Homebuilders

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. will acquire Taylor Morrison Home Corp. in an all-cash deal worth about $6.8 billion, the first major purchase under chief executive Greg Abel and a vote of confidence in the US housing market. 

Starts of single-family homes declined 9%, the most since August, according to government figures released Thursday. 

Economic uncertainty and higher rates in April contributed to the first decline in applications for new homes on an annual basis since October.

Builders Capital Exchange has a $2 billion multi-year annual funding commitment, while RCLCO Fund Advisors creates joint venture which will acquire communities.

Dream Finders Homes made its intentions public in an effort to push for shareholder approval following Beazer's rejection of two prior offers.

President Biden had issued a rule in 2024 requiring newly constructed homes to abide by an energy mandate to be eligible for FHA- or USDA-backed mortgages.

Builder mortgage units saw Q1 profit slides (NVR down 17%) despite an 11% rise in new home loan applications. Overall homebuilder net income dropped, and sales incentives remain high.

Toll Brothers' purchase of Buffington Homes of Arkansas will extend its national outreach with a strong presence in northwest Arkansas, the company said.

Developers including D.R. Horton Inc., Lennar Corp. and KB Home all missed expectations last quarter and estimates suggest both sales and earnings have fallen further as conflict in the Middle East unsettled buyers and raised costs.

The war in the Middle East is adding to a slew of challenges already facing the construction industry in recent years, including elevated mortgage rates, labor constraints and higher prices for materials.

Lending for new single-family homes jumped 11% from a year ago and 26% from February, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

The artificial intelligence-based technology automates manual processes associated with the financing, including draws, for homes under construction.

Olive Branch Home Loans is the first business established through a new LoanDepot partnership model aimed to help builders scale internal lending units.

The pace of applications and closings on new construction fell from January, while the average loan size also declined, despite a period of lower rates.

The deregulatory executive order, which pairs with another targeting small players' home loan rules, impacts the FHFA, HUD and other agencies.

Lennar's first fiscal quarter earnings were down by more than half after three years of persistent trials which are testing consumer confidence and sentiment.

The lender will offer a comprehensive suite of residential lending programs and commercial lending solutions, such as builder construction loans.

President Trump's criticism of large institutional investors prompted inclusion of a sales timeline for build-to-rent properties in the ROAD Act, which in turn pushed NAHB to withdraw its support.

Applications for renovation financing in 2024 were more abundant in some of the nation's smaller counties and states, than in the largest housing markets.

The increase in borrower activity came as housing starts ended 2025 on a high note, while mortgage rates were a percentage point lower year-over-year.