Land Subdivision NAICS 237210

May 7, 2025 - Home Builders Boost Incentives to Lure Wary Buyers

• US home builders are dangling more incentives to close deals amid a tepid spring home-buying season that is halfway over, according to The Wall Street Journal. Builders typically notch 40% of their annual sales during the spring, but mortgage rates that are stuck around 7% and a lack of affordability have reduced demand. Builders have increased incentives to bring buyers off the sidelines, including mortgage-rate buydowns, design upgrades, and price cuts. In the first two weeks of April, incentives offered by builders equaled 7.2% of the purchase price, up from 6.1% in January, according to data from John Burns Research & Consulting. Incentives are eating into builder profits during a season that usually sees few discounts, and prices tend to rise. Soft demand for new homes is expected to worsen as the effects of tariffs take hold, potentially adding between $5,000 and $15,000 to the cost of a new home.
• Home builder confidence in the single-family market remained in negative territory in April 2025 amid mounting concerns about tariff threats, higher input costs, and economic uncertainty, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). As measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), home builder sentiment rose one point to 40 in March from 39 the previous month. Any HMI reading over 50 indicates that more builders see conditions as good than poor. Builders face headwinds, including high materials costs being made worse by trade strife and labor and lot shortages. Trade policy uncertainty makes it difficult for builders to price homes accurately and engage in basic business planning.

• Demand for building design services declined in March compared to February, according to an April report by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA’s Architecture Billing Index (ABI) fell to 41.1 in March compared to February’s reading of 45.5. Any reading of 50 or more indicates growth in architectural billings. The score for new project inquiries fell to 47.7 in March compared to 47.8 in February, but the index for the value of new design contracts increased from 42 to 42.4. The AIA’s Chief Economist, Kermit Baker said, “Clients are increasingly cautious about starting projects due to uncertainty over future trends in interest rates and building materials costs, as well as the potential for an economic slowdown. Unfortunately, this softness in firm billings is likely to continue as indicators of future work remain weak, however, the average project backlog at firms stands at a reasonably healthy 6.5 months, offering a bit of a buffer if future project work continues to remain soft.”
• North American construction and engineering spending in 2025 is expected to grow by 3% after increasing an estimated 7% in 2024, according to FMI’s second-quarter 2025 North American Engineering and Construction Outlook. Nonresidential building construction spending is forecast to be flat in 2025 as growth in amusement and recreation (+7%), transportation (+3%), public safety (+3%), and educational (+3%) is offset by weakness in commercial (-7%), lodging (-5%), and manufacturing (-1%). Amid high mortgage interest rates and a lack of affordability, single-family construction spending is forecast to rise by 3% in 2025. A recent jump in new apartment supply and unfavorable cost conditions will reduce multifamily spending by 12% in 2025.