Eye On Housing
Number of 5,000+ Square Foot Homes Down in 2022
According to the annual data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), a total of 29,000 5,000+ square-foot homes were started in 2022, down from 33,000 in 2021. In the boom year of 2006, the number of new 5,000+ square foot homes reached a peak of 45,000. In 2007, the number fell to 37,000. In 2008, only 20,000 such homes were… Read More ›
Recent Posts
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Lot Values Trail Behind Inflation
Lot values for single-family detached spec homes continued to rise in 2022, with the national value and six out of nine Census divisions setting new nominal records, according to NAHB’s analysis of the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) data. The U.S. median lot value for single family detached for-sale homes started in 2022 stands at $56,000, with half of… Read More ›
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Consumer Confidence Falls Again in September
Consumer confidence saw another decline in September as consumers expressed growing concerns about the future, primarily driven by persistent inflation and expectations of higher interest rates lasting for an extended period. The Consumer Confidence Index, reported by the Conference Board, fell 5.7 points from 108.7 to 103.0 in September, the lowest level since May 2023. The Present Situation Index rose… Read More ›
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New Home Sales Weaken in August on Higher Mortgage Rates
Elevated mortgage rates and challenging affordability conditions pushed new home sales down to their weakest rate since March. Sales weakened in August with average mortgage rates above 7%. While some builders were able to offset that effect via mortgage rate buydowns, rates moved higher this month, suggesting the pace of new home sales will weaken further for September. Sales of… Read More ›
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New Homes Same Size but Higher Priced if Age-Restricted
Of the roughly 1,005,000 single-family and 547,000 multifamily homes started in 2022, 59,000 (28,000 single-family and 31,000 multifamily) were built in age-restricted communities, according to NAHB tabulation of data from the Survey of Construction (SOC, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and partially funded by HUD). A residential community can be legally age-restricted, provided it conforms the one of the… Read More ›
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Employment Situation in August: State-Level Analysis
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 33 states and the District of Columbia in August compared to the previous month, while 17 states lost jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 187,000 in August, following a gain of 157,000 jobs in July. On a month-over-month basis, employment data was strong in California, which… Read More ›
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Market Share for Modular and Other Non-Site Built Housing in 2022
The total market share of non-site built single-family homes (modular and panelized) was just 2% of single-family homes in 2022, according to completion data from the Census Bureau Survey of Construction data and NAHB analysis. This share has been steadily declining since the early-2000s despite the high-level of interest for non-site built construction. This low market share in fact runs… Read More ›
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Existing Home Sales Hit 7-Month Low as Prices Keep Rising
Existing home sales in August remained at the lowest level since January as limited inventory and higher mortgage rates continued to weigh on homebuyers, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Low resale inventory and strong demand continued to drive up existing home prices, marking the third consecutive month where the median sales prices exceeded $400,000. A resurgence of… Read More ›
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One More Fed Rate Hike in 2023?
The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee held the federal funds rate at a top target rate of 5.5% at the conclusion of its September meeting. The Fed will also continue to reduce its balance sheet holdings of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities as part of quantitative tightening. These actions are intended to slow the economy and bring inflation back to 2%…. Read More ›
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Housing Starts Lower on Rising Mortgage Rates
Higher mortgage rates averaging above 7% put a damper on single-family production in August, as builders also continue to face supply-side challenges in the form of elevated construction costs, a lack of skilled labor and a shortage of buildable lots. Led by a sharp decline in multifamily production, overall housing starts declined 11.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of… Read More ›