NAHB Now's Latest Posts
More Than Half of Builders Used Incentives to Boost Sales in May
The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index survey conducted in May 2020 reveals that more than half of single-family builders are using incentives to bolster sales and/or limit cancellations. This is essentially the same share of builders that were providing incentives during normal market conditions in 2003. By contrast the percentage of builders providing sales incentives was far higher during the Great Recession.
Most Vulnerable Housing Markets
Which housing markets are most vulnerable during this downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic? Based on current unemployment trends brought on by the outbreak, an analysis by the American Community Survey (ACS) sheds light on which states are likely to lag when the housing recovery takes hold.
House Passes Bill to Expand Loan Forgiveness Provisions of PPP Loans
By an overwhelming vote of 417-1, the House on May 28 approved legislation that would liberalize rules under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to give business owners more time to have the loans forgiven by the U.S. government.
Oklahoma Governor Signs Housing Affordability Bill into Law
In a victory for home builders and housing affordability, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) has signed SB 1713 into law. The legislation will limit cities and counties from regulating purely aesthetic building design that would needlessly raise the cost of housing.
FHFA Releases New Capital Rule for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today re-proposed a 2018 plan to establish a new regulatory capital framework for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The proposed rule is a critical step toward FHFA’s goal to release the two government-sponsored enterprises from conservatorship.
OCC Finalizes Rules to Update Community Reinvestment Act Regulations
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced final rules to update the agency’s regulations under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). NAHB submitted comments on the proposed rule issued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) and OCC in April and we are currently examining the 372-page regulation to determine its impact on the housing community.
Survey: 22% of Builders Lowered Prices in April
In recent weeks, there has been anecdotal evidence about builders lowering home prices in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) survey provides factual data: Nationally, about 22% of builders cut home prices in April 2020 in order to bolster sales and/or limit cancellations.
FHFA Issues Guidance on Home Purchases, Refinancing While in Forbearance
The Federal Housing Finance Agency has issued temporary guidance for borrowers looking to buy a home or refinance who are in forbearance or recently ended their forbearance.
More than 600,000 Construction Layoffs in March
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey data reveals there were 618,000 layoffs in the construction sector in March, a striking increase over the 202,000 total in February and a 245% jump over the 179,000 count in March 2019. It is expected the count will rise even higher when the BLS releases its April data in June.
Lumber Prices Move Sharply Higher on Rising Demand and Supply Constraints
Rising demand stemming from a surge of do-it-yourself projects from consumers working at home coupled with restricted supply due to lumber mills operating at a diminished capacity have led to a recent upsurge in lumber prices. The latest Random Lengths Framing Composite Price for the week ending May 15 rose by 6.3% to $406 per thousand board feet — the first time the index topped $400 since March 20, 2020.
