NAHBNow
Sales of newly built, single-family homes inched down 1.7% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 627,000 units after an upwardly revised June report, according to newly released data by HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. On a year-to-date basis, sales are up 7.2% from this time last year.
“A lack of overall housing inventory is pushing up home prices, which is hurting affordability and causing prospective buyers to delay making a home purchase,” said NAHB Chairman Randy Noel.
“Although this month marks the lowest sales pace since last October, we continue to see solid housing demand due to economic strengthening and positive demographic tailwinds,” said NAHB Senior Economist Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington. “Builders need to manage rising construction costs to keep their homes competitively priced for the newcomers to the housing market.”
