NAR: Dec. existing home sales rebound 14.7% after steep nosedive

Overall for 2015, existing home sales reached 5.26 million, the highest annual level since 2006.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 25, 2016

Dodge Data: Dec. construction starts up 4% with boost from residential sector

"The construction start statistics reveal continued expansion for construction activity during 2015, although the path over the course of the year was not smooth," Chief Economist Robert Murray said.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 25, 2016

2.5% dip in Dec. housing starts confounds economists

Single-family starts fell 3.3% in December, while multifamily fell 1%.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 21, 2016

IBS 2016: Optimism abounds as builders focus on millennials, improving economy

During the first day of the International Builders' Show, experts offered housing predictions for 2016, and builders showed off the millennial-targeted 2016 Responsive Home with virtual reality technology.

By Emily Peiffer • Jan. 20, 2016

NAHB: Builder confidence index remains at 60

January's HMI of 60 is in line with the NAHB's forecast of continued modest growth for the single-family home market.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 20, 2016

Construction material price 'free fall' continues for 6th-straight month

The continued decline in prices was largely due to "global deflationary forces that have become increasingly apparent," ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu said.

By Emily Peiffer • Jan. 15, 2016

Inglewood mayor: Near-$3B Rams stadium to add 22K new construction jobs

In addition to employment gains, Inglewood, CA, Mayor James T. Butts said the city is in line to collect $13 million to $14 million in sales tax during construction.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 15, 2016

CMD: Dec. starts down 6.9%, near seasonal decline

For 2015 overall, both the engineering and industrial categories saw increased starts, but commercial and institutional starts declined.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 15, 2016

Zillow: 10 hottest housing markets for 2016

The top three markets on the list are emerging tech areas and offer the potential for significant employment growth, according to the real estate site.

By Emily Peiffer • Jan. 12, 2016

JLL: Booming office market shows 'no signs of a slowdown'

The real estate research firm found that development continues to be concentrated in a handful of markets, with the top 10 markets accounting for 60 million square feet of the 88 million square feet underway. 

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 12, 2016

Dodge Momentum Index bucks downward trend with 4.1% Dec. rebound

For 2015 as a whole, the index ended up 2.4% higher than 2014, but it was partially held back by a 6.7% decline in commercial projects. 

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 11, 2016

Construction sector's addition of 45K jobs in Dec. a 'positive sign' for economy

Although industry unemployment grew slightly last month, ABC's chief economist noted the increase might be a welcome reprieve for an industry strapped by a tight labor supply.

By Emily Peiffer • Jan. 8, 2016

2016 housing market analyst predictions: Good year for homebuyers, bad for renters

Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi said that, unlike during the pre-bust housing bubble, home prices are on a more solid foundation.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 8, 2016

71% of construction firms to boost headcount in 2016 — but labor shortage could 'undermine' recovery

A survey released by the Associated General Contractors of America found firms are slightly less optimistic than they were at the start of 2015 due largely to workforce concerns, increased competition and government regulations.

By Emily Peiffer • Jan. 6, 2016

NV housing boom or 'crisis'? Tesla, Faraday spark need for 40K new housing units

As more major companies move to Nevada, some local experts have expressed concern that builders are moving too slowly to meet the burgeoning demand.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 6, 2016

Oil bust slows TX, ND home sales

Tens of thousands of workers have left for other industries or are unemployed in Texas and North Dakota since oil prices have dropped by more than half.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 5, 2016

CoreLogic: Home price growth in a 'sweet spot' as Nov. prices rise 0.5%

The gain in November was higher than the slight 0.1% rise CoreLogic had predicted in its October report.

By Emily Peiffer • Jan. 5, 2016

Construction spending falls for 1st time in 17 months

Along with the November spending results, the Commerce Department also revised construction data between January 2005 and October 2015 due to a "processing error in the tabulation of data."

By Emily Peiffer • Jan. 4, 2016

Zillow: 2015 total US home value rose to $28T; renters spent $535B

"Americans are spending a lot of money on housing, and that will make affordability an important issue next year," Zillow's chief economist said.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 4, 2016

NAR: Market 'headwinds' result in Nov. pending home sales decline

Economists cited the ongoing problems of rising home prices and limited home inventory as the drivers behind the decline in pending home sales.

By Emily Peiffer • Dec. 30, 2015

Existing home sales plummet to 19-month low

NAR economist Lawrence Yun attributed a significant portion of November's sales numbers to new regulations that likely led to longer closing times on properties.

By Emily Peiffer • Dec. 22, 2015

AGC: Booming demand drives Nov. construction employment growth in 38 states

The association's chief economist Ken Simonson said the skilled worker shortage is keeping job gains from growing at a more rapid pace. 

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 20, 2015

Dodge Data: Nov. construction starts slip 5%

Nonresidential projects saw the sharpest month-over-month decline of all three sectors, with a 13% drop to $175.4 billion.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 20, 2015

Report: $1.1T spending bill to trigger a 'substantial lift' in construction

The General Services Administration's construction budget was tripled to $1.6 billion in the omnibus legislation, and the Department of Veterans Administration's construction funding was doubled to $1.2 billion.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 20, 2015

ABC: South posts 'highest level of backlog in history'

The national backlog average remained unchanged in the third quarter, as the association noted companies of every size continue to be hindered by the skilled labor shortage.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 17, 2015