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DataDigest: Construction costs easing for homebuilders

Housing Wire

New home construction exploded early in the pandemic as soaring home demand squeezed existing inventory nationwide, giving homebuilders a much bigger share of a shrinking pie. Index values for most construction inputs are down from 2022 but remain above pre-pandemic levels. That could set the backdrop for a slower pace of construction.

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2023 New home sales helped the economy avoid a recession 

Housing Wire

economy because single-family permits grew in 2023. The new home sales sector employs construction workers and stimulates the purchase of goods and services to build those homes: everything from windows to garage doors, flooring and more. In 2023, residential constructions workers weren’t laid off like in previous economic cycles.

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Built-to-rent construction gains momentum amid affordable housing shortage 

Housing Wire

As a result, some homebuilders have doubled down on the construction of built-to-rent (BTR) homes. In 2023, a record 93,000 new single-family homes for rent were completed, up 39% from 2022, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, investors are flocking to the BTR sector.

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Home construction data offers glimmers of optimism — but with a caveat

Housing Wire

The number of housing units that came online in September showed a big year-over-year jump, but data on earlier stages of construction suggest not much is coming through the pipeline. That’s according to monthly data on new residential construction from the U.S. compared to September 2023. But housing completions rose 14.6%

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HUD, USDA reach accord on energy-efficiency standard for new construction

Housing Wire

Department of Agriculture (USDA) have settled on new energy-efficiency standards for the construction of new single-family and multifamily homes. The “Adoption of Energy Efficiency Standards for New Construction of HUD- and USDA-Financed Housing” was published on Friday in the Federal Register, and will go into effect on May 28.

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Will mortgage rates drop in time to help single-family construction? 

Housing Wire

Higher mortgage rates have increased recession risk by targeting the one sector that always falls before every recession: residential construction workers. percent below the June 2023 rate of 1,493,000. percent)* below the June 2023 rate of 1,415,000. percent) above the June 2023 rate. percent (±10.5 percent (±12.7

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Amid housing slowdown, new construction grew most in exurban areas in Q3

Housing Wire

In the third quarter of 2023, single-family and multifamily home construction grew in outlying areas instead of urban centers. Released quarterly, the HBGI gauges housing construction growth in various regions using county-level information about single- and multifamily building permits. in Q3 2023 from a year ago.