He was a newly married 31-year-old back in the fall of ’08, a two-year custom homebuilder just earning his market creds, and he had three big spec projects under way. That’s when the banks said, “No more.”
Confidence among U.S. homebuilders remains at its highest level in six years, reflecting improved optimism over the strengthening housing market this year and a pickup in visits by prospective buyers to builders’ communities.
Quick: On a scale of 1 to 100, what’s your “sentiment index”? That’s apparently the question the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo people ask homebuilders every month.
U.S. homebuilders grew more confident in the housing recovery in August, as many reported that prospects for sales are the best they’ve been since the home bubble burst five years ago.
The uptick in homebuilding activity comes as some homebuilders say Mecklenburg County’s code enforcement department is taking longer than builders would like to inspect projects and approve plans. Builders say the waits are costing them money.
This could be the year.
There is a cautious optimism being felt across the Charlotte homebuilding industry.