Eye On Housing
Author Archives
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Townhouse Construction Surges
According to NAHB analysis of the most recent Census data of Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, townhouse construction posted significant gains during the second quarter of 2018. Townhouse construction is set for further expansion given the demographics of renters entering the for-sale market, as well as ongoing land constraints and the growth of demand for walkable neighborhoods. Over the… Read More ›
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Flat Conditions for Housing Starts
Total housing starts posted a slight increase in July as markets face headwinds in the form of rising construction costs and growing affordability concerns. Total housing starts increased 0.9% in July and are 6.2% higher for 2018 on a year-to-date basis, according to the joint data release from the Census Bureau and HUD. The pace of single-family starts was roughly… Read More ›
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Builder Confidence Remains Firm in August
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes edged down one point to a solid 67 reading in August on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). Builders continue to report strong demand for new housing, fueled by steady job and income growth along with rising household formations. However, they are increasingly focused on growing affordability… Read More ›
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Unfilled Construction Sector Jobs Reach Cycle High
The count of unfilled jobs in the construction sector increased in June, reaching a post-Great Recession high level. The rate of open construction sector jobs also matched a prior cyclical high. According to the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) and NAHB analysis, the number of open construction sector jobs increased to 263,000 in June. The prior post-recession high count… Read More ›
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New Home Sales Fall Back in June
Contracts for new, single-family home sales declined in June, falling 5.3% to a 631,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate according to estimates from the joint release of HUD and the Census Bureau. The decline came off a downwardly revised May estimate, which was dropped from an initial read of 689,000 to a new estimate of 666,000. The June estimate was the lowest annual pace since… Read More ›
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Count of Unfilled Construction Jobs Remains Near Cycle High
The count of unfilled jobs in the construction sector was flat in May, remaining near post-Great Recession high levels. According to the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) and NAHB analysis, the number of open construction sector jobs came in at 243,000. The post-recession high count of open, unfilled construction jobs was 255,000 in July of last year…. Read More ›
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Housing Share of GDP: First Quarter 2018
With the release of the final estimate of first quarter 2018 GDP growth (2% growth rate), housing’s share of gross domestic product (GDP) declined slightly to 15.3%. The home building and remodeling component – residential fixed investment – held steady at 3.5%. Housing-related activities contribute to GDP in two basic ways. The first is through residential fixed investment (RFI). RFI is effectively the… Read More ›
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Housing Starts Reach Post-Recession High in May as Permits Soften
Total housing starts increased in May with gains in both the single-family and multifamily sectors. Starts increased 5% month-over-month to a 1.35 million seasonally adjusted annual rate, according to the joint data release from the Census Bureau and HUD. This pace is a post-recession high. The rate of single-family starts was 3.9% higher in May, reaching a 936,000 annual rate…. Read More ›
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Builder Confidence Slips Two Points as Lumber Prices Soar
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes fell two points to 68 in June on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The decline was due in large part to sharply elevated lumber prices, although sentiment remains on solid footing. Improved economic growth, continued job creation and solid housing demand should spur additional single-family… Read More ›
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April Construction Job Openings Remain Elevated
The count of unfilled jobs in the construction sector was effectively unchanged in April, remaining near post-Great Recession high levels. According to the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) and NAHB analysis, the number of open construction sector jobs came in at 232,000. The post-recession high count of open, unfilled construction jobs was 255,000 in July of last… Read More ›