Tag Archive for ‘eye on the economy’

Top Challenges for Builders: Building Materials Prices in 2020 & 2021

Building materials prices topped the list of problems builders faced in 2020 and is expected to return to the number one spot in 2021, according to special questions on the December 2020 survey for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.   The survey results showed that building materials was a significant issue for 96% of builders last year.  In 2021, however,… Read More ›

Custom Home Building Annual Share

According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), the custom home share increased to 20.2 percent of all single-family homes started in 2019. Contractor-built or owner-built houses – that together make up the custom home market – are built one at a time for owner occupancy on owner’s land with either the owner or a builder acting… Read More ›

Community Associations in New Homes Started

According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), 62.0 percent of all homes started in 2019 were built within a community or homeowner’s association. A total of 545,000 homes with community associations were started in 2019, compared to 543,000 in 2018. The Census Bureau defines community or homeowner’s associations as “formal legal entities created to maintain common… Read More ›

Continued Rise in Community Associations in New Homes Built

According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), 62.5 percent of all homes started in 2018 were built within a community or homeowner’s association. A total of 543,000 homes with community associations were started in 2018, compared to 508,000 in 2017. The Census Bureau defines community or homeowner’s associations as “formal legal entities created to maintain common… Read More ›

Most Common Siding On New Homes are Vinyl and Stucco in 2018

According to the data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) the most common exterior wall materials on homes started in 2018 were vinyl siding and stucco. Vinyl siding and Stucco (26 percent each) were used on new homes started in 2018, brick or brick veneer (21 percent), and fiber cement siding (such as Hardiplank or Hardiboard) (20 percent). Far smaller shares… Read More ›

Energy Prices Continue to Fall

The CPI was unchanged in January. The decrease in energy prices in January offset increases in the “core” CPI and the food index. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), was unchanged in January on a seasonally adjusted basis. The CPI remained unchanged for the third consecutive month. Over the past twelve months, on… Read More ›