Eye On Housing
Author Archives
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Characteristics of Recent Home Buyers
A total of 8.8 million households bought homes in the two years preceding the release of the 2017 American Housing Survey (AHS). For its February Special Study, the National Association of Home Builders used the 2017 AHS to analyze trends among recent home buyers. The AHS is a nationally representative survey of residential structures in the US and of the… Read More ›
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55+ Housing Market Ends Fourth Quarter on a Positive Note
The National Association of Home Builders’ 55+ single-family housing market index rose 6 points to 66 in the fourth quarter of 2018, returning to levels seen in the first half of the year (Figure 1). A reading at or above 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor. The 55+ HMI consists of two indices: one for… Read More ›
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Remodelers’ Confidence Holds Relatively Steady in Fourth Quarter
The Remodeling Market Index (RMI) dropped one point to 57 in the fourth quarter, essentially unchanged from the third quarter (58), according to the National Association of Home Builders (Figure 1). Since the first quarter of 2013, the RMI has been at or above 50, which means that more remodelers report that market activity is higher than report that it… Read More ›
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Apartment Absorption Inches Up in the Second Quarter of 2018
The US Census Bureau’s Survey of Market Absorption (SOMA), which is produced in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, recently released data from the second quarter of 2018. The data show that completions of unfurnished, unsubsidized rental apartments in buildings with five or more units totaled to 78,510, which is up by approximately 3 percent from the… Read More ›
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Multifamily Market Confidence Weakens in Third Quarter
Confidence in the multifamily housing market weakened in the third quarter, according to results from the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The MMS produces two separate indices: the Multifamily Production Index (MPI) and the Multifamily Vacancy Index (MVI). The MPI, which measures builder and developer sentiment about current production conditions in… Read More ›
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Number of Bathrooms in New Homes
Every year, the US Census Bureau publishes data on the characteristics of new single-family homes started in its Survey of Construction, including data on full and half bathrooms. In 2017, 4 percent of new single-family homes started had 1 full bathroom or less, 60 percent had 2 full bathrooms, 27 percent had 3 full bathrooms, and 9 percent had four… Read More ›
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Builder Confidence in the 55+ Housing Market Drops in the Third Quarter
The single-family 55+ Housing Market Index (55+ HMI) dropped seven points to 60 in the third quarter of 2018, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Although the index declined, it is still above the index break even point of 50, which means that more builders view conditions as good than poor (Figure 1). NAHB produces two 55+… Read More ›
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Remodeling Confidence Remains Solid
The Remodeling Market Index (RMI) remained stable with a reading of 58 in the third quarter of 2018, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The RMI has been at or above 50 since the second quarter of 2013, which indicates that more remodelers report market activity is higher than report it is lower (Figure 1). The overall… Read More ›
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Air Conditioning and Heating Systems in New Homes
Air Conditioning Systems The Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) provides valuable information on the characteristics of new homes started, such as air conditioning and heating system installations. In 2017, 93.5 percent of new single-family homes started had a central AC system, the same share as in 2016. The trend, going back to 2000, shows a steady rise in the… Read More ›
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Multifamily Units by Building Size
The US Census Bureau recently released data on 2017 multifamily unit completions by building type from the Survey of Construction (SOC). In 2017, there was a significant expansion in the construction of units in large multifamily buildings (buildings with 50 or more units): units in these buildings grew by 18 percent to 187,000, the largest number since the start of… Read More ›