Housing & Construction

How the Latest COIVD-19 Relief Packages May Benefit Framers

January 10, 2021

The term “construction” appears 636 times in the $908 billion pandemic relief package and $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump at the end of December.

Construction Material Shortages to Continue in 2021 Q1

January 10, 2021

Commercial contractors continue to battle material shortages brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Q4 2020 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index.

Private Residential Spending Continues to Grow

January 10, 2021

NAHB analysis of Census Construction Spending data shows that total private residential construction spending rose 2.7% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $658.1 billion.

Chart: Housing Shifts Sharply to the Suburbs in 2020

January 7, 2021

A trend of higher demand for housing in lower-density areas reported in the second quarter National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Home Building Geography Index (HBGI) has persisted into the fall, as single-family and multifamily construction continued to overperform in lower cost markets like suburbs and exurbs.

NAHB Economist Says COVID-19 has Benefited Housing

January 7, 2021

An important consequence of the COVID-19 crisis has been a shift in housing demand preferences, with home buyers and renters favoring lower-density suburbs and exurbs over the core of large metropolitan areas.

Five Additional States Legalize Marijuana Use

December 21, 2020

One big winner on election day was a dramatic expansion of the legal use of marijuana, which was granted by the voters in five states.

Zonda Projects 12.6% Increase in 2021 Single-Family Starts

December 11, 2020

Businesses in the home building industry are looking at their successes this year and wondering if they have just pulled demand forward, or if this year's strength will remain through 2021.

Advanced Purchase of New Homes Good Sign for Housing

December 9, 2020

The share of new homes sold in October that had not yet begun construction was higher than at any point since 2005 – a sign of both continued homebuilding and market health to come, and of builders’ savvy response to pandemic-influenced market factors.

Map: Average Square Footage of New Single-Family Homes

December 9, 2020

We previously reported a declining trend in new single-family home size that is likely to reverse during the post pandemic years.

Update on PPP and Other COVID-19 Employer Relief

December 9, 2020

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was created by Congress last March and provides forgivable loans to small businesses, expired on August 8 and has yet to be renewed.