Dive summary:

• Remodelers are buoyed by the increase in sale of existing homes, and measures of their opinions about work in the near future were all positive for the first time in eight years, according to a National Association of Home Builders' report on sentiment for the second quarter of this year.
• The Remodeling Market Index for April, May and June stood at 55, up from 49 in the first quarter, on a scale where 50 or above means things are looking up.
• Among the news from the survey of remodeling contractors were over-50 reports for calls for bids, work committed for three months, backlog and appointments.

From the release:

“Remodelers are feeling optimistic about the home improvement market during what has turned out to be an uneven recovery,” said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Bill Shaw....