Eye On Housing
Author Archives
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Who Are NAHB’s Builder Members?
Every year the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducts a member census in order to better understand the composition and characteristics of the people who belong to its organization. In 2016, 32 percent of NAHB’s members were builders—those directly involved in home building. The remaining 68 percent were associate members—those involved in support industries and professions, such as trade… Read More ›
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55+ Housing Market Index Remains in Positive Territory Despite Drop
The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) single-family 55+ Housing Market Index (55+ HMI) dropped 12 points to 55 in the first quarter of 2017, after an unusually high index reading of 67 in the fourth quarter of 2016. Despite the drop, the 55+ HMI still remains above 50, which means that more builders view conditions as good than poor… Read More ›
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Increase in Remodeling Market Index Reflects Broad-Based Confidence
The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 58 in the first quarter of 2017, up five points from the previous quarter. This reading is the highest since the fourth quarter of 2015 (Figure 1). A RMI above 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is higher (compared to the prior quarter)… Read More ›
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Homeownership: A County-Level Analysis
Homeownership is a key housing and economic measure of social conditions. Due to the housing downturn, the national homeownership rate declined precipitously, and has failed to recover to its historical norm. In fact, the homeownership rate reached a 50 year low in the second quarter of 2016 and has only edged up slightly since then, rising to 63.5% at the… Read More ›
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Rental Apartment Absorption Flat While Condominium Absorption Jumps
The US Census Bureau, in collaboration with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, releases data on completions and absorption rates for multifamily buildings with at least 5 apartments. The most recent release shows that completions of nonsubsidized, unfurnished, rental apartments amounted to 73,800 in the third quarter of 2016. This is 11,700 more than the second quarter of 2016, but… Read More ›
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Apartment and Condominium Market Momentum Continues
The National Association of Home Builders’ Multifamily Production Index (MPI) increased two points to 55 in the fourth quarter of 2016. For five straight years, the MPI has been at or above 50, which indicates that more respondents report conditions are improving than report conditions are getting worse (Figure 1). Figure 1: NAHB Multifamily Production Index (MPI) and Multifamily Starts… Read More ›
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The Average Number of School Age Children per Home
Across the United States, builders are often charged impact fees by local governments to help pay for infrastructure associated with children in new residential developments entering the public education system. Therefore, builders have an interest in ensuring that the number of school age children in new developments is accurately estimated. Local governments also benefit from this data because it can… Read More ›
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55+ Housing Market Ends Fourth Quarter on Record-High
The single-family 55+ Housing Market Index (55+ HMI) jumped eight points to 67 in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). This is the highest reading since the inception of the index in 2008 (Figure 1). The NAHB produces two 55+ HMIs: one for the single-family market and another for multifamily condominiums. Each index… Read More ›
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Remodeling Market Remains Positive in Fourth Quarter
The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) dropped 4 points to 53 from the previous quarter, but remained above the breakeven point of 50, which indicates that more remodelers report activity is higher (compared to the prior quarter) than report activity is lower. Although the RMI declined, it is consistent with levels seen in the first… Read More ›
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Absorption Data Indicate Multifamily Market Leveling Off
The US Census Bureau recently released data on multifamily completions and absorption rates from the second quarter of 2016. Completions of privately financed, unfurnished, unsubsidized apartments in buildings with five or more units totaled to 62,600, which is approximately 5,000 fewer than completions in the second quarter of 2015 (Figure 1). Examining Figure 1 further indicates a leveling off of multifamily… Read More ›