Housing Starts Fall to Lowest Level Since January 2014

Single-family housing production dropped 14.9% in February 2015 while multifamily starts dropped 20.8%

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Nationwide housing starts dropped 17 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 897,000 units in February, according to newly released data from the U.S. Commerce Department. Single-family housing production fell 14.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 593,000 in February while multifamily starts dropped 20.8 percent to 304,000 units. Combined single- and multifamily starts decreased in all regions of the country, with the Northeast, Midwest, South and West posting respective declines of 56.5 percent, 37 percent, 2.5 percent and 18.2 percent. 

“This drop is not surprising based on our recent surveys, but our builders continue to show cautious optimism in the months ahead,” said NAHB Chairman Tom Woods, a home builder from Blue Springs, Mo. 

“February’s numbers indicate that wavering consumer confidence continues to impact the housing recovery,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “Buyers are waiting for a stronger, more reliable economy before making a home purchase, and builders are responding to their reluctance. Even with this month’s drop in production, we expect the housing market to move forward this year in step with an improving economy.” 

Overall permit issuance was up 3 percent in February to a rate of 1.092 million. Single-family permits decreased 6.2 percent to 620,000 units while multifamily permits rose 18.3 percent to a rate of 472,000 units - multifamily permits' highest level since April 2014 and only the third time its been above 470 since 2006.

Regionally, the Midwest, South and West registered permit gains of 6.1 percent, 7.3 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively, while the Northeast posted a 17.4 percent loss.

Builder Confidence, Housing Market Index Drop for Third Consecutive Month

The underlying conditions for a good, not great, housing rebound remain in place. The economy is adding jobs at a much faster pace than earlier in the recovery, overall growth is more dependably positive, mortgage rates are historically low and there is considerable pent-up demand waiting to be released. Consumers need to regain their confidence in those trends and to readjust their expectations for home prices. The softness in the fourth quarter GDP estimates and the very slow rise in worker pay and household incomes contributed to the current hesitation.

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