Tag Archive for ‘home building’

Producer Prices in January – Watch Gypsum

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Producer Price Indexes (PPI) for January on Thursday. The index for finished goods rose 0.1 percent in January from December, balancing a 0.4 percent increase in the core index and declines in the food (-0.3 percent) and energy (-0.5 percent) indexes, keeping the overall index in line with its relatively flat trajectory… Read More ›

HOI Indicates Affordability at All-Time High

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The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) rose to 75.9 during the fourth quarter of 2011,  the highest number recorded in the 20-year history of the index.  The HOI is the percentage of homes sold during the quarter affordable to a median-income family, based on standard underwriting criteria.  An HOI of 75.9 means that 75.9 percent… Read More ›

Housing Starts Continue Improvement

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January housing starts increased 1.5% to 699,000 on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. The relatively small month-to-month increase was masked by a substantial revision to November and December estimates. With the revisions, total starts rose to 702,000 in November from a previously reported 685,000. November is the first month above 700,000 since October 2008. Single-family starts were down 1% on a… Read More ›

Multifamily Starts Indicate Sustained Recovery

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The Census Bureau’s preliminary estimate for starts in buildings with five or more units in January came in at 175,000 (at a seasonally adjusted annual rate)—up 14 percent from the revised rate for December.  About half of January’s increase was due to a 7 percent downward revision to the starts rate for December.              … Read More ›

Builder Sentiment Up Again

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The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) increased four points in February to 29, the highest level since April 2007. The increase marks the fifth consecutive month of an increase for a total of 15 points since recording a 14 in September 2011. All three components also recorded levels not seen since early 2007. The current and future sales components… Read More ›

Newly Constructed Home Trends in 2011

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Single-family homes started in 2011* were a bit different than the ones builders started in 2010.  Unpublished Census Bureau data show that, on average, homes started in 2011 were bigger than those started in 2010.  Homes were also more likely to have more features and amenities.  These developments must be analyzed with caution, however, keeping in mind that total single-family… Read More ›

House Prices: the “Priced Out” Effect

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NAHB Economics regularly receives requests to evaluate the effects of pending new regulations on housing affordability in local markets where regulatory actions are expected to raise home prices.  The NAHB Priced Out Model provides straightforward answers on the issue. The model estimates how many households can qualify for a new home mortgage before and after a house price increase. The… Read More ›

Metro Area New Home Prices

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The U.S. Census Bureau regularly tracks new home prices for the United States, Census Regions and Divisions. However, there is no systematic measurement of new home prices by states or metropolitan areas. To fill the void, NAHB Economics periodically estimates median new home prices for metropolitan areas. The most recent estimates show that median new home prices range from less… Read More ›

An Aging Housing Stock

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The American owner-occupied housing stock is growing older. And this fact may signal future increased demand for both remodeling and new home construction over the long-term. Data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development American Housing Survey (AHS) reveal that the median age of an owner-occupied home in the United States was 34 years old as of the 2009 survey…. Read More ›