Each month, Zonda surveys builders across the country to gauge sentiment around the housing market. This survey is intended to supplement the proprietary Zonda database by asking builders more qualitative questions. The anonymous survey covers everything from consumer sentiment to broader macroeconomic topics like tariffs and immigration. Results are tracked over time and analyzed geographically to capture real-time shifts in builder and consumer confidence.
Below are three key takeaways from the March responses:
- A split market.
- Global headlines hit home.
- Starts and community count growth.
A split market. March revealed a market that was roughly split down the middle, with just over half of the builders surveyed reporting that demand was slower than expected. This result is not surprising given today’s environment, where already cautious consumers are facing geopolitical tensions, stock market volatility, higher interest rates, and rising energy prices.
The insights in this article were taken from a more detailed monthly review of the survey’s findings published in Zonda’s National Outlook.