Eye On Housing
Fed Rate Hike Coming in March
At the conclusion of its January policy meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee strongly signaled that it will undertake its first, post-covid increase of the federal funds rate in March. The Fed is tightening monetary policy in response to the highest inflation readings in nearly 40 years. These inflationary pressures have increased both consumer costs and businesses input costs, including… Read More ›
Recent Posts
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New Home Sales Increase in December
New single-family home sales increased in December as housing demand was lifted by buyers accelerating some contract signings due to anticipated higher mortgage interest rates in 2022. However, for the year as a whole, sales ended 7.3% lower than a supercharged 2020, as builders slowed some sales to manage ongoing building material and labor issues affecting the housing industry. The… Read More ›
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Employment Situation in December: State-Level Analysis
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 44 states and the District of Columbia in December compared to the previous month while five states lost jobs. Employment was unchanged in Utah. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 199,000 in December, following an upwardly revised increase of 249,000 jobs in November. On a month-over-month basis,… Read More ›
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Impacts of Rising New Home Costs
Only 15% of buyers were looking for a newly-built home at the start of 2018, but that share shot up to 42% by the final quarter of 2020 (after the start of the pandemic). Since then, however, interest for new construction has fallen steadily, as costs for building materials – especially lumber – have experienced double-digit growth. By the final… Read More ›
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Homeownership Postponed
The share of adults planning a home purchase within 12 months has fallen for two consecutive quarters, going from 17% in the second quarter of 2021, to 16% and 15% in the third and fourth quarter of the year, respectively. The downward trend provides evidence that higher home prices and low housing availability (relative to demand) are leading some Americans… Read More ›
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2021 U.S. Population Growth Lowest on Record
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the of the United States increased by 393,000 to an estimated 332 million from the previous year. In 2021, the estimated population growth rate of 0.12 percent was the lowest since the Bureau began collecting this data beginning in 1900. Per Census estimates, slower population growth in 2021 was a result of decreasing fertility,… Read More ›
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Existing Home Sales Strongest Since 2006 Despite Supply Limits
Fueled by low mortgage interest rates and strong demand, annual existing home sales reached 15-year high in 2021, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). However, supply has continued to lag due to ongoing supply-chain disruptions and inventory fell to lowest level since January 1999, keeping home prices elevated and pricing out first-time and young buyers. Total existing home… Read More ›
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Remodeler Sentiment Continues to Improve Year-over-Year
The NAHB/Royal Building Products Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter posted a reading of 83, up four points from the fourth quarter of 2020. The reading is a sign of positive residential remodeler sentiment for projects of all sizes. The RMI is based on a survey that asks remodelers to rate various aspects of the remodeling market “good,” “fair”… Read More ›
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Housing Starts End 2021 with Annual Gains
Home building ended 2021 with strong annual gains as demand accelerated in the wake of the pandemic. These annual gains were realized despite supply-chain limitations for materials and ongoing access issues for labor and lots. Single-family starts ended 2021 with a 13.4% increase for a total of 1.123 million starts. Multifamily 5+ unit construction ended the year with a 22.1%… Read More ›
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Builder Confidence Edges Lower on Inflation Concerns
Growing inflation concerns and ongoing supply chain disruptions snapped a four-month rise in builder sentiment even as consumer demand remains robust. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes moved one point lower to 83 in January, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The HMI has hovered at the 83… Read More ›