Analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) data, by the NAHB, reveals that the median single-family lot price declined in 2019, ending a climb that started in 2013. The median lot prices were $ 45,000, which is a drop of 9% since 2018, when half of the lots were selling at $49,500.
Wood Markets News
Building Material Sales Increase in September
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau monthly tally, retail sales increased their rate of growth in September. The bureau estimated September sales for building material & garden equipment and supplies dealers (NAICS 444) at $38,204,000,000.
New Brunswick Woodlot Owners Want Changes in Crown Log Pricing
According to Rick Doucett, the president of the New Brunswick Federation of Woodlot Owners, the royalties paid to woodlot owners for raw materials have not increased during the pandemic even as the price of finished lumber has gone up.
European Union Starts Anti-Dumping Procedure on Imported Russian Birch Plywood
Following a complaint brought by the Woodstock Consortium acting on behalf of the Union producers of birch plywood, who represent a majority of the total European Union (EU) production of the product, the EU has launched an anti-dumping procedure for the import of birch plywood from Russia.
FEA’s Weekly Order Survey Participants Outlook is Little Changed from Last Week
Dealers responding to FEA’s Weekly Order Survey continue to report their sales to builders as slow but steady. The morning chill in the air has builders working diligently to get projects under roof and ready for interior work.
Sales of Newly Built Single-Family Homes Outpacing Construction
The National Association of Home Builders is reporting that after a sharp decline in the spring, home building has experienced a remarkable resurgence.
Home Affordability Declines During COVID-19 Pandemic
The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) is reporting that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to afford purchasing a home has steadily declined.
Remodelers Confidence Soars in Q3
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has released their Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for Q3 2020. The reading of 82 in the third quarter, indicates remodelers’ strong confidence in their markets.
Joint Center for Housing Studies Expects Do-it-Yourself Uptick to Slow and Return to Normal Levels
There has been a surge in do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement projects since the start of the pandemic. With extra time on their hands and savings destined for vacations and trips that are now on hold, homeowners have used that time and money to take on projects to adapt their homes to their new lifestyles.
Estimates of Hurricane Laura’s Impact on Loggers and Landowners in Louisiana is Staggering
According to a report by Jeff Zeringue, in the Louisiana Logging Council’s Louisiana Logger publication, loggers and landowners in Louisiana experienced a year’s worth of timber harvest overnight when Hurricane Laura badly damaged more that 758,000 acres of timberland in Louisiana in late August.