Tag Archive for ‘shortage’

For Builders, Lot Shortage Eases But is Still a Problem

Obtaining lots to build on remains a challenge for many of NAHB’s builders, although the shortages are not quite as widespread as they were in 2021.  Responding to special questions on the May 2023 survey for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), 42 percent of single-family builders characterized the supply of lots simply as low, and another 25 percent said… Read More ›

OMB Proposes Standards on Building Materials Made in America

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed new standards to determine if construction materials for federally funded infrastructure projects are made in the USA.  The new guidance, required by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)—“sets standards to carry out the statutory requirement that all manufacturing processes for construction material occur in… Read More ›

Lots Harder to Obtain than Ever

Home building, like other U.S. industries, has been dealing with the supply side challenges of labor and material shortages.  Unlike other industries, however, home builders confront an additional challenge in obtaining lots on which to build.   In a recent NAHB survey, 76 percent of builders reported that the overall supply of developed lots in their areas was low to very… Read More ›

Labor and Subcontractor Costs Outpacing Inflation, Raising Home Prices

Last Thursday’s post reported on the record share of single-family builders reporting shortages of labor and subcontractors.in the July survey for the NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index. The same survey asked builders about the effects the shortages were having on their businesses.  The most widespread effects were causing builders to pay higher wages/subcontractor bids (reported by 84 percent of builders),… Read More ›

Reported Shortage of Rough Carpentry Contractors Hits Record 90 Percent

Labor and subcontractor shortages became even more widespread in July of 2018 than they were a year earlier, according to single-family builders who responded to special questions on the survey for the NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index. The July 2018 survey asked builders about shortages in 15 specific occupations that were either recommended by Home Builders Institute or other key… Read More ›

Share of Builders Reporting Labor Shortages Rises Again

Labor and subcontractor shortages have become even more widespread in July of 2017 than they were in June of 2016, according to single-family builders responding to special questions on the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) survey. The July 2017 HMI survey asked builders about shortages in 15 specific occupations that were either recommended by Home Builders Institute (NAHB’s workforce development arm)… Read More ›

More Builders Report Labor/Subcontractor Shortages

A survey of single-family builders conducted by NAHB in June 2016 shows that shortages of labor and subcontractors have become more widespread than they were a year ago. The survey consisted of special questions on labor and subcontractor availability that NAHB has periodically added to the instrument for the monthly NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index.  The questions have covered 9… Read More ›

Shortage of Lots Now Worse Than Ever

NAHB’s measure of lot shortages hit a new record in May. In answer to special questions on the survey for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, 64 percent of builders reported that the supply of lots in their markets was low or very low—up from 62 percent last year and the highest the lot shortage percentage has been since NAHB began collecting the… Read More ›

For Builders, Labor/Subcontractor Shortage Intensifies

A survey of single-family builders conducted by NAHB in June 2015 shows that shortages of labor and subcontractors—already quite widespread in mid-2014—have become even more widespread during the past year. The shortages are most acute for basic skills like carpentry, which are needed during the construction of any home.  For example, in the 2015 survey 69 percent of builders reported a… Read More ›

Builders See Shortages of Labor and—Especially—Subcontractors

Data from a June 2014 NAHB survey show that shortages of labor and subcontractors have become substantially more widespread since 2013.   Shortages are particularly acute for workers with basic skills like carpentry, who are needed in significant numbers during the construction of any home. The incidence of reported shortages is also surprisingly high relative to the current state of new home construction, which… Read More ›