Eye On Housing
Author Archives
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September Housing Starts Decline on Multifamily Weakness
The September pace of total housing starts decreased 9% due a substantial decline in multifamily production. Single-family construction continues, as expected, along a positive trend. According to estimates from the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, single-family starts increased 8.1% to a 783,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate in September. Year-to-date, single-family housing starts are running almost 10% higher… Read More ›
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Builder Confidence Remains Solid in October
Builder confidence in the market for newly constructed single-family homes remained on firm ground in October, declining two points to a level of 63 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). Despite the decline, the HMI now stands at its second-highest level in 2016, a sign that the housing recovery continues to make solid progress. However,… Read More ›
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Construction Job Openings Decline in August
The count of unfilled jobs in the overall construction sector fell in August, as residential construction employment hiring accelerated in August and September. 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) fell to 184,000 in August, after establishing a cycle high of 225,000 in July (post-data revisions). The July estimate represents… Read More ›
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New Home Sales: Solid August Follows Hot July
Sales of newly-built, single-family homes fell 7.6% on a monthly basis in August to a 609,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate according to estimates from the Census Bureau and HUD. However, the monthly change masks the fact that the August pace of new home sales was the second strongest since the end of the Great Recession. New home sales for August… Read More ›
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Housing Starts Pause in August
Single-family and multifamily housing starts posted declines in August after several months of gains. August single-family starts were down 6% from the July pace, falling back to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 722,000. However, on a year-to-date basis, single-family construction is continuing at a rate that is 9% higher than this time in 2015. Part of the August decline… Read More ›
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Builder Confidence Surges in September
Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes in September jumped six points to 65 from a downwardly revised August reading of 59 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This marks the highest HMI level since October 2015. With the inventory of new and existing homes remaining tight, builders are confident of positive market conditions… Read More ›
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Friday Poll: Labor or Lots
Housing demand is in relatively solid shape, with a healthy labor market and low mortgage interest rates. However, lack of labor and lots are limiting the amount of new construction that can be added to inventory. In our first reader poll, tell us what you see in terms of supply-side headwinds. We’ll report the results next week.
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Job Openings and Hiring Increase in Construction
The count of unfilled jobs in the overall construction sector rose in July, nearing the post-Great Recession high set in March. Residential construction hiring has also increased, after a period of soft gains in jobs. 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) rose to 214,000 in July, after establishing a… Read More ›
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More Growth for AD&C Lending
The volume of residential construction loans expanded 3.2% during the second quarter of 2016, marking 13 consecutive quarters of growth. Tight availability of acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) loans is a limiting factor on home building growth, but easing credit conditions and a growing loan base will help expand residential construction in a thin inventory environment. According to data from the FDIC and NAHB analysis,… Read More ›
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New Home Sales Heat Up in July
July new home sales recorded the strongest monthly pace since October 2007, growing to a 654,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate. According to estimates from the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development, the elevated July rate marked a 12.4% gain over downwardly revised, but still strong, estimates for June. On a year-to-date basis, new home sales have improved… Read More ›