Recently surveyed builders expressed surging confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes among buyers age 55 and up. According to the results of the latest National Association of Home Builders 55+ Housing Market Index – which measures builders’ confidence on a scale where any number above 50 indicates more builders view conditions as good than poor – confidence in the market for single-family homes increased 20 points year-over-year to a level of 48, the highest fourth-quarter reading since the NAHB began tracking the data in 2008. Robert Karen, chairman of the NAHB’s 50+ Housing Council, said they are seeing continued improvement in the 55+ housing market because consumers have gained confidence in the economy and are able to sell their current homes and move into a new home or condo that fits the lifestyle they desire. Karen expects this optimism from builders and developers to carry through 2014. All individual components of the single-family HMI showed significant improvement, with confidence in present sales levels climbing 26 points from one year ago. More here.