Author Archives
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Apartment Absorption Shows Weakness
In the fourth quarter of 2018, 56,950 apartment units were completed, an 18 percent decline from the fourth quarter of 2017 (69,640) (Figure 1). Apartment completions in the fourth quarter of 2018 were at their lowest point since the fourth quarter of 2013. These data come from the US Census Bureau, in collaboration with the US Department of Housing and… Read More ›
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Remodeling Market Remains Solid in the Second Quarter
Remodelers’ confidence remained solid in the second quarter of 2019 with a Remodeling Market Index (RMI) reading of 55, up one point from the previous quarter, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) (Figure 1). Readings above 50 indicate that more remodelers report market activity as higher than as lower, compared to the previous quarter. The RMI is… Read More ›
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2017 Residential Electricity Bill by State
According to the U.S. Department of Energy – Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average monthly residential electricity bill in the U.S. stood at $111.67 in 2017. Electricity is one of the biggest household expenses, as it accounted for 55 percent of total utility costs and 9 percent of total housing costs in 2017, according to the American Housing Survey (AHS)…. Read More ›
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Minority Homeownership Rate Drops in the First Quarter of 2019
Every quarter the US Census Bureau publishes results from its Housing Vacancies and Homeownership Survey (CPS/HVS). In the first quarter of 2019 the U.S. homeownership rate stood at 64.2 percent, unchanged from its level during the same time last year, but slightly down from the fourth quarter of 2018 (64.8 percent) (Figure 1). A recent NAHB blog shows that although… Read More ›
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A Nation of Builders
Every year the National Association of Home Builders conducts a member census to better understand the composition and characteristics of the people who belong to its organization. In 2018, 32 percent of NAHB’s members were builders—those whose primary business is single-family home building, multifamily building, residential or commercial remodeling, commercial building, land development, or manufacturing of modular/panelized/log homes. The remaining… Read More ›
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Confidence in Apartment and Condo Housing Sectors Weakens in the First Quarter
Builder and developer confidence in the multifamily market weakened in the first quarter of 2019, according to results from the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Multifamily Market Survey (MMS). The MMS consists of two indices: the Multifamily Production Index (MPI) and the Multifamily Vacancy Index (MVI). The MPI, which measures builder and developer sentiment about current market conditions, dropped… Read More ›
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Who Are NAHB’s Associate Members?
Every year since 2008, the NAHB has conducted a member census in order to better understand the composition and characteristics of the people who belong to its organization. In 2018, 68 percent of NAHB’s members were associate members—those involved in a wide range of support industries and professions including, among others, trade contractors, manufacturers, retailers/distributors, designers, and architects. The remaining… Read More ›
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Top Home Technology Features
According to the latest edition of NAHB’s study, What Home Buyers Really Want, 46 percent of recent and prospective home buyers want a security camera in their home, more than any other home technology feature listed in the survey. The study is based on a survey that asks recent and prospective home buyers (people who bought homes in the previous… Read More ›
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55+ Housing Market Opens First Quarter with Record High
The NAHB single-family 55+ Housing Market Index (55+ HMI) rose six points to 72 in the first quarter of 2019, indicating that builder confidence in the 55+ housing market continues to strengthen (Figure 1). The index reading is the highest since the inception of the index in 2008. The 55+ HMI measures two segments of the 55+ housing market: single-family… Read More ›
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Remodelers’ Confidence Falls Three Points in First Quarter
The Remodeling Market Index (RMI) fell three points to 54 in the first quarter of 2019, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Despite the drop, the RMI is still over the index break-even point of 50, which indicates that more remodelers report that market activity is higher than report it is lower, compared to the previous quarter. The… Read More ›