Markets sentiment among remodeling contractors reached its highest point since the third quarter of 2005, according to the latest Remodeling Market Index (RMI) from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released Thursday.
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Markets sentiment among remodeling contractors reached its highest point since the third quarter of 2005, according to the latest Remodeling Market Index (RMI) from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released Thursday.
The RMI rose five points to 50 during the third quarter, as prospects in the market track the positive trends of the new-home market. The RMI component measuring current market conditions rose to 52 from 46 in the previous quarter, while the component measuring future indicators increased to 49 from 44. The overall RMI averages ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future activity.
"The strength of the RMI, especially in owner-occupied properties, shows that homeowners are investing in remodels as home prices stabilize," said NAHB Remodelers Chairman George Moore Jr., a remodeler from Elm Grove, La. "As owners become more confident that investments in housing will hold their value, they are beginning to undertake projects to improve their comfort that they had been putting off."
All three indicators of current market conditions improved: maintenance and repairs rose to 56 (from 50), minor additions and alterations to 51 (from 47) and major additions and alterations to 49 (from 42). Current market conditions improved or held steady in all four regions in the third quarter of 2012. Current remodeling activity was particularly strong in owner-occupied housing; the sub-components of the current conditions index for owner-occupied housing were all well over 50, ranging between 55 and 60.
Future market indicators in every region but the Northeast experienced gains from the previous quarter: Northeast, 38 (from 41); Midwest, 50 (from 46); South, 52 (from 46); and West, 52 (from 42). All indicators of future market conditions rose: calls for bids, 48 (from 44); amount of work committed for next three months, 46 (from 43); backlog of remodeling jobs, 50 (from 46); and appointments for proposals, 51 (from 43). "The improvement in the RMI provides more evidence that the remodeling industry is making the orderly recovery from its low point in 2009 as we've been expecting," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "Although remodeling projects over $25,000 are now showing some signs of strength, they are still lagging behind smaller property alterations and maintenance and repair jobs. The recovery of the remodeling market in general, and large projects in particular, continues to be constrained by factors such as tight credit and problematic appraisals."
The RMI improvement is also consistent with research published by Harvard researchers who expect home-improvement spending to reach double-digit growth in the first half of 2013.