Confidence among homebuilders unexpectedly rose in October, registering the first gain in five months amid falling lumber prices and solid demand, according to a report Tuesday from the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo.
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October's pickup in sentiment across the three subindexes and all four regions indicates the market for newly built homes may be regaining steam after a broad cooling in housing in recent months. Tailwinds from tax cuts and one of the strongest job markets in decades continue to elevate sentiments and boost demand. Lumber prices have also fallen almost 50% since reaching a record in May.
At the same time, affordability continues to present challenges, with rising home prices and borrowing costs, the report said. Data on housing starts and existing-home sales due this week are both projected to show declines in September from the prior month.
"Favorable economic conditions and demographic tailwinds should continue to support demand, but housing affordability has become a challenge due to ongoing price and interest rate increases," NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz said in a statement. "Unless housing affordability stabilizes, the market risks losing additional momentum as we head into 2019."
The confidence gauge in the Northeast climbed to a 13-year high of 64 and reached a four-month high in the West Measures of sentiment rose 2 points each in the Midwest and South.
