Home Construction Confidence Hits a Low

The confidence of homebuilders has taken a hit, reaching near-record lows in June 2025. This drop is largely due to higher mortgage rates and economic uncertainty. The National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) showed a decline in builder sentiment, falling 2 points to 32. This is a stark contrast to June 2024, when the index was at 43. Anything below 50 on this index indicates a negative outlook. The index has only been lower twice since 2012. The first time was in December 2022, after mortgage rates surged from the record lows seen during the pandemic. The second time was in April 2020, at the very start of the pandemic. This shows that current conditions are quite challenging for homebuilders. Let us look at the details. The index is made up of three parts: current sales conditions, future sales expectations, and buyer traffic. Each of these components saw a 2-point drop. Current sales conditions fell to 35, future sales expectations dropped to 40, and buyer traffic hit a low of 21. This is the lowest buyer traffic reading since the end of 2023. These numbers paint a clear picture: buyers are hesitant, and the market is struggling. Why are buyers hesitant? High mortgage rates and economic uncertainty are the main culprits. Many potential buyers are waiting on the sidelines, hoping for better conditions. To attract these buyers, many builders are cutting prices. In June, 37% of builders reported cutting prices, the highest share in three years. The average price reduction was 5%, a trend that has been steady since late last year. The impact of these changes is evident in the broader market. Rising inventory levels and hesitant buyers are leading to weakening price growth. In some markets, prices are even declining. This trend is expected to continue, with a forecasted decline in single-family home starts for 2025. Lennar, one of the nation's largest homebuilders, recently reported a nearly 9% drop in the average home price for the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter in 2024. This drop, along with lower-than-expected new orders and deliveries, highlights the challenges facing the industry. Lennar's co-CEO, Stuart Miller, acknowledged the difficulties, stating that higher mortgage rates and weaker consumer confidence are driving the need for incentives to make homes more affordable. Regionally, the South and West are feeling the brunt of this sentiment drop. These regions, which typically see the most home construction, are now the weakest in terms of builder confidence. This regional disparity adds another layer of complexity to the current housing market landscape.