Eye On Housing
Author Archives
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Prices of Construction Inputs Rise Despite Declines in Lumber, Gypsum
Prices paid for goods used in residential construction increased 1.5% in March (not seasonally adjusted) according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices have risen more quickly thus far in 2019 than they did during the same period in 2018 and are at their highest level since last October (see below). The… Read More ›
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Gypsum Prices Down 10% Since 2018 Peak
The downward trend in prices paid for gypsum products continued in February, as prices declined 5.1% (seasonally adjusted) according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices paid for gypsum products have fallen 8.6% and 9.8% since the start of 2019 and August 2018, respectively. The trend is notable as prices have fallen… Read More ›
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Conventional Loan Market Share Hits 10-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 accounted for 76.9% of new home sales in the fourth quarter of 2018, a 2.4-percentage point increase from Q3 2018. Although mortgage rates have moderated in 2019, the increase in conventional mortgage market share in late-2018 was contemporaneous… Read More ›
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Property Taxes by State – 2017
Property taxes vary widely across states both in terms of annual taxes paid as well as effective tax rates. In 2017, the difference between average real estate taxes paid by New Jersey and Alabama home owners was nearly $8,000. New Jersey continued its perennial distinction as having the highest average real estate tax bill per home owner ($8,485) as well… Read More ›
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Gypsum, OSB, and Softwood Lumber Prices Decline in January
Overall, the price of goods used in residential construction declined 0.5% in January (not seasonally adjusted) according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In contrast to December–when prices paid for building materials (except OSB) changed little–prices fell by an average of 2.9% in January. Prices paid for inputs to residential construction (goods)… Read More ›
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OSB Leads Building Materials Prices Lower in December
Overall, the price of materials inputs to residential construction declined 1.8% in December (not seasonally adjusted) according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While most building materials prices showed little movement in December, prices paid for OSB fell by double digits for the second consecutive month. OSB prices declined 12.0% (NSA) in… Read More ›
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OSB, Lumber, and Gypsum Lead Building Materials Prices Lower in November
Softwood lumber prices fell 3.0% in November the second consecutive decrease for the index to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The producer price index for softwood lumber has fallen 23.6% (not seasonally adjusted) since setting cycle and all-time highs in June (see below). After the decrease, the index level is 9.6% lower… Read More ›
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Softwood Lumber Price Decline Largest in Seven Years
Softwood lumber prices fell 10.3% in October—the largest drop since May 2011—according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The producer price index for softwood lumber has fallen 21.2% since setting the cycle and all-time high in June (see below). Even after the decrease, however, the index currently sits just 4.7% lower than… Read More ›
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FHA Mortgages Finance Growing Share of New Home Sales
NAHB analysis of the most recent Quarterly Sales by Price and Financing published by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that FHA loans financed 12.9% of new home sales during the third quarter of 2018, 2.3 percentage points above the prior quarter and the largest share since Q3 2017. Despite the increase, the share of sales financed with FHA-backed mortgages remains… Read More ›
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Share of Property Tax Revenue Falls as Income Tax Receipts Grow
NAHB analysis of the Census Bureau’s quarterly tax data shows that $583 billion in taxes were paid by property owners over the four quarters ending in Q2 2018.[1] It has now been nearly six years since the last time four-quarter property tax revenues declined. After accelerating in the third and fourth quarters of 2017, the four-quarter growth rate of property… Read More ›