Homebuilders

Industry leaders suggested they’ve "never felt so worried at a time when everything feels so good otherwise," said Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

Lumber prices have wavered, but gypsum, steel and transportation were still on the rise in the past month, according to a National Association of Home Builders analysis.

December's average balance for a mortgage to purchase a newly constructed property set an all-time high, the Mortgage Bankers Association's Builder Application Survey found.

Applications were up 9% compared to July’s total, while the average price for newly built houses hit a record.

U.S. homebuilder sentiment rose in September amid lower lumber prices and strong housing demand.

Single-family home construction also increased across communities of all sizes, but notably in outlying metro areas.

But average loan sizes remain near record highs, with summer purchases of new constructions continuing to drive up prices.

Meanwhile, the average new-home mortgage price climbed to a new all-time high, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Demand was strongest at the high end of the market, which pushed loan amounts up for the fourth straight month.

Issuance of securitizations backed by these loans is becoming more dependable, and Fannie will need more mortgages that finance newly-built energy-efficient homes to keep it going.