In a sign that the housing market is now slowing, builder confidence took a steep drop in May. Growing affordability challenges in the form of rapidly rising interest rates, double-digit price increases for material costs, and ongoing home price appreciation are taking a toll on buyer demand.
Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes fell eight points to 69 in May, according to the most recent National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This is the fifth straight month that builder sentiment has declined and the lowest reading since June 2020.