Homebuilder Confidence About Business Conditions Still Low According to NAHB Survey

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes rose one point to 39 points in December, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). However, sentiment levels were below the break-even mark of 50 points every month in 2025 and ranged in the high 30s in the final quarter of the year.

“In positive signs for the market, builders report that future sales expectations have been above the key break-even level of 50 points for the past three months and the recent easing of monetary policy should help builder loan conditions at the start of 2026,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz in the press release. “However, builders continue to face supply-side headwinds, as regulatory costs and material prices remain stubbornly high. Rising inventory also has increased competition for newly built homes.”
In a further sign of ongoing challenges for the housing market, the latest HMI survey also revealed that 40% of builders reported cutting prices in December, marking the second consecutive month the share has been at 40% or higher since May 2020. It was 41% in November. Meanwhile, the average price reduction was 5% in December, down from the 6% rate in November.

“Market conditions remain challenging with two-thirds of builders reporting they are offering incentives to move buyers off the fence,” said NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes, a home builder and developer from Lexington, NC, in the release. “Meanwhile, builders are contending with rising material and labor prices, as tariffs are having serious repercussions on construction costs.”

In another further sign of challenges for the housing market, the latest HMI survey also revealed that 40% of builders reported cutting prices in December, marking the second consecutive month the share has been at 40% or higher since May 2020. It was 41% in November. Meanwhile, the average price reduction was 5% in December, down from the 6% rate in November. The use of sales incentives was 67% in December, the highest percentage in the post-Covid period.