Eye On Housing
The median lot size of a new single-family detached home sold in 2018 stands at 8,567 square feet, or just under one-fifth of an acre. This is just 7 square feet larger but statistically not different from the 2017 median. In 2015, the median lot size fell under 8,600 square feet for the first time since Census Bureau’s Survey of… Read More ›
Contracts for new, single-family home sales inched down 0.7% in September to a 701,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate according to estimates from the joint release of HUD and the Census Bureau. The decline came off a downwardly revised August estimate, which was decreased from an initial reading of 713,000 to a new estimate of 706,000. Year-over-year, the September estimate is… Read More ›
According to the data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) the most common exterior wall materials on homes started in 2018 were vinyl siding and stucco. Vinyl siding and Stucco (26 percent each) were used on new homes started in 2018, brick or brick veneer (21 percent), and fiber cement siding (such as Hardiplank or Hardiboard) (20 percent). Far smaller shares… Read More ›
According to estimates from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Commerce Department, single-family starts edged up in September, consistent with recent gains for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). However, the headline measure of total housing starts was down 9.4% for the month due to a large decline in the volatile multifamily sector. Single-family starts increased 0.3% to… Read More ›
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes rose three points to 71 in October, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). Sentiment levels are at their highest point since February 2018 and have risen 13 points since the start of 2019. The housing rebound that began in the spring continues, supported… Read More ›
Wood framing remains the most dominant construction method for single-family homes in the U.S., according to NAHB analysis of Census Bureau data. For 2018 completions, 93% of new homes were wood-framed. Another 7% were concrete homes, and less than half a percent were steel-framed. These shares have remained fairly stable over the last five years. In absolute terms, 778,000 single-family… Read More ›
Data from the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) indicate that construction job openings increased in August. The estimated number of job openings in the construction sector increased to 379,000 after reaching a post-Great Recession high of 434,000 in April. The August 2019 count of unfilled jobs represents a year-over-year gain relative to the 315,000 estimated unfilled construction jobs… Read More ›
Total nonfarm employment, seasonally adjusted (SA) increased by 2.1 million jobs, year-over-year (YoY), or 1.4% from August 2018 to August 2019. During this time, total nonfarm employment in the Western region increased by 2.1%. The South, Northeast, and Midwest recorded gains at 1.7%, 0.9% and 0.7% respectively, during this time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfarm payroll employment… Read More ›
Contracts for new, single-family home sales increased in August by 7.1% to a 713,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate according to estimates from the joint release of HUD and the Census Bureau. The increase came off a upwardly revised July estimate, which was increased from an initial reading of 635,000 to a new estimate of 666,000. Year-over-year, the August estimate is 18.0% higher. Sales continue… Read More ›
The Federal Reserve reduced the key, short-term federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a top rate of 2% at the conclusion of its September Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. This was the second cut in 2019, partially reversing a set of increases enacted in 2018. The more dovish stance of the Fed is good for housing and… Read More ›