Each Monday, we'll let you know what's coming in the week ahead, including important residential and commercial report releases, as well as our feature articles.
Housing Market Index — April 17
Builder confidence in the market for new single-family construction climbed six points to a 12-year high in March, likely driven by the Trump administration's continued deregulation moves. On Monday, April 17, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index will release figures for April, offering more details as to how a strong spring selling season has impacted builder outlook so far.
The state of construction lending — April 18
Many lenders are tightening their purse strings when it comes to construction loans. In our feature article on Tuesday, April 18, experts will explain why this trend is occurring, which loans are the most difficult to secure and what lenders look for before they agree to finance a project.
Master-planned communities go green, inside and out — April 18
Developers are looking beyond golf courses and faux water features to draw builders and residents to communities with amenities that reflect the trend toward sustainability in the business and consumer space. In our feature article on Tuesday, April 18, we'll explore the trend through the lens of a handful of MPCs that are using hiking trails, community farms and more to green their sales proposition.
Housing starts — April 18
Volatility in the multifamily sector continues to define the pace of housing starts in the U.S. As of February, starts were up 6.2% year-over-year at a rate of 1.251 million, with the single-family category 3.2% ahead for the period and multifamily up 11.2%. On Tuesday, April 18, the Commerce Department will release its housing starts figures for March, indicating the impact of rising material and labor costs, among other headwinds, on the residential construction market.
AIA Billings Index — April 19
The American Institute of Architects will release its Architectural Billings Index on Wednesday, April 19. Last month, the AIA reported the index rebounded in February to a score of 50.7, up from 49.5 in January. February's rise over the 50-mark signaled the index's return to growth in billings.
In last month's report, AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker said February's new design contracts showed their largest monthly increase in more than two years, which should come as a sign of optimism for architecture firms.
The ABI is a significant report for the commercial construction industry, as it serves as an indicator of future construction spending with a lead time of about nine to 12 months. Will Wednesday's report signal another month of growing activity, or will the index dip again?
A dive into pull planning — April 20
Pull planning is an organizational technique core to the Lean Construction management philosophy. In our feature article on Thursday, April 20, we’ll take a deep look at the goals of pull planning and explore how the method can be used to keep a project on-schedule.
Job site safety checklist for owner visits — April 20
Owners, particularly those on residential jobs, like to keep up to date with progress on their projects. But unscheduled site visits, which often occur off-hours when a member of the crew isn't there to supervise, can put the owner's safety at risk, and builders are often liable. In our feature article on Thursday, April 20, construction safety experts share best practices for setting expectations and keeping owners safe on site.
Existing-home sales — April 21
A continued shortage of for-sale inventory is creating resistance for existing-home sales, with the category falling 3.7% in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.48 million homes. On Friday, April 21, the National Association of Realtors will release its March figures, showing whether owners are responding to an uptick in new construction activity and trading up to release inventory for new market entrants.