The latest National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) found builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes at a 46 level in November, up three points from October. This marked the third consecutive month of rising confidence.
All three HMI sub-indices were up in November. The index charting current sales conditions rose two points to 49, the component measuring sales expectations in the next six months increased seven points to 64 and the gauge charting traffic of prospective buyers posted a three-point gain to 32.
Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the Northeast increased four points to 55, the Midwest moved three points higher to 44, the South edged up one point to 42 and the West held steady at 41.
The latest HMI survey also revealed that 31% of builders cut home prices in November, with an average price reduction at 5%. The use of sales incentives was 60% in November, slightly down from 62% in October.
“With the elections now in the rearview mirror, builders are expressing increasing confidence that Republicans gaining all the levers of power in Washington will result in significant regulatory relief for the industry that will lead to the construction of more homes and apartments,” said NAHB Chairman Carl Harris, a custom home builder from Wichita, Kansas. “This is reflected in a huge jump in builder sales expectations over the next six months.”
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