Dive summary:

• More expensive materials don't seem like they should be a big problem in a market where home prices are rising, but it's a real worry if the need to charge more outstrips increases in appraisals, economists say.
• There also are ongoing issues about tight lending for builders and for buyers, speakers noted during the National Association of Home Builders' Spring 2013 Construction Forecast Conference Webinar, and builders' confidence is slipping somewhat.
• It's not that housing is not in good shape right now – housing-sector growth is better than the overall economy's – but builders could be doing better if the supply and financial head winds would abate, NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe said.

From the article:

The residential fixed investment component of GDP was up 17.5% in the fourth quarter of 2012 whereas total economic output only registered a 0.4% gain. ...