The Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) provides valuable information on the characteristics of new homes started construction, such as air conditioning and heating system installations. Air Conditioning In 2020, 95.4 percent of new single-family homes started had a central AC system, slightly higher than 95.0 percent in 2019. The trend, going back to 2000, shows a steady rise in the share… Read More ›

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) fourth quarter National Delinquency Survey (NDS), on a seasonally adjusted basis, the percentage of loans past due decreased from 6.38% in the first quarter to 5.47%. State-level data of the past due loan category reveal that all states had reduced their count of past-due loans. The states that experienced the largest numerical declines… Read More ›

According to NAHB Economics analysis of the Survey of Construction (SOC) data, almost 9% of new single-family homes started in 2020 are served by individual wells and 15% have private septic systems. These shares, however, vary widely across the nine Census divisions with the corresponding shares reaching 36% and 42% in New England – the highest occurrence rates in the… Read More ›

After four months of declines, existing home sales increased for the second consecutive month in July as housing inventory continued to improve, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Though the median existing home price in July remained elevated, home prices may level off if inventory gradually increases in the coming months. Total existing home sales, including single-family homes,… Read More ›