How Do We Relieve Some of the Home Buyer Demand? Enter New Home Builders

How Do We Relieve Some of the Home Buyer Demand? Enter New Home Builders

  • Megan Douglas
  • 09/23/20
 
Denver has seen record breaking demand partnered with record breaking low supply. So, one resolution to this is new home communities. In most cases you can’t have one today or tomorrow but if you’ve been frustrated by participating in bidding wars or finding homes that you preferred had your personal touch in the finishes then considering a new home is the right move for you.
 
Last week, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported their Housing Market Index (HMI) hit an all-time high in the 35-year history of the series with a score of 83. The index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sale expectations for the next six months, as well as the traffic of prospective buyers of new homes.
 
As the following chart shows, confidence dropped dramatically when stay-in-place orders were originally mandated earlier this year. Since then, it has soared back.Looking at the three-month moving averages for HMI scores, confidence increased in every region of the country:
 
  • The Northeast increased 11 points to 76
  • The Midwest jumped 9 points to 72
  • The South rose 8 points to 79
  • The West increased 7 points to 85


Confidence Is Validated by the Numbers

This confidence is definitely warranted. According to a recent NAHB report, single-family housing starts increased 4.1% to a 1.02 million annual rate, and single-family permits increased 6% to a 1.04 million unit rate, meaning newly constructed homes are on the rise.
 
A separate report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) shows mortgage applications for new home purchases increased by 33.3% compared to a year ago. Joel Kan, Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting at MBA, commented on the numbers:
 
“The housing market continued to exceed expectations in August, as housing demand for new homes stayed strong and the job market continued to recover…The new home market has maintained its path of recovery throughout the summer, and record-low mortgage rates and households seeking more space will likely continue to drive demand into the fall.”

Bottom Line

If you’re thinking a new home is the right next move get in touch with me. You need to be visiting the new home communities with a Realtor who represents you. The Realtors on site represent the builder which leaves you more exposed and often more frustrated. So, it’s my recommendation to have your own representation and I’m happy to help you sort through which new home community is right for you.



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I genuinely care about my clients. (In fact, they’re often surprised by how much so!) But this is a major step in anyone’s life and I want it to be the best experience possible.

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