not only where opportunity grows but how people feel connected to the fabric of their communities.

Similarly, The New York Times writer Mihir Zaveri notes:

Housing affordability isn’t just an economic issue; it’s one of social cohesion. When people can’t afford to live near where they work or close to family, communities suffer, and divisions deepen.”

And Zaveri concludes, finally:

I think what’s missing from most of the discourse is a conversation about what the final goal of change should actually be."

Clarity and conviction about how each of us and all of us want this crisis to end up – and what that looks like locally – needs to emerge as a precursor to commitment, investment, resolve, and, finally, a solution. This makes your work more than a transaction—it’s an act of service that strengthens bonds and builds resilience.

Data from the Brookings Institution reminds us of the sheer urgency:

Over the next decade, the U.S. will need at least 3.8 million new housing units just to keep up with demand.”

That’s not just a statistic; it’s a call to action. It underscores the stakes of your daily efforts and the importance of continuing to push boundaries, innovate, and collaborate.

At The Builder’s Daily, we’ve embraced a mission to celebrate the people behind this work and challenge all of us to do better, even when it feels impossible. This mission wouldn’t exist without you — the builders, visionaries, planners, and doers.

There’s a sharp critic in my life who keeps me honest. He always reminds me not to sugarcoat things or rely on lofty, empty phrases. Instead, he pushes me to focus on the people, the reality, and the heart of what matters. So let me say this plainly:

This industry calls you. Your resilience, creativity, and humanity make this work truly important.

The housing crisis isn’t going to solve itself. It will take relentless effort, smarter systems, deeper collaboration, and a commitment to keeping people at the center of every decision. But if history teaches us anything, it’s that this industry is capable of rising to the moment. You’ve done it before, and you’ll do it again.

So, this Thanksgiving, let’s take a moment to step back and recognize what’s been accomplished — not in terms of units sold or profits made, but in terms of lives changed and communities strengthened.

From everyone here at The Builder’s Daily, thank you for what you do. May you find time to rest, recharge, and reconnect with what matters most.

Here’s to building not just homes but a future we can all be proud of.

And, thank you for making this the best, most energizing and discovery-filled job anyone could ever get to do.