Builder confidence rises in August

Builder confidence ticked up to 35 this August—a modest improvement, though it’s still below the 50 mark that signals a strong market. As someone who’s spent years both building and selling homes, I keep a close eye on these trends, especially how they play out in our region. Notably, confidence grew in the Midwest and Northeast, while the South and West either held steady or slipped a bit. Ongoing challenges like rising material costs, fuel prices, and economic uncertainty continue to shape construction decisions. Interestingly, custom builds and smaller markets are weathering these hurdles better than larger developments. My background in residential construction means I look beyond the headlines to what these shifts mean for waterfront and shore properties—where the balance between structural integrity and market opportunity is always critical.