Eye On Housing
Author Archives
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Vinyl and Stucco are the Most Common Siding On New Homes
The most common exterior wall materials on homes started in 2017 were vinyl and stucco siding. Vinyl siding was used on 27 percent of the new homes started in 2017, followed closely by stucco (25 percent), brick or brick veneer (21 percent), and fiber cement siding (such as Hardiplank or Hardiboard) (20 percent). Far smaller shares of single-family homes started last… Read More ›
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Building Materials Prices and Labor Access Top Challenges for 2018
The monthly NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index includes a set of “special” questions on a topic of current interest to the housing industry. In December 2017, the special questions asked builders about the problems they faced in 2017 and expect to face in 2018. Topping the list of problems builders faced in 2017 and expect to face in 2018 is… Read More ›
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Market Share of 5,000+ Square Foot Homes Declines
According to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction, the share of new homes started with 5,000 square feet or more of living space stood at 3.1% in 2016, down from 3.9 percent in 2015. The total number of 5,000+ square-foot homes started in absolute terms was 24,000, down from 28,000 in 2015. In 2015, the number of 5,000+ square feet… Read More ›
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Vinyl is the Most Widely Used Primary Exterior On New Homes
According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), vinyl (including vinyl-covered aluminum) was the most common primary exterior wall material on new single-family homes started in 2016 nationwide (27.2 percent), followed by stucco (24.4 percent), brick or brick veneer (21.8 percent), and fiber cement siding (such as Hardiplank or Hardiboard) (20 percent). Wood or wood products accounted… Read More ›
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Six In Ten New Homes Are Built In Community Associations
According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), 59.8 percent of all homes started in 2016 were built within a community or homeowner’s association. The Census Bureau defines community or homeowner’s associations as “formal legal entities created to maintain common areas of a development and to enforce private deed restrictions; these organizations are usually created when the… Read More ›
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Builders Concerns of Lot Availability Unchanged from 2016
The monthly NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) survey includes a set of “special” questions on a topic of current interest to the housing industry. In June 2017, the special questions asked builders about the supply and price of developed lots. Sixty-four percent of builders reported that the overall supply of developed lots in their areas was low to very… Read More ›
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Top Challenge for Builders is Labor Cost/Availability
The monthly NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index includes a set of “special” questions on a topic of current interest to the housing industry. In December 2016, the special questions asked builders about the problems they faced in 2016 and expect to face in 2017. Topping the list of problems builders faced in 2016 and expect to face in 2017 is… Read More ›
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High End New Homes
In 2015, a total of 1,762 homes were started for sale with a price of $1 million or more according to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction. New homes started for sale with a price of $ 1 million or more decreased as a share in absolute number in 2015. That number was significantly lower than in 2013 (3,347 homes) and… Read More ›
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New Homes with a Community Association
NAHB tabulations of data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) show 59 percent of new homes started in 2015 were built within a community with a homeowner’s or community association. The Census Bureau defines a community or homeowner’s association as “formal legal entities created to maintain common areas of a development and to enforce private deed restrictions; these… Read More ›
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A Rising Market Share of 5,000+ Square Foot Homes
New homes with 5,000 square feet or more of living space increased both as a share of all new construction and in absolute number in 2015, according to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction. In 2015, the share of new homes this size reached a post-recession peak of 3.9% of new homes started. The total number of 5,000+ square-foot homes… Read More ›