The latest report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has some positive news for the housing market. U.S. homebuilders are feeling more confident about their businesses, with sentiment reaching its highest level since last summer.
According to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, homebuilder sentiment rose 3 points in March to 51. This marks the fourth consecutive month of gains and the first time sentiment has moved into positive territory since July. The reading of 50 is the threshold between positive and negative sentiment.
Despite stubbornly high mortgage rates, buyer demand remains strong. Mortgage rates did come down slightly in the first week of March, only to rise again in the second week. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage has been hovering around 7% since early February.
NAHB Chairman Carl Harris noted, “Buyer demand remains brisk and we expect more consumers to jump off the sidelines and into the marketplace if mortgage rates continue to fall later this year.” However, builders are still facing challenges such as a shortage of buildable lots, skilled labor, and increasing construction costs due to new restrictive codes.
The report also highlighted that fewer builders are lowering home prices to attract buyers, with only 24% reporting price cuts in March compared to 36% in December 2023. Builders are still offering sales incentives like buying down mortgage rates.
Looking ahead, NAHB’s chief economist Robert Dietz expects lower financing costs to draw more buyers into the market as the Federal Reserve is expected to announce future rate cuts in the second half of 2024. However, builders may face challenges with rising material prices, particularly for lumber, as home building activity picks up.
Overall, the positive sentiment among homebuilders reflects a promising outlook for the housing market, despite lingering challenges. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis on the latest trends in the housing industry.
Catch up on more stories from CNBC PRO: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/18/homebuilder-sentiment-turns-positive-for-the-first-time-since-july.html
Source link
