Eye On Housing
Of the roughly 876,000 single-family homes started in 2018, 22.6 percent included decks, according to NAHB tabulation of data from the Survey of Construction (SOC, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and partially funded by HUD). This is down over a full percentage point from he 23.8 percent recorded a year earlier. From 2005 to 2008, the share of new… Read More ›
In the third-quarter of 2019, builders and developers reported declining interest rates on all types of loans covered in NAHB’s survey on acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) financing. In the third quarter, the average interest rate declined from 6.59 to 6.39 percent on loans for land acquisition, from 6.49 to 6.39 percent on loans for land development, from 6.21 to… Read More ›
Contracts for new, single-family home sales declined in October by 0.7% to a 733,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate according to estimates from the joint release of HUD and the Census Bureau. The decline came off an upwardly revised September estimate, which was increased from an initial reading of 701,000 to a new estimate of 738,000. Year-over-year, the October estimate is 31.6% higher. Sales continue… Read More ›
According to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction, the share of new homes started with 5,000 square feet or more of living space stood at 2.88 percent in 2018, down slightly from 3.08 percent in 2017. A total of 25,000 5,000+ square-foot homes were started in 2018, compared to 26,000 in 2107. The slight decline in 5,000+ square foot homes… Read More ›
New single-family home size trended lower during the third quarter of 2019 as interest rates remained low. According to third quarter 2019 data from the Census Quarterly Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design and NAHB analysis, median single-family square floor area ticked up to 2,264 square feet. Average (mean) square footage for new single-family homes declined to 2,464 square… Read More ›
Year-over-year (YoY), total nonfarm employment increased by 2.1 million jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis (SA), or 1.4% from October 2018 to October 2019. During this time, total nonfarm employment in the Western region increased by 1.9%. The South, Northeast, and Midwest recorded gains at 1.7%, 0.9% and 0.6% respectively, during this time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,… Read More ›
The number of single-family homes built-for-rent posted a small decline during third quarter of 2019. This market has received recent attention as a means to add single-family inventory amid concerns over housing affordability and downpayment requirements in the for-sale market. Single-family built-for-rent (SFBFR) construction does differ in structure characteristics compared other single-family homes. According to NAHB’s analysis of data from the… Read More ›
According to estimates from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Commerce Department, single-family starts increased in October, consistent with solid levels for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). Thanks to lower mortgage interest rates, the seasonally adjusted annual pace of single-family permits has been rising since April, the rate of single-family starts has been increasing since May, and… Read More ›
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes edged one point lower to 70 in November, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The past two months mark the highest sentiment levels in 2019. Single-family builders are currently reporting ongoing positive conditions, spurred in part by low mortgage rates and continued job… Read More ›
According to NAHB’s analysis of the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) data, median single-family lot prices outpaced inflation once again (4.4% vs 2.4%) and reached new record high in 2018, with half of the lots selling at or above $49,500. The most dramatic rise in lot values is observed in the West South Central division where median lot values… Read More ›