Builder confidence upticks to highest reading since April. This is supported by 50-point breakeven mark for future sales expectations. Despite market and macroeconomic hesitations the building and remodeling industries remain resilient. As The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and their NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) relays this positive trend.
“The HMI gain in October is a positive signal for 2026 as our forecast is for single-family housing starts to gain ground next year,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell from just above 6.5% at the start of September to 6.3% in early October. Combined with anticipated further easing by the Fed, builders expect a slightly improving sales environment, albeit one in which persistent supply-side cost factors remain a challenge.”
Despite the supply cost factor as a point of uncertainty with tariffs being imposed on kitchen cabinets and lumber. Mortgage rates falling is a positive across the remodeling industry. Home equity lines of credit (HELOC) are expected to follow. This opens the market for an influx of clients with a more affordable way to finance.
As builder confidence rises the remodeling industry is set to continue this sentiment.
