Eye On Housing
Author Archives
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Building Materials Prices Increase 1.5% in December, Lumber Volatility at 75-Year High
The prices of goods used in residential construction ex-energy climbed 1.5% in December (not seasonally adjusted), according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The index was driven higher by large price increases for wood products. Building materials prices increased 15.9% in 2021 and have risen 18.6% since December 2020. Since declining 1.8% between July… Read More ›
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Domestic Sawmill Output Continues to Lag Home Construction
The failure of domestic sawmills to sufficiently boost output in the face of ongoing strong home buyer demand was a primary factor that contributed to record-high lumber prices and price volatility in 2021. Soaring lumber prices, combined with delays and higher costs for other building materials, continued to be a significant limiting factor for home building throughout 2021 despite a… Read More ›
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Property Tax Revenues Decline, Share of Total Increases in Q3 2021
NAHB analysis of the Census Bureau’s quarterly tax data shows that $707.6 billion in taxes were paid by property owners in the four quarters ending Q3 2021 (not seasonally adjusted), a 0.5% quarterly decline.[1] Four-quarter property tax revenues had climbed 14.3% since decreasing 0.2% in Q2 2020. The decline in Q3 2021 was only the second such decrease since 2012. Property taxes… Read More ›
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Paint, Steel, and Services Prices Set Records, Drive PPI for Residential Construction Inputs Higher
The prices of goods used in residential construction ex-energy climbed 1.8% in November (not seasonally adjusted), according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The monthly increase was driven by price increases in nearly every product category. Building materials prices have increased 14.1% year-to-date, more than tripling the November YTD increase of… Read More ›
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Building Materials Prices Post Record Year-To-Date Increase through October
The prices of goods used in residential construction ex-energy climbed 0.8% in October (not seasonally adjusted), according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The increase comes on the heels of two consecutive monthly declines largely driven by steep declines in lumber and plywood prices. The price index of services inputs to residential construction… Read More ›
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Conventional Loan Share of New Home Sales Reaches 13-Year High
NAHB analysis of the most recent Quarterly Sales by Price and Financing published by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that conventional loans financed 75.7% of new home sales in the third quarter of 2021—the largest share since the beginning of the Great Recession in 2008. The share increased 1.7 percentage points over Q2 2021 (revised) and has risen each of… Read More ›
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State and Local Property Tax Revenues Eclipse $700 Billion
NAHB analysis of the Census Bureau’s quarterly tax data shows that $703.5 billion in taxes were paid by property owners in the four quarters ending Q2 2021.[1] Four-quarter property tax revenues have climbed 13.2% since decreasing 0.2% in Q2 2020 (the first decrease since 2012). Year-over-year growth of four-quarter property tax revenue has accelerated each of the past four quarters. Prior to… Read More ›
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Falling Lumber, Concrete Prices Offset Steel Increases in September
Prices paid for goods used in residential construction ex-energy decreased 0.8% in September (not seasonally adjusted), according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The decrease was largely driven by lower lumber and concrete products prices and was the second monthly decline since the start of the last recession. The price index of… Read More ›
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Property Taxes by State – 2019
Property taxes vary widely across states both in terms of annual taxes paid as well as effective tax rates. In 2019, the difference between average real estate taxes paid by New Jersey and Alabama home owners was $7,974. New Jersey continued its perennial distinction as having the highest average real estate tax bill per home owner ($8,687) as well as… Read More ›
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Price Index for Inputs to Residential Construction Declines in August
Prices paid for goods used in residential construction ex-energy decreased 0.7% in August (not seasonally adjusted), according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The decrease was largely driven by a decline in lumber and wood products prices and was the first monthly decline since the start of the last recession. The price… Read More ›