National Association of Home Builders Economic Research Blog

2025 Third Quarter State-Level GDP Data
2025 Third Quarter State-Level GDP Data
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In the third quarter of 2025, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported that real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded nationally, with growth recorded across all states and the District ...
House Prices Decline in Local Markets Despite National Growth
House Prices Decline in Local Markets Despite National Growth
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Nationally, house prices continued to rise at a modest pace in the third quarter of 2025, as mentioned in our previous quarterly house prices post. However, this national trend masks ...
Private Residential Construction Spending Edges Higher in October on Home Improvements
Private Residential Construction Spending Edges Higher in October on Home Improvements
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Private residential construction spending was up 1.3% in October, rebounding from a 1.4% decline in September 2025. This modest gain was primarily driven by increased spending on home improvements. Despite ...
Single-Family Permits Cooled in the Fall
Single-Family Permits Cooled in the Fall
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In October, single-family building permits weakened, reflecting continued caution among builders amid affordability constraints and financing challenges. In contrast, multifamily permit activity remained steady and continued to perform relatively well. ...
New Single-Family Home Size Trends: Third Quarter 2025
New Single-Family Home Size Trends: Third Quarter 2025
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New single-family home size has been generally falling since 2015 as a response to declining affordability conditions. An exception occurred when new home size increased in 2021 as interest rates ...
Third Quarter 2025 Multifamily Construction Data
Third Quarter 2025 Multifamily Construction Data
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According to NAHB analysis of quarterly Census data, the count of multifamily, for-rent housing starts increased during the third quarter of 2025. For the quarter, 119,000 multifamily residences started construction. ...
Soft Conditions for Single-Family Built-for-Rent
Soft Conditions for Single-Family Built-for-Rent
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Single-family built-for-rent construction fell back in the third quarter of 2025, as a higher cost of financing and increased multifamily supply crowded out development. According to NAHB’s analysis of data ...
Missing Middle Weakness
Missing Middle Weakness
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The missing middle construction sector includes development of medium-density housing, such as townhouses, duplexes and other small multifamily properties. The multifamily segment of the missing middle (apartments in 2- to 4-unit properties) ...
December Mortgage Activity Softens Even as Rates Ease
December Mortgage Activity Softens Even as Rates Ease
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Mortgage application activity declined in December despite a modest easing in mortgage rates. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, fell 5.3% ...
Builder Sentiment Loses Ground at Start of 2026
Builder Sentiment Loses Ground at Start of 2026
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Builder confidence moved lower to start the year as affordability concerns continue to weigh heavily with buyers, and builders continue to contend with rising construction costs. Builder confidence in the ...
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NAHB’s analysis of Census Data from the Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design survey indicates custom home building gained market share during recent quarters but experienced a drop for construction starts. There were 49,000 total custom building starts during the second quarter of...

Confidence in the market for new multifamily housing was in positive territory for the second 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...

According to NAHB analysis of the most recent Census data of Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, during the second quarter of 2023, single-family attached starts totaled 38,000, which is flat relative to the second quarter of 2022. Nonetheless, over the last four quarters,...

Single-family built-for-rent construction has cooled as investor interest has pulled back on tighter financial conditions. According to NAHB’s analysis of data from the Census Bureau’s Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, there were approximately 20,000 single-family built-for-rent (SFBFR) starts during the second quarter...

Every year, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducts a member census to better understand the composition and characteristics of the people who belong to its organization. In 2022, 35% of NAHB’s members were builders—those whose primary business is single-family home building, multifamily building,...

A lack of existing inventory and solid demand for housing helped offset rising mortgage rates and push single-family production higher in July, even as builders continue to grapple with elevated construction and financing costs as well as a lack of skilled labor. Overall housing starts...

After steadily rising for seven consecutive months, builder confidence retreated in August as rising mortgage rates nearing 7% (per Freddie Mac) and stubbornly high shelter inflation have further eroded housing affordability and put a damper on consumer demand. Builder confidence in the market for newly...

Over the first six months of 2023, the total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date (YTD) nationwide reached 449,226. On a year-over-year (YoY) basis, this is 20.9% below the June 2022 level of 567,798. Year-to-date ending in June, single-family permits declined in all four regions....

According to the latest Producer Price Index report, the price level of inputs to residential construction less energy (i.e., building materials) edged up 0.2% in July (not seasonally adjusted). Building materials price growth has slowed considerably in 2023 with an average monthly increase of 0.2%–down...

Rising home prices and interest rates coupled with elevated construction costs, low existing inventory and solid demand resulted in a significant decline in housing affordability during the second quarter of 2023. According to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), 40.5% of new and existing...

Consumer prices showed a slight uptick in July, with core inflation remained sticky, ending a streak of 12 consecutive months of steady declines. Despite a slowdown compared to the previous month, the shelter index (housing inflation) continued to be the largest contributor to both headline...

Per the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) survey through the week ending August 4th, total mortgage activity decreased 3.1% from the previous week and the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) rate rose 16 basis points to 7.09%. The FRM rate has fluctuated between 6.9% and 7.1%...

Consumer credit outstanding growth slowed to 4.0% in the second quarter 2023 (SAAR) according to the Federal Reserve’s latest G.19 Consumer Credit report, as revolving and nonrevolving debt grew at 7.1% and 3.0%, respectively. Revolving credit growth has decelerated as of late, a result of...

The average length of time to complete construction of a multifamily building, after obtaining authorization, was 19.8 months, according to the 2022 Survey of Construction (SOC) from the Census Bureau. The permit-to-completion time in 2022 was 2.3 months longer than in 2021, as supply-chain issues...

The past two months’ job gains indicate that the job market is cooling from its peak last year and is growing at a moderate pace. Total employment increased by 187,000 and the unemployment rate inched down to 3.5% in July. Wages grew at a 4.4%...

According to the Federal Reserve Board’s July 2023 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey (SLOOS)—conducted for bank lending activity over the second quarter of 2023—banks reported that lending standards tightened for all residential real estate (RRE) and commercial real estate (CRE) loan categories. Demand for RRE...

NAHB analysis of the most recent Quarterly Sales by Price and Financing report reveals that the share of new home sales backed by FHA loans climbed from 12.1% (revised) to 14.0% in the second quarter of 2023. It is the largest share since Q1 2021...

The Census Bureau’s Housing Vacancy Survey (CPS/HVS) reported the U.S. homeownership rate at 65.9% in the second quarter of 2023, amid persistently tight housing supply. The homeownership rate remained statistically unchanged from the first quarter reading (66%). Compared to the peak of 69.2% in 2004,...

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