Dive Brief:

• The National Association of Home Builders monthly survey of how members are feeling about their prospects stayed at August's 58 when results for September were tallied.
• The survey whose official name is the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, was the same for current conditions (62), but buyers were a little more cautious about new-home sales in the next six months, going down three points to 65.
• The index is still positive, with any number over 50 on the 0-100 scale indicating more builders are feeling things are improving rather than  declining.

Dive Insight:

It's not clear that anyone has a very good handle on what potential home buyers are going to do in the current rate environment, but builders seem to be feeling that they need to see a little more evidence before they agree that things will keep growing back from the recession. Recent increases in mortgage rates have at least given the builders pause while they see what their customers do.