Homebuilding

New homes, builders, development, and the production of housing supply.

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New ConstructionHousing starts, completions, new-home sales, and construction activity.HomebuildersBuilder strategy, operating results, incentives, and market positioning.Land & DevelopmentLand acquisition, development pipelines, infrastructure, and project planning.Construction CostsMaterials, labor, financing, and the economics of building homes.

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Data ReportHomebuildingOct 10, 20263 min read

Q3 2026 Remodeling Backlog: What 56 Means

Q3 2026 remodeling backlog sentiment rose to 56, but the index does not measure booked months. Project schedules require checks on commitments and capacity.

AnalysisPolicy & RegulationOct 9, 20264 min read

HUD Chassis-Free Action Plan: Steps Still Ahead

The HUD chassis-free action plan outlines seven work areas, while developers still need to verify approvals for the proposed home and site.

ChecklistHomebuildingOct 9, 20264 min read

New Home Landscaping Escrow: Closing Checks

A new home landscaping escrow can help address unfinished work. Check lender approval, funding, completion deadlines and release terms before closing.

GuidePolicy & RegulationOct 8, 20265 min read

Portland Parking Minimums: What Still Applies

Portland parking minimums are gone, but bike parking, access and other rules remain. See what applies October 8, 2026, and what changes in November.

AnalysisHomebuildingOct 6, 20264 min read

Champion Timberline Acquisition: Retail Scope

The Champion Timberline acquisition would expand retail reach. What the agreement establishes about closing, site work and home delivery.

ChecklistHomebuildingOct 5, 20264 min read

North Carolina Septic Bedroom Count: Lot Plans

Verify a North Carolina lot's septic bedroom count before choosing a house plan. Check expansion approvals, repair space and advertising limits.

ChecklistHomebuildingOct 3, 20264 min read

First Winter New Home Condensation Checklist

Check condensation in your new home’s first winter: locate the moisture, learn ventilation controls, keep a useful log, and know when to call the builder.

Data ReportHomebuildingOct 2, 20263 min read

August 2026 Multifamily Spending: What Drove the Residential Gain

August 2026 multifamily spending edged up, but improvements drove the estimated residential gain. Compare the mix, July revisions and limits.

AnalysisPolicy & RegulationOct 1, 20265 min read

California SB 1116 Lot Averaging in 2027

California SB 1116 lot averaging permits smaller parcels for eligible 2027 applications, while average sizes and other project requirements still apply.

Calculated ExplainerHomebuildingSep 29, 20264 min read

Builder Cancellation Rate: Which Denominator?

A builder cancellation rate depends on its denominator. Reconcile gross orders, cancellations and net orders, and separate backlog losses from new buyers.

ChecklistHomebuildingSep 27, 20263 min read

Geotechnical Report Reliance: Before Buying

Geotechnical report reliance requires permission and a project review. Check report terms, technical assumptions, budget gaps and acquisition records.

Calculated ExplainerHomebuildingSep 26, 20265 min read

Construction Loan Interest Reserve: Delay Costs

A construction loan interest reserve can defer cash payments while debt grows. See how draw timing and delays affect costs and cash needs.

Data ReportHomebuildingSep 24, 20264 min read

KB Home Q3 2026: Build to Order Trade-Offs

KB Home’s Q3 2026 results show build to order trade-offs in inventory and delivery timing, with margins still below year-earlier levels.

AnalysisHomebuildingSep 23, 20264 min read

Millrose Bond Homesite Funding: What It Adds

Millrose has priced a bond offering for potential homesite funding. Closing, debt repayment and lot development remain separate steps to track.

Deep GuidePolicy & RegulationSep 21, 20267 min read

San Mateo SB 684 Eligibility: Which Parcels?

Check San Mateo SB 684 eligibility for unincorporated parcels, including SB 1123 vacancy rules, coastal limits and the approvals needed before construction.

ChecklistHomebuildingSep 20, 20263 min read

New Home Passive Radon System: What to Check

A new home with a passive radon system still needs testing. Check equipment, fan activation costs, follow-up duties and the records to retain.

Data ReportHomebuildingSep 18, 20264 min read

Lennar Q3 2026 Backlog Coverage: What Q4 Sales Must Deliver

Lennar Q3 2026 backlog coverage leaves a minimum 5,143–6,143-home gap to Q4 guidance if all backlog closes. See the sales and inventory implications.

Data ReportHomebuildingSep 17, 20264 min read

August 2026 Housing Completions: What the Decline Shows

August 2026 housing completions fell. Compare single-family and multifamily delivery, sampling uncertainty, and the stock still under construction.

Deep GuidePolicy & RegulationSep 17, 20265 min read

Oregon Middle Housing Land Division: Unit Limits

Oregon middle housing land division enables separate ownership. Check unit limits, utility and easement rules, and the steps from approval to recording.

ChecklistHomebuildingSep 16, 20264 min read

Cold Weather Concrete Budget: Price Fall Foundations in September

Build a cold weather concrete budget for fall foundations: compare protection, heating, monitoring, extension costs and strength requirements.

GuideHomebuildingSep 14, 20265 min read

North Carolina Plat Recording: What Comes First

North Carolina plat recording rules distinguish contracts from conveyance. Check buyer protections, approval steps and documents needed before closing.

ComparisonPolicy & RegulationSep 12, 20266 min read

California ADU Utility Connection Fees: Which Rules Apply?

California ADU utility connection fees depend on project type. Compare conversions, new construction, capacity charges and the separate impact-fee rules.

ChecklistHomebuildingSep 12, 20264 min read

Taunton Winter Street Opening Deadline: Plan Before November

Plan for Taunton's winter street opening deadline: confirm permit issuance, city exceptions, utility dates and restoration before committing to delivery.

AnalysisHomebuildingSep 10, 20264 min read

Toll Brothers Q3 2026: The Margin Bridge

Toll Brothers Q3 2026 margin bridge: how interest and inventory write-offs affect comparisons, and why margins cannot establish a local discount.

ChecklistHomebuildingSep 8, 20264 min read

New Home Pre-Drywall Inspection: Arrange Access Early

Arrange new home pre-drywall inspection access before walls close. Confirm builder permission, construction readiness, report deadlines and correction records.

Data ReportHomebuildingSep 7, 20264 min read

August 2026 Construction Wages: Hours Lift Weekly Pay

August 2026 construction wages and hours rose together. Separate hourly pay, weekly earnings and residential employment when reviewing labor budgets.

ChecklistHomebuildingSep 5, 20264 min read

NYC New Condo: Temporary Occupancy Checklist

Buying a new NYC condo with a temporary occupancy certificate? Check unit coverage, expiration, renewal plans and written closing conditions.

Deep GuidePolicy & RegulationSep 4, 20265 min read

Houston Replats: Why Deed Restrictions Still Matter

Houston replat approval does not erase deed restrictions. Learn which records and development rules to check before marketing an infill or townhouse site.

AnalysisPolicy & RegulationSep 3, 20264 min read

HUD Design and Construction Complaint Deadline: Scope and Limits

HUD’s design and construction complaint deadline turns on issuance of the initial certificate of occupancy. Private claims and other accessibility duties need separate review.

GuideHomebuildingSep 2, 20265 min read

Raleigh Infrastructure Surety Release: Evidence and Timing

Raleigh infrastructure surety release depends on completion records, state law and instrument terms. Plan reductions, acceptance and available capital.

Data ReportHomebuildingSep 1, 20264 min read

July 2026 Residential Construction Spending: Dollars vs. Output

July 2026 residential construction spending: compare single-family, multifamily and improvements, with revisions and limits for builder budgets.

AnalysisHomebuildingAug 31, 20264 min read

Reframe Microfactory Capacity: What Developers Can Infer

Evaluate Reframe microfactory capacity against completed homes, expected deliveries and the site work that determines schedules and installed prices.

Deep GuideHomebuildingAug 29, 20265 min read

Utility Will-Serve Letters: Capacity Reservation and Costs

A utility will-serve letter may leave capacity reservation, upgrade costs and timing unresolved. Check the terms before committing to a land purchase.

ChecklistHomebuildingAug 28, 20265 min read

California Construction Change Order Costs

Check California construction change order costs: compare added work, deleted-work credits, markup, payment timing, and the revised contract total.

Deep GuidePolicy & RegulationAug 28, 20265 min read

Minneapolis Triplex Conversion: Building Code

Understand the building code for a Minneapolis triplex conversion, from architect plans and zoning checks to safety upgrades and rental approvals.

Data ReportHomebuildingAug 26, 20264 min read

July 2026 New Home Sales: Read the Uncertainty

July 2026 new home sales uncertainty: what the confidence interval, contract definition and cancellation rules mean for builders’ sales forecasts.

AnalysisHomebuildingAug 25, 20264 min read

Digs–Builders FirstSource: The Home Handoff Test

The Digs and Builders FirstSource home handoff partnership raises questions about record accuracy, homeowner access and measurable service gains.

ChecklistHomebuildingAug 22, 20264 min read

Portland Fall Construction: Erosion Planning

Portland fall construction erosion planning starts before October: sequence grading, arrange soil stabilization, and confirm city and Oregon DEQ requirements.

ChecklistHomebuildingAug 21, 20263 min read

California Progress Payment Lien Releases: Checklist

Check California progress payment lien releases by claimant, payment status, through-date and exceptions before paying for a home build or renovation.

AnalysisPolicy & RegulationAug 21, 20265 min read

Oregon Modular Wage Lawsuit: Project Scope

The Oregon modular wage lawsuit challenges off-site wage rules. Project scope depends on procurement dates, bespoke work and stated exceptions.

AnalysisHomebuildingAug 20, 20264 min read

Reverie Resort Lifestyle: Read the Age Restrictions

Reverie Resort Lifestyle expands buyer eligibility, but age restrictions remain community-specific. What agents and builders should verify before selling.

GuidePolicy & RegulationAug 19, 20266 min read

SB 9 and Tenant-Occupied Property: Check the History

Assess SB 9 on tenant-occupied property: check three-year rental history, protected-housing restrictions and the lot-split residence commitment.

Data ReportHomebuildingAug 18, 20264 min read

July 2026 Permits and Starts: Reading the Split

July 2026 permits and starts diverged. Census figures show a larger backlog, but leave the monthly single-family starts decline uncertain.

Calculated ExplainerHomebuildingAug 15, 20266 min read

Land Option Extension vs Purchase: Cash at Risk

Compare land option extension vs purchase by separating fees, purchase credits, ownership carry and cash recoverable if a builder's project stops.

ChecklistHomebuildingAug 14, 20264 min read

New Home Warranty Notice Deadlines: Keep Proof

Check new home warranty notice deadlines, coverage dates and delivery rules. Confirm who must receive your claim and what proof to keep.

AnalysisHomebuildingAug 11, 20264 min read

Dream Finders–Beazer Merger: The Execution Test

Dream Finders–Beazer merger execution depends on closing, funding and integration. What builders, suppliers and sales teams can verify now.

Data ReportHomebuildingAug 10, 20264 min read

July 2026 Residential Construction Jobs: A Small, Uneven Gain

July 2026 residential construction jobs rose slightly as building payrolls fell. Read the BLS subsectors before changing labor bids or schedules.

ChecklistHomebuildingAug 8, 20264 min read

Buildable Lot Due Diligence: Evidence Beyond Zoning

Buildable lot due diligence checks legal access, the building envelope, wastewater, utility capacity and recorded restrictions before a purchase.

AnalysisHomebuildingAug 5, 20264 min read

M/I Homes Q2 2026: Orders Up, Deliveries Down

M/I Homes Q2 2026 orders rose as deliveries fell. Backlog, cancellations and margins show what builders should compare in their own pipelines.

ComparisonHomebuildingAug 4, 20266 min read

Site Work Allowances in a Fixed Price Contract

Compare site work allowances in a fixed price contract with exclusions and defined work, including overruns, credits, labor, markup, and quote details.

Guides & explainers

ChecklistHomebuildingOct 9, 20264 min read