Eye On Housing
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 ›
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 ›
Building material prices topped the list of problems builders faced in 2018, but cost and availability of labor is expected to return to the number one spot in 2019, according to special questions on the January survey for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. The survey results showed that material prices were a significant issue for 87% of builders last… Read More ›
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 ›
According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), the custom home share declined to 20 percent of all single family homes started in 2017—lowest since mid-2000. 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… 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 3.08 percent in 2017, essentially unchanged from 3.05 percent in 2016. The total number of 5,000+ square-foot homes started in absolute terms was 26,000, up from 24,000 in 2016. In 2015, the number of 5,000+… Read More ›
The most common exterior wall materials on homes started in 2017 were vinyl and stucco siding. Vinyl siding was used on 27 percent of the new homes started in 2017, followed closely by stucco (25 percent), brick or brick veneer (21 percent), and fiber cement siding (such as Hardiplank or Hardiboard) (20 percent). Far smaller shares of single-family homes started last… Read More ›
The monthly NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index includes a set of “special” questions on a topic of current interest to the housing industry. In December 2017, the special questions asked builders about the problems they faced in 2017 and expect to face in 2018. Topping the list of problems builders faced in 2017 and expect to face in 2018 is… 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 3.1% in 2016, down from 3.9 percent in 2015. The total number of 5,000+ square-foot homes started in absolute terms was 24,000, down from 28,000 in 2015. In 2015, the number of 5,000+ square feet… Read More ›
***Eye on the Economy is a biweekly survey of NAHB’s economic and housing analysis. A surprisingly weak labor market report clearly influenced the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates steady this week. The Fed noted that jobs gains have slowed and business investment has been soft. Housing, however, remains a bright spot as the economy picks up speed entering the… Read More ›