Eye On Housing
Author Archives
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Best Quarter for Townhouse Construction in 14 Years
According to NAHB analysis of the most recent Census data of Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, townhouse construction in the second quarter of 2021 posted the highest count of starts in 14 years. As housing demand has shifted to more suburban and exurban areas and housing affordability headwinds persist, medium-density construction lagged for much of 2020. However, demand for… Read More ›
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Expansion for Single-Family Built-for-Rent Construction
The number of single-family built-for-rent (SFBFR) construction starts is expanding as demand for single-family structures, both for-sale and for-rent, remains strong. The SFBFR market is a way to add inventory amid concerns over housing affordability and downpayment requirements in the for-sale market, particularly during a period when people want more space and a single-family structure. Single-family built-for-rent construction differs with respect… Read More ›
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Rising Job Openings
In the June labor market data, job openings for the overall economy increased to 10.1 million open positions. What had been a challenge in certain sectors, like construction, is now a broad labor access issue as businesses seek workers as the economy reopens. The count of open construction jobs increased in June to 339,000 unfilled positions, according to data from… Read More ›
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Housing Nearly 17% of GDP
Thanks to a surge in residential investment during 2020, housing’s share of GDP remains elevated compared to recent years. Last year’s market conditions involved a renewed focus on the importance of home, an evolving geography of housing demand, and a lack of for-sale inventory. Housing will continue to expand in 2021, although as the rest of the economy recovers, the… Read More ›
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Federal Reserve and Housing: No Taper Talk Yet
Today’s Federal Open Market Committee announcement did not provide an explicit reference to an expected tapering of purchases of Treasury ($80 billion a month) and mortgage-backed ($40 billion a month) securities. In addition, as part of its ongoing accommodative policy stance, the Fed held its benchmark target rate near zero percent. In Chairman Powell’s press conference remarks, he stated, “The… Read More ›
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New Home Sales Slow in June
As supply-side challenges continue, June recorded a decline of 6.6% for sales of newly-constructed single family homes, according to estimates from the Census Bureau and HUD. The June seasonally adjusted annual rate (676K) was the lowest since April 2020, due to builders slowing sales as a consequence of higher material costs and declining availability of labor, material and lots. Higher… Read More ›
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Housing Starts Solid But Permits Weaken in June
Housing production was steady in June, although permit issuance weakened as higher construction costs and other supply limitations are deferring and delaying some construction projects. Overall housing starts increased 6.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.64 million units, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. However, single-family permits… Read More ›
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Crosswinds for Construction Job Openings
The count of open construction jobs declined in May to 299,000 unfilled positions, according to data from the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The housing market remains hot and requires additional labor, lots and lumber and building materials to add inventory. Overall, hiring in the construction sector remained strong in May, ticking down to a 4.2% rate…. Read More ›
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Did the Share of Concrete-Framed Homes Rise in 2020?
Higher prices and limited availability of softwood lumber has been a key issue for housing and the overall inflation situation for the U.S. economy. With this in mind, did higher lumber prices in 2020 result in higher market shares for non-wood framed single-family homes? Wood framing remains the dominant construction method for single-family homes in the U.S., according to NAHB… Read More ›
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Supply Constraints Hold Back May New Home Sales
After notable and expected downward revisions for prior months, May recorded a decline of 5.9% for sales of newly-constructed single family homes, according to estimates from the Census Bureau and HUD. The May seasonally adjusted annual rate (769k) was the lowest in a year, due to builders slowing sales as a consequence of higher material costs and declining availability of… Read More ›