March 2021 Sees Gains for Private Residential Spending According to the National Association of Home Builders
The NAHB analysis of Census Construction Spending data revealed that March 2021 saw an increase of total private residential construction spending by 1.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $725.3 billion. This is 23.3% higher than reported this time in 2020.
Along with the pandemic’s stay-at-home orders, homeowners put remodeling and improvements on the forefront. The gains seen in March were mostly attributed to a large amount of spending on single-family and improvements. Single-family construction spending rose to a $389.9 billion annual pace in March, up by 2%. The report also showed a 2% increase in single-family home remodeling.
This spending increase runs along with the single-family housing starts which also jumped in March. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau, overall housing starts increased 19.4% percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.74 million units. They have not seen such a fast pace since June 2006.
Housing starts are also on the rise with 636,000 single-family homes currently under construction which is 19% higher than this time last year. NAHB reported that combined housing in the Midwest 28%, the Northeast 23%, in the South 10% and 5% in the West. Permits were higher in the Midwest and South, lower in the Northeast and the same in the West.
Now is a good time to purchase a new home. If you are in the market for a home, go through a local sales agent who knows the market in your area.
