Eye On Housing
Author Archives
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Over 20% of Home Builders Have Already Used Aerial Drones
Results from a recent NAHB survey of single-family builders show that a majority of them (66 percent) are aware that unmanned aerial vehicles (i.e., drones) have been used on construction sites, and 22 percent have already used a drone in their own construction business at least once (including cases where they may have hired a third party to do so)…. Read More ›
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Over Half of New Homes are Built in Community Associations
According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), 58 percent of all homes started in 2014 were built within a community or home owner’s association. The Census Bureau defines a 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… Read More ›
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Patios: A Popular Feature in New Homes Started in 2014
Data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) shows a clear geographic pattern to the exterior amenities (patios and decks) included in new homes. In 2014, a majority (56 percent) of all new homes started had a patio. In contrast, only 23 percent had a deck. The Census Bureau’s SOC data is available by the nine census divisions. Patios… Read More ›
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Labor is Top Challenge for Builders
Topping the list of problems builders faced in 2015 and expect to face in 2016 is the Cost/Availability of Labor, an issue for 76% of builders who expect it to increase in 2016 and which has increased in importance the past three years. In 2013, 53% of builders rated labor as a significant problem, followed by 61% in 2014 and… Read More ›
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Vinyl is the Most Widely Used Exterior for New Homes
According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) and NAHB analysis, vinyl (including vinyl-covered aluminum) was the most common exterior wall material used in homes started in 2014 (29 percent), followed by stucco and brick or brick veneer (23 percent each), and fiber cement siding (such as Hardiplank or Hardiboard) (18 percent). The principal exterior wall material… Read More ›
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Lots for New Single-Family Homes Largest in New England
According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), the median size of lots on single-family homes built for sale that were started in 2014 was more than half an acre (0.80 acres) in the New England Census Division (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut). This is significantly larger than the median lot size on… Read More ›
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Slight Growth for Market Share of 5,000+ Square Foot Homes in 2014
New homes with 5,000 square feet or more of living space posted a small increase in market share last year, according to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction. In 2014, the share of new homes this size reached a post-recession peak of 3.75% of new homes started. The total number of 5,000+ square-foot homes started that year was 24,000 units…. Read More ›
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Lot Shortage: A Lingering Problem for Builders
In a May 2015 survey conducted by NAHB, 62 percent of builders reported that the overall supply of developed lots in their areas was low to very low, up 2 percent from May 2014, but up from 43 percent in September 2012. Sixty-two percent is the largest low supply percentage recorded since NAHB began periodically asking the question in 1997 on… Read More ›
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Vinyl is the Most Widely Used Siding On New Homes Started
According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), vinyl (including vinyl-covered aluminum) was the most common exterior wall material used in homes started in 2013 (31 percent), followed by brick or brick veneer (24 percent), stucco (22 percent), and fiber cement siding (such as Hardiplank or Hardiboard) (17 percent). Far smaller shares of single-family homes started last… Read More ›
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5,000+ Square Foot Homes: 3+ Percent of Starts
Previous posts have discussed the upward trend in the median and average size of new single-family homes and how part of this is likely due to a historically atypical mix of buyers in the market. A question not addressed so far in these posts is whether this trend is evident at the top end of the market. The answer is… Read More ›