Tag Archive for Kevin Kelly

Home Builders Expect Spring Sales Bump

April 16, 2014 Housing Market Comments Off on Home Builders Expect Spring Sales Bump

Builders have an unique perspective on the housing market, demand, and where home sales are headed. And, according to the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index, builders’ confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes is rising. In fact, the most recent reading shows the index up one point to 47 in April from March. The index – which measures confidence on a scale where any number above 50 indicates more builders view conditions as good than poor – found that, though builders’ perception of current conditions and buyer traffic was unchanged from the month before, their expectations for future sales rose four points to 57. Kevin Kelly, NAHB’s chairman, said builder confidence has been in a holding pattern the past three months but, as the spring home buying season gets into full swing and demand increases, builders are expecting sales prospects to improve. Also, all four regions of the country are down, according to the index’s three month moving averages. The West and Midwest show the largest decreases, though both remain near 50. The South and Northeast, on the other hand, both slipped two points, falling to 33 and 47, respectively. More here.

The Top New Home Features For 2014

March 31, 2014 Housing Market Comments Off on The Top New Home Features For 2014

This year’s home buyer is putting practicality before style when searching for a new home, according to a recent survey of builders from the National Association of Home Builders. Builders say the top features they’re likely to include in a new single-family home are walk-in closets, low-e windows, laundry rooms, and great rooms. Energy efficiency is a common theme, important to buyers due to the money it can save over the long term. Energy-Star rated appliances, programmable thermostats, and Energy-Star windows are all near the top of the list. Among the other features builders named, granite countertops, double sinks, and a central island are popular in new-home kitchens, while 9-foot ceilings, a front porch, outdoor lighting, and linen closets in the bathrooms are also features likely to be included in new houses this year. Kevin Kelly, NAHB’s chairman, said newly constructed homes can be built to suit the specific requirements of today’s buyer and now is a great time to consider purchasing a new home. More here.

Builder Confidence Edges Up In March

March 18, 2014 Housing Market Comments Off on Builder Confidence Edges Up In March

The National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index measures builder confidence in the market for newly-built, single-family homes. The index gauges builders’ perceptions of current sales, buyer traffic, and expectations for the next six month on a scale where any number above 50 indicates more builders view the market as good than poor. In March, the index rose a point to 47 after a 10-point drop in February resulted in the first monthly reading below 50 since May of last year. Kevin Kelly, NAHB’s chairman, said the March reading mirrors last month’s sentiment, as builders continue to be affected by poor weather and difficulty finding available lots and labor. The results of the index’s individual components show increasing optimism about current conditions and traffic but concerns over future sales. Still, despite falling, the component tracking sales expectations over the next six months remains in positive territory with a reading of 53. Regionally, three-month moving averages for the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West all declined in March. More here.

Housing Markets Nationwide Return To Normal

March 7, 2014 Housing Market Comments Off on Housing Markets Nationwide Return To Normal

The National Association of Home Builders’ Leading Markets Index is a measure of the housing market’s health that looks at housing and economic activity in 350 metropolitan areas across the country. The Index scores each area based on their average permit, price, and employment levels for the past year divided by their annual average over the last period of normal growth. According to this gauge, 59 of the 350 included metros have returned to or exceeded their last normal level of economic and housing activity. Kevin Kelly, NAHB’s chairman, said markets are returning to normal levels despite the cold weather that has constrained market activity this winter. According to Kelly, this bodes well for the remainder of 2014, as the job and housing markets continue to mend and warmer weather helps boost home sales activity. With this latest release, the number of markets operating at or above 90 percent of previous norms has climbed to 130. More here.

Bad Weather Takes Toll On Builder Confidence

February 19, 2014 Housing Market Comments Off on Bad Weather Takes Toll On Builder Confidence

Since hitting its recent peak of 58 last August, builder confidence has remained above 50 through the fall and early winter, according to the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index. In fact, the index – which measures confidence on a scale where any number above 50 indicates more builders view conditions as good than poor – remained high through January, when it showed a reading of 56. But harsh winter weather took a toll on optimism in February, contributing to an unexpected 10-point drop in the index. Kevin Kelly, NAHB’s chairman, said significant weather conditions across most of the country led to a decline in buyer traffic which, combined with concerns about the availability of skilled workers, developed lots, and building materials, led to the dip in confidence. The results show builders less confident across all three major components of the index, though the components measuring current conditions and future sales expectations remained above 50 despite the declines. More here.