Eye On Housing
Pending Home Sales Dip Again in January
After reaching a record high in August, pending home sales slid for the fifth consecutive month, as surging home prices and low inventory constrain buyers. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), is a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts. The PHSI fell 2.8% from 126.4 in December to 122.8 in January, a… Read More ›
Recent Posts
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Multifamily Construction Sentiment Declines in Fourth Quarter
Builder and developer confidence in multifamily markets fell in the last quarter of 2020, according to the results of the National Association of Home Builders’ Multifamily Market Survey (MMS). The MMS produces two separate indices: The Multifamily Production Index (MPI), which fell 5 points to 43; and the Multifamily Vacancy Index (MVI), which edged down two points to 42, with… Read More ›
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New Home Sales Edge Higher in January
After a slight slowing of sales at the end of 2020, new single-family home sales edged higher in January, increasing 4.3% to a 923,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate, according to estimates from the Census Bureau and HUD. Sales exceeded construction starts by a historic margin at the end of the summer, which necessitated an increase in starts and some slowing… Read More ›
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Multifamily Condo Construction Starts Fell 28% in 2020
According to NAHB analysis of quarterly Census data, the market share of rental units of total multifamily construction starts ticked higher to near 97% during the fourth quarter of 2020. In contrast, the historical low share of 47% was set during the third quarter of 2005, during the condo building boom. An average share of 80% was registered during the… Read More ›
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Construction Loans End 2020 Lower
Continuing a period of volume decline that began at the end of 2019, the volume of residential construction lending posted a slight decline during the fourth quarter of 2020. Overall residential construction loan volume ended the year lower due to accelerated sales growth, which reduced outstand loans at a faster clip, and higher interest rates for AD&C financing. The volume… Read More ›
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Home Price Appreciation Continued in December
In December, national home prices (not seasonally adjusted) rose at the fastest pace in seven years, fueled by strong demand and low inventory. Among all 19 major markets, Seattle, Washington DC and Cleveland reported the largest home price appreciation. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, reported by S&P Dow Jones Indices, rose at a seasonally adjusted annual… Read More ›
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Flat Conditions for Custom Home Building
NAHB’s analysis of Census Data from the Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design survey indicates custom home building ended the year 2020 flat due second quarter weakness. There were 44,000 total custom building starts during the fourth quarter of the year, equal to the fourth quarter 2019 total. Over the last four quarters, custom housing starts totaled 176,000, roughly unchanged… Read More ›
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Top Challenges for Builders: Building Materials Prices in 2020 & 2021
Building materials prices topped the list of problems builders faced in 2020 and is expected to return to the number one spot in 2021, according to special questions on the December 2020 survey for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. The survey results showed that building materials was a significant issue for 96% of builders last year. In 2021, however,… Read More ›
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Rebound for Townhouse Construction
According to NAHB analysis of the most recent Census data of Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, townhouse construction expanded to a 2.5 year high during the final quarter of 2020. As housing demand has shifted to more suburban and exurban areas and housing affordability headwinds persist, medium-density construction initially lagged. However, a strong final quarter led to roughly flat… Read More ›
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Existing Home Sales Continue to Rise in January
Fueled by low mortgage interest rates and strong demand, existing home sales, as reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), increased to three-month high in January. But surging house prices and inventory shortages could limit demand and slow the market. Total existing home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 0.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate… Read More ›