Noel has three decades of experience in the home construction industry. His company has created more than 1,000 custom homes in the New Orleans area, NAHB officials said.

Republican leaders unveiled its final bill Friday, the result of negotiations between House and Senate leadership. It cuts the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent.

Scheduled events include fundraisers, awards ceremonies and visits to local schools.

Increasing home prices could not be offset by a quarter-point drop in mortgage interest rates, which caused the association’s Housing Opportunity Index to decline two points.

Increases ranged from 13.3 percent in the Western U.S. and 6.2 percent in the South.

Numbers about 50 indicate a majority view conditions as favorable — a trend that NAHB chief economist Robert Dietz said he expects to continue.

The show is scheduled for Jan. 9-11, 2018, in Orlando, Florida.

NAHB chief economist Robert Dietz said the number of perspective buyers dropped slightly during the month.

Robert Dietz, the association’s chief economist, said the building industry should be strong in 2017.