Eye On Housing
According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), 62.6% of single-family homes started in 2022 were built within a community or homeowner’s association. This marks the second year in a row that the share declined, from the high point of 67.1% posted in 2020, and 65.5% in 2021. Prior to 2021 the share had been on a… Read More ›
According to data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), custom homes share increased to 20.4 percent of all single-family homes started in 2022 from the 17.6 percent recorded in 2021. The custom home market consists of contractor-built and owner-built houses—homes built one at a time for owner occupancy on the owner’s land, with either the owner or a… Read More ›
Rising mortgage rates, elevated construction costs and limited existing inventory helped push housing affordability in the third quarter of 2023 to its lowest level in more than a decade. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), just 37.4% of new and existing homes sold between the beginning of July and end of September… Read More ›
Despite mortgage rates topping 7%, Americans persist in their desire to buy a home. According to the latest Housing Trends Report*, the share of adults with plans to purchase a home within a year edged up to 17% in the third quarter of 2023, up from 15% a quarter earlier. The share has fluctuated up and down without a clear… Read More ›
According to the annual data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), a total of 29,000 5,000+ square-foot homes were started in 2022, down from 33,000 in 2021. In the boom year of 2006, the number of new 5,000+ square foot homes reached a peak of 45,000. In 2007, the number fell to 37,000. In 2008, only 20,000 such homes were… Read More ›
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 homes sold between the beginning of April and end of June were affordable to families… Read More ›
An earlier post revealed that 69% of buyers who were actively engaged in the process of finding a home in the second quarter of 2023 have spent 3+ months searching for a home without success. The inability to find an affordable home remains the most common reason buyers looking for 3+ months can’t make a purchase, cited by 38% (although… Read More ›
Despite lower perceptions of affordability, the share of prospective home buyers who are actively engaged in the purchase process (i.e., have moved beyond the planning phase) remained essentially unchanged between the first and second quarters of 2023, at 56% and 55%, respectively. The lack of change in this metric suggests that some buyers are willing to continue trying to find… Read More ›
After a reprieve in the first quarter of 2023, buyers’ outlook for housing affordability turned bleaker again in the second quarter. According to the latest Housing Trends Report, 76% of buyers are able to afford less than half the homes for-sale in their markets, up from 73% in the first quarter of 2023. On the flip side, the share able… Read More ›
Increased levels of new home construction and sales are leading some buyers to expect the home search to get easier in the months ahead. According to the latest Housing Trends Report for the second quarter of 2023, 29% of prospective buyers are anticipating housing availability to ease up ahead, an improvement over the 24% and 26% who had similar expectations… Read More ›