Housing Developments

The Fed will raise interest rates today, probably by 0.75 basis points. But what signals will Chair Powell provide in his remarks to indicate the Fed's actions moving forward? In a related note, building material prices are coming down.

Homeownership is still highly desired in the U.S., with most adults saying that owning a home provides security and financial stability.

The GDP numbers last week brought some good news as the economy did better than expected in Q3. But housing's share of GDP shrunk as soaring mortgage rates are weighing on the housing market.

A debate is underway in Washington over the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and a great piece in Roll Call covers it (https://rollcall.com/2022/10/25/lawmakers-advocates-eye-year-end-bills-for-housing-credit/). Also, a Silicon Valley startup is looking to change the way apartments are rented.

More prospective home buyers seem to be interested in new homes, according to the latest NAHB survey. With existing home inventory so low and interest rates going ever higher, many may be thinking purchasing a new home now rather than later is the best option.

New home sales data was released today and to the surprise of exactly no one, the numbers are terrible.

A quick look at the dismal existing home sales data released last week. And if you're travelling to Kansas City for the NAHB Fall Leadership Meetings, we'll see you soon!

Housing Development talks to Black Buffalo, a company focused on manufacturing large-scale 3D printers for use in home building. Listen to find out more about the prospects for widespread use of 3D printers for homes.

There is a shortage of electrical transformers needed to bring energy to homes, delaying housing construction all over the country. NAHB is urging the administration to act now.

Let's talk about data! Housing starts are out for September, and they were down. We explore what that means. Also, we take a look at building material prices.

NAHB's measure of home builder confidence, the Housing Market Index (HMI), fell dramatically in October to a reading of 38, well below a healthy level. Rising interest rates, continuing supply chain issues, and stubbornly high home prices are eating into consumer demand and builder confidence in the market for new homes.

It's a busy week for housing economic data, as NAHB's Housing Market Index, housing starts, and existing home sales all drop this week for the last time before the elections.

Inflation is stubbornly resilient, even as the Fed tries its best to tip the country into recession. But the Biden Administration should focus on housing, as it is a main driver of inflation.

Ongoing drought conditions in parts of the U.S. could start affecting supply chains, as the waters of the mighty Mississippi River fall to near unnavigable levels.

The Labor Department has proposed a new rule that will change the way independent contractors are classified. This could have a huge impact on home builders, as they are often called "contractors." We'll see what's in the text.

The availability of water may be a factor in deciding where new homes are built, according to a new poll by Morning Consult commissioned by NAHB. Many homeowners think the location of new homes will be impacted by how much water is available.

State and local governments are beginning to take bold action on the housing crisis. The study referenced in the episode can be found athttps://csba.org/workforcehousing.

Housing affordability is now front and center in the minds of most policymakers, especially as rents rise. Solutions are popping up all over the country. Articles referenced in today's episode: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/06/texas-housing-crisis-shelters/ https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/10/california-accessory-dwelling-units-legalization-yimby/671648/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/housing-conversions-will-be-a-fix-for-empty-officesbut-not-yet-11664883720 https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/3673397-a-three-point-proposal-for-bipartisan-action-on-affordable-housing/

The labor market is beginning to weaken as the economy slows due to monetary policy, but the construction labor market remains robust. Also, an interesting op-ed in the New York Times today explores what California is doing to address their housing crisis. Read it at https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/04/opinion/california-housing-crisis.html.

Material prices are declining, but these price drops are happening for a reason - namely, lower spending on single-family construction.