Construction
Change reflects builders looking to maximize affordability; buyers wanting more space better off shopping older homes
The nation’s top 10 builders increased their share of new home sales from less than 10% in 1989 to nearly 50% 35 years later
Adding to affordability problem, skilled labor shortage driving up costs, timelines of building new houses
Tariffs, labor shortages, and material costs drive sentiment to a seven-month low
Selling and leasing government land is part of the Trump Administration’s initiative to spur the housing market
Turning office buildings into housing
Canada and Mexico stave off tariffs on billions of dollars of materials crucial to the U.S. homebuilding industry
Total housing starts fell nearly 4% in 2024, but began picking up pace in December
Construction spending rose in October, with more new homes in lower-density areas
Recent mortgage rate volatility is a reminder that high financing costs still restrain a broader housing recovery