Eye On Housing
Author Archives
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Single-Family Housing Starts Post Slight Gain
Total housing starts recorded a small decline in January, as multifamily starts fell back, albeit from an upwardly revised number in December. Total starts were down 2.6%, falling to a 1.246 million seasonally adjusted annual rate. However, single-family starts posted a small monthly increase in January, rising 1.9% to an 823,000 annual rate As measured on a three-month moving average, the current changes… Read More ›
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Residential Construction Employment Growing
The count of unfilled jobs in the overall construction sector declined recently, as residential construction employment accelerated in the last three months. According to the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) and NAHB analysis, the number of open construction sector jobs (on a seasonally adjusted basis) came in at 148,000 in December. The cycle high was 225,000 set in July. The open position rate (job openings… Read More ›
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2016 New Home Sales Up 12% Despite Weak December
Sales of newly built, single-family homes fell 10% on a monthly basis in December to a weak 536,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate, according to estimates from the Census Bureau and HUD. This was a surprisingly low reading for the series. My expectation is that it will be revised higher in the next report. While higher interest rates may have caused a reduction in… Read More ›
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Residential Construction Employment Solid in December
The count of unfilled jobs in the overall construction sector remained elevated in November, as residential construction employment continues to grow. According to the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) and NAHB analysis, the number of open construction sector jobs (on a seasonally adjusted basis) came in at 184,000 in November. The cycle high was 225,000 set in July. The open position rate (job… Read More ›
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Single-Family Housing Starts Up 9% in 2016
Housing starts rebounded in December, as monthly volatility for multifamily starts continued. Total starts were up 11.3%, rising to a 1.226 million seasonally adjusted annual rate. However, single-family starts posted a small monthly decline in December, albeit recording the fourth strongest monthly pace since the end of the recession. According to estimates from the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development,… Read More ›
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Builder Confidence Holds Firm in January
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes remained on firm ground in January, down two points to a level of 67 from a downwardly revised December reading of 69 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The solid reading is consistent with building expectations heading into the new year. NAHB expects 10 percent… Read More ›
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Top Posts of 2016: Remodeling by Zip Code Estimates
With the end of 2016 approaching, NAHB’s Eye on Housing is reviewing the posts that attracted the most readers over the last year. In March, Paul Emrath examined local estimates of remodeling activity. NAHB has released its latest projections of spending on improvements to owner-occupied housing by zip code. The projections show total spending on improvements, the number of owner-occupied homes, as well as average… Read More ›
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Top Posts of 2016: Housing Preferences across Generations
With the end of 2016 approaching, NAHB’s Eye on Housing is reviewing the posts that attracted the most readers over the last year. In March, Rose Quint examined how housing preferences differ across age groups. NAHB recently released its latest study tracking the evolution of home buyer preferences, titled Housing Preferences of the Boomer Generation: How They Compare to Other Home Buyers. The study… Read More ›
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Top Posts of 2016: Features and Colors of Kitchens in New Homes
With the end of 2016 approaching, NAHB’s Eye on Housing is reviewing the posts that attracted the most readers over the last year. In October, Carmel Ford examined design features in kitchens of new homes. What are the features and colors included in kitchens of newly constructed homes? Data from Houzz, combined with information from the 2016 Builder Practices Survey, provides insight. The 2016… Read More ›
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Top Posts of 2016: Single-Family Home Size Trending Lower
With the end of 2016 approaching, NAHB’s Eye on Housing is reviewing the posts that attracted the most readers over the last year. In November, we examined the turnaround in new home size that marks a broadening of home building inventory. After increasing and leveling off in recent years, new single-family home size continued to trend lower during the third quarter of 2016. This ongoing change marks… Read More ›