2021 February Newsletter
New Home Sales Hold Steady in December
Higher home prices stemming from rising lumber and other building material costs, as well as a lack of inventory due to a shortage of buildable lots, offset solid demand for new home sales in December. Despite a brief slowing in sales activity toward the end of the...
Builder Confidence Down on Rising Material Prices, Upsurge in COVID-19 Cases
Rising material costs led by a huge upsurge in lumber prices, along with a resurgence of the coronavirus across much of the nation, pushed builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes down three points to 83 in January, according to the latest...
Housing Starts End 2020 Strong; Risks Ahead
While housing starts ended the year on a strong note, rising lumber prices and increasing regulatory cost concerns could affect future production. Led by a solid, double-digit gain in single-family starts, overall housing starts increased 5.8 percent to a seasonally...
Small Business Administration and Treasury Release Updated Loan Forgiveness Guidance
The Small Business Administration (SBA) and U.S. Treasury Department last night released loan forgiveness guidance and forms incorporating changes made by the recently enacted COVID relief legislation, including the much anticipated one-page application for borrowers...