A bad day for new-home numbers

With a groan, the home-building industry found out that new-home sales in June fell 8.1% and that revisions to May's figures shaved 60,000 units off the annual pace as well.

By Ron Gallagher • July 24, 2014

NAHB: Remodelers feeling love of improving economy

Sales of new homes may be lagging, but an index of how remodelers are feeling rosy in the second quarter of the year for current work and coming months. 

By Ron Gallagher • July 24, 2014

Nonresidential construction up 12% in June

The start of some large manufacturing facilities put the trend back on the positive side, with an annual pace of $549.7 billion.

By Ron Gallagher • July 23, 2014

Vets are rising portion of home buyers thanks to VA mortgages

The program for veterans has helped them rise to 8.1% of mortgages made in the first three months of this year.

By Ron Gallagher • July 22, 2014

Existing-home sales jump 2.6% in June

That's the best rate since last fall.

By Ron Gallagher • July 22, 2014

Home sales could suffer if banks walk away from FHA

The National Association of Realtors says the Federal Housing Administration is the only way for qualified buyers to put down 3.5% to get into houses.

By Ron Gallagher • July 21, 2014

Bank foresees only slow growth in home building

RBC Capital Markets does not think the U.S. market will be ready for several years to get back to its 50-year average of 1.46 million new units every year.

By Ron Gallagher • July 21, 2014

NAIOP sees commercial growing nicely in latest economic report

The organization says Texas, Louisiana and New York were the states with the most spent on nonresidential, commercial construction in 2013.

By Ron Gallagher • July 21, 2014

Some numbers suggest housing performance approaching typical levels

Four statistics indicate that housing is about back to its historic normal performance.

By Ron Gallagher • July 21, 2014

Builders turn optimistic in latest survey

The latest Builder Confidence Index climbed above 50 for the first time since January, though one component – buyer traffic – remains low.

By Ron Gallagher • July 20, 2014

Money for Corps work, GSA passes House, but Senate action nil

Contractors would perhaps benefit from an increase for the Corps over the presidential request, but GSA funding was lower than was asked.

By Ron Gallagher • July 20, 2014

There's more to June's bad home construction numbers than meets the eye

The sinking numbers were the result of one region and one class of housing.

By Ron Gallagher • July 18, 2014

June materials price report may spell more expensive second half

Materials overall were up 0.1% from May's prices, which is not huge but continues a change from 2013's relative stability.

By Ron Gallagher • July 17, 2014

Survey says 'missing' homebuyers are the middle-aged

Departing from the conventional explanation that the millennial generation is not buying homes, Trulia says the problem lies with 35- to 54-year-olds.

By Ron Gallagher • July 17, 2014

Roundable sees housing construction growth through 2017, but then what?

The economy is growing, builders and finance executives said at the annual PCBC conference on the housing industry.

By Ron Gallagher • July 16, 2014

Is the Canadian housing market climbing toward a fall?

Fitch becomes the latest agency to warn that Canada should slow borrowing for home buying.

By Ron Gallagher • July 14, 2014

Downtown Seattle construction surpasses pre-recession peak

The city's downtown booster group reports that 50 projects valued at $2.8 million were underway as of June and the same number had been permitted or are "ready to begin."

By Ron Gallagher • July 10, 2014

Lamar Construction shuts down contracting operations

Based in Hudsonville, Michigan, the company said its structural steel operation will go on, but general contracting in Michigan, Kentucky and Colorado is over.

By Ron Gallagher • July 9, 2014

Data: 41% of homebuyers prefer to build than buy

Trulia found that 41% of homebuyers would like to own a new home than buy an existing one and more than a third of the group are ready to be swayed if builders offer the right reasons.

By Ron Gallagher • July 9, 2014

Pension agency report supports worry about future of multi-employer plans

Multi-employer plans are important for union builders and contractors, but the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. says it's out of resources to protect beneficiaries.

By Ron Gallagher • July 9, 2014

Report: Over 50% of mortgage bankers fear housing bubble

The survey done for a company that sells decision-management software, FICO, said bankers are worried, too.

By Ron Gallagher • July 8, 2014

Half of Case-Shiller duo: U.S. housing market is a 'crapshoot'

Karl Case, Wellesley College professor and half of the team that created the S&P/Case-Shiller index, says this recovery is out of sync. 

By Ron Gallagher • July 7, 2014

Why the latest job growth is no help for U.S. housing market

While the number of jobs increased, full-time jobs actually fell. 

By Ron Gallagher • July 6, 2014

Government construction jobs report for June not as rosy as ADP's

The federal jobs report listed 6,600 new construction hires last month, a day after payroll processor ADP said it counted 36,000.

By Ron Gallagher • July 6, 2014

ADP data shows June construction workforce largest since '09

Adding 36,000 workers brought total construction employment to about 6.1 million, the payroll-processing company reported as the month closed.

By Ron Gallagher • July 2, 2014