Eye On Housing
Property Taxes by Congressional District
Earlier this year, NAHB released 2017 property taxes by state as a blog post and as a longer special study. However, in light of changes made to the tax code by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), further refining the statistics by congressional district is instructive to both members of Congress as well as their constituents. Property Tax Payments,… Read More ›
Recent Posts
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Apartment Absorption Shows Weakness
In the fourth quarter of 2018, 56,950 apartment units were completed, an 18 percent decline from the fourth quarter of 2017 (69,640) (Figure 1). Apartment completions in the fourth quarter of 2018 were at their lowest point since the fourth quarter of 2013. These data come from the US Census Bureau, in collaboration with the US Department of Housing and… Read More ›
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Remodeling Market Remains Solid in the Second Quarter
Remodelers’ confidence remained solid in the second quarter of 2019 with a Remodeling Market Index (RMI) reading of 55, up one point from the previous quarter, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) (Figure 1). Readings above 50 indicate that more remodelers report market activity as higher than as lower, compared to the previous quarter. The RMI is… Read More ›
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Single-Family Starts Expand in June
According to estimates from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Commerce Department, single-family starts improved in June, consistent with the recent stabilization of the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). Single-family starts increased 3.5% to a 847,000 seasonally adjusted annual pace in June. However, total housing starts were down approximately 1% (1.253 million annual rate) due to a decline… Read More ›
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Builder Confidence Holds Firm in July
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes rose one point to 65 in July, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This marks the sixth consecutive month that sentiment levels have held at a steady range in the low- to mid-60s. Builders report solid demand for single-family homes. However, they continue… Read More ›
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Single-Family Permit Decline Continued in May
Over the first five months of 2019, the total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date (YTD) nationwide reached 342,116. On a year-over-year (YoY) basis, this is a 5.8% decline over the May 2018 level of 363,327. Year-to-date ending in May, single-family permits reported declines in all four regions. The Midwest, West, South, and the Northeast declined by 10.6%, 11.0%, 2.8%,… Read More ›
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Building Materials Price Declines Led by Lumber and Plywood
Prices paid for goods used in residential construction decreased by 1.1% in June (not seasonally adjusted) according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The decline broke a four-month trend of increases and was only the fifth month over the past two years in which prices fell. Over the past 12 months, building materials prices… Read More ›
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Among Government-Backed Home Loans, USDA Loans’ Average Size Spike
The latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey show a decrease of 2.4% in fixed-rate mortgage applications on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. Currently, fixed-rate mortgages account for about 95% of all mortgage activity, with the rest of mortgage applications being adjustable-rate mortgages. While through most of June, refinancing activity was experiencing highs that… Read More ›
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Gain in Core Inflation in June
In June, core inflation increased relative to May, while headline inflation remained unchanged. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index for June. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.1% in June, the same increase as in May. Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the “core” CPI increased by 0.3%… Read More ›
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Consumer Credit Report Shows Acceleration of Revolving Debt
The Federal Reserve’s latest G.19 Consumer Credit Report shows rising trends in consumer credit, excluding loans secured by real estate, through May 2019. As of May 31, 2019, consumer credit totaled $4.1 trillion on a seasonally adjusted basis, with $1.1 trillion in revolving debt1 and $3.0 trillion in nonrevolving debt2. This is an increase of $17 billion from the previous… Read More ›