Homebuilders' Confidence at 7-Year High

Builders continue to feel more optimistic about the direction of the recovery for newly built single-family homes. Builder confidence rose six points in July to 57, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Any number above 50 indicates more builders view conditions as good than poor.

The index gauges builders’ perceptions on single-family home sales, sales expectations for the next six months, and buyer traffic. The gauge for current sales condition rose to its highest level since early 2006, and the index’s measurements for prospective buyers and sales expectations for the next six months rose to the highest levels since late 2005. The latest report also showed improvements in builder confidence has expanded across every region of the United States.

"Builders are seeing more motivated buyers coming through their doors as the inventory of existing homes for sale continues to tighten," says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "Meanwhile, as the infrastructure that supplies home building returns, some previously skyrocketing building material costs have begun to soften."

Source: National Association of Home Builders