Builder Confidence Holds Steady for July – NMP Skip to main content

Builder Confidence Holds Steady for July

Jul 17, 2018
Builder confidence in newly-built single-family homes remained unchanged at a 68 reading in July on the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI)

Builder confidence in newly-built single-family homes remained unchanged at a 68 reading in July on the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).
 
The HMI index measuring current sales conditions remained unchanged at 74 while the component gauging expectations in the next six months dropped two points to 73 and the metric focused on buyer traffic rose two points to 52. Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the Northeast rose one point to 57, the Midwest remained unchanged at 65 and the West and South each fell one point to 75 and 70, respectively.
 
“Builders are encouraged by growing housing demand, but they continue to be burdened by rising construction material costs,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “Builders need to manage these cost increases as they strive to provide competitively priced homes, especially as more first-time home buyers enter the housing market.”

 
About the author
Published
Jul 17, 2018
Strong Jobs Report Threatens Mortgage Rate Rally

October hiring more than doubled expectations, pushing Treasury yields higher

Nov 06, 2026
Fed Holds Rates, But Pricing Pressures Persist

Rising Treasury yields and fresh inflation data complicate rate locks, borrower qualification, and lender margins as markets anticipate another hike in December

Oct 29, 2026
Zippy Adds Capital For Manufactured-Home Lending Push

The $20 million investment from Saluda Grade will support expansion beyond 27 states and new loan products across wholesale, retail, and community channels

Oct 16, 2026
Inflation Hits 3.7%, Putting Mortgage Rate Relief At Risk

September’s inflation pickup puts recent rate improvements at risk, potentially eroding affordability gains from lower home prices and seller concessions

Oct 14, 2026
PLACE Acquires Ardley, Expanding Push To Turn Existing Borrowers Into New Loans

The latest deal connects borrower retention technology with Maxwell's origination platform and PLACE's real estate network, creating new opportunities for lenders

Oct 09, 2026
Equifax, TransUnion Launch New Tools To Cut Credit Report Costs

Both bureaus introduce ways to purchase credit scores separately from reports, while Equifax reports growing VantageScore adoption and extends $1 pricing through 2028

Oct 09, 2026