Homebuilder stocks have been on a pretty steady incline this year, despite concerns about whether the housing market is truly recovering. Although recent news has still been a bit mixed, the upshot is that the housing market really is improving, and there are concrete numbers to prove it.
Lennar
Ryland Group
Standard Pacific
The increase in sale closings is significant, and it is noteworthy that a Wells Fargo survey for the month of March showed that both pricing and sales rates improved from February. A report from the National Association of Realtors reinforces this point, noting that the number of properties that had signed purchase and sale agreements rose more than 4% from February, and nearly 13% from March 2011. Although the report didn't designate sales that had actually closed, the data shows that the market is moving in the right direction.
Fool's take
The evidence indicates quite clearly that a housing rebound has begun, and is gaining momentum. There may be a few more sputters and stalls, however, before the recovery gets a firm footing. Things are not all sweetness and light just yet, and a National Association of Home Builders report published in mid-April notes that builders' confidence in completed sales is still shaky, and that headwinds such as the still-high levels of foreclosures on the market and tight credit policies are still affecting the sector. The prime selling season is upon us, however, and it looks as if it just may be the best one we've seen for several years.
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