The Wells Fargo Housing Market Index Declines Again In March, Dismal Traffic
Homebuilder confidence is lowest level in seven months.
The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) dropped again in March.
NAHB Key Findings March 2025
- Current sales conditions fell three points to 43.
- Sales expectations in the next six months held steady at 47.
- Traffic of prospective buyers dropped five points to 24.
- 29% of builders cut home prices in March, up from 26% in February.
- The average price reduction was 5% in March, the same rate as the previous month.
- The use of sales incentives was 59% in March, unchanged from February.
Sales incentives and price cuts are having little positive impact on traffic or purchases.
HMI Methodology
The HMI is a weighted average of the three components included in the monthly builder survey: present sales of new single-family homes, expected sales of single-family homes for the next six months, traffic of prospective buyers of new single-family homes. The weights are:
- .5920 for Present Sales
- .1358 for Expected Sales
- .2722 for Buyer Traffic
NAHB Wells Fargo Housing Market Index
Traffic, the index, and present conditions are all at dismal levels historically speaking.
Related Posts
January 24, 2025: For the Full Year, 2024 Existing-Home Sales Lowest in Nearly 30 Years
2024 was a terrible year for Realtors. Will 2025 be any better?
February 21, 2025: Existing-Home Sales Drop 4.9 Percent in January, More Than Expected
After three months of increases, sale took a big dive in January.
March 15, 2025: The Case-Shiller Home Price Index Hits Another New Record High, Thank the Fed
I have not commented on Case-Shiller for a while. Here is a batch of new charts.
Prices are high but few are buying.
Fedthink! The Fed Is Incompetent by Design and Can’t Be Fixed
On February 3, I commented Fedthink! The Fed Is Incompetent by Design and Can’t Be Fixed
The Fed destroyed liquidity in the housing market with massive QE that allowed existing owners to refinance at cheap rates fueling inflation via permanent lower mortgage rate (extra money in pockets), while screwing all potential new buyers with runaway prices and higher mortgage rates.
More By This Author:
GDPNow Sinks To an Adjusted -0.1 Percent On Poor Retail SalesRetail Sales Barely Rise In February, They’re Negative Factoring In Revisions
China Announces Wide-Ranging “Special Action Plan” To Boost Consumer Spending
Disclaimer: The content on Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis site is provided as general information only and should not be taken as investment advice. All site content, including ...
more