Mortgage rates were a contributing factor that helped provide “solid” gains in builder confidence for the second consecutive month, said officials for the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). NAHB views recent improvement as a signal that the housing market may be turning a corner, officials said, even as builders continue to contend with high construction […]

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Housing Market Index (HMI), published this week, shows numbers continuing to slide across most sectors. The overall preliminary December HMI dropped to 31, from November’s revised number of 33, indicating that builder confidence remains the less-than-positive. The NAHB attributes high mortgage rates, elevated construction costs […]

At a Senate Finance Committee hearing last week regarding the role of tax incentives in affordable housing, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress that the housing affordability crisis is far-reaching and will require action on several fronts, not just the tax arena. “The housing affordability crisis is the result of failing to […]

Newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau shows that new home sales posted a solid gain last month, driven by strong buyer demand, low existing home inventory and buyers’ anticipation of higher mortgage rates. “Our members are seeing strong buyer traffic as continued low mortgage […]

Annual predictions surrounding housing starts and remodeling activity always include a mix of good and bad news. Perhaps remodeling activity was strong, but housing starts were stagnant. Often, economists would point to the future, even a year or two out, and have some end in sight—a sign of hope. This year, when Kermit Baker, chief […]