Believe it or not, last year's surprisingly resilient single-family home construction unfolded against a backdrop of rising costs and labor shortages, all while the global market for building our dwellings grew to nearly four trillion dollars.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the U.S. housing starts for single-family homes reached 954,000 units, marking a 2.5% increase from 2022 despite supply chain challenges
- Global residential construction market size was valued at $3.89 trillion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $5.12 trillion by 2030 at a CAGR of 3.4%
- New home sales in the U.S. averaged 668,000 units annually in 2023, down 11% from pre-pandemic levels due to high mortgage rates
- Average construction cost per square foot for new single-family homes was $155 in 2023, up 6% from 2022
- Lumber prices averaged $450 per thousand board feet in 2023, down 40% from 2021 peaks but still 20% above pre-pandemic
- Labor costs represented 28% of total home building expenses in 2023, rising 7.2% YoY due to shortages
- U.S. construction employment totaled 8.1 million in 2023, with residential sector employing 3.4 million workers
- Carpenter shortage: 90,000 unfilled positions in residential construction in 2023
- Average hourly wage for construction laborers was $29.50 in 2023, up 5.1% YoY
- Lumber used in U.S. single-family homes averaged 15,000 board feet per house in 2023
- Concrete consumption for foundations: 50 cubic yards per average home in 2023
- Drywall installation: 1,200 sq ft per new single-family home in 2023 standard
- 92% of new homes built to ENERGY STAR standards in 2023, reducing energy use 20%
- Solar panels installed on 15% of new homes in 2023, generating avg 8kW per system
- Net-zero ready homes: 5% of U.S. starts in 2023, up from 2% in 2021
Despite high costs and challenges, homebuilding slowly adapts to market demands.
Cost Analysis
- Average construction cost per square foot for new single-family homes was $155 in 2023, up 6% from 2022
- Lumber prices averaged $450 per thousand board feet in 2023, down 40% from 2021 peaks but still 20% above pre-pandemic
- Labor costs represented 28% of total home building expenses in 2023, rising 7.2% YoY due to shortages
- Soft costs (permits, design) averaged $35,000 per new home in 2023, 8% of total build cost
- Site work costs for residential construction averaged $28,870 per home in 2023, up 5.1% from 2022
- Foundation costs reached $41,500 on average for single-family homes in 2023, comprising 9.7% of total costs
- Framing expenses totaled $64,250 per home in 2023, 15% of build cost driven by material inflation
- Exterior finishes cost averaged $50,200 in 2023, up 4.8% due to siding and roofing price hikes
- Major systems (plumbing, electrical) averaged $92,500 per home in 2023, 21.6% of total costs
- Interior finishes cost $62,000 on average in 2023, rising 6.2% from labor-intensive installations
- Final steps (landscaping, appliances) totaled $35,700 per home in 2023, 8.3% of costs
- Profit margin for production builders averaged 9.2% in 2023, down from 11% in 2021 due to cost pressures
- Regional cost variation: Midwest new home build cost $150/sq ft vs. Northeast $185/sq ft in 2023
- Energy-efficient features added $15,000-$20,000 to average build costs in 2023
- Lot costs averaged $81,000 per single-family home in 2023, 19% of total development cost
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Despite lumber costs finally backing down from their pandemic-era sugar high, the collective sigh of relief from homebuilders was promptly stifled by the sobering reality that nearly everything else—from the foundation to the light switches—decided to get more expensive and clingy, proving that constructing a new home is less about nailing boards and more about wrestling an octopus of escalating expenses.
Labor Statistics
- U.S. construction employment totaled 8.1 million in 2023, with residential sector employing 3.4 million workers
- Carpenter shortage: 90,000 unfilled positions in residential construction in 2023
- Average hourly wage for construction laborers was $29.50 in 2023, up 5.1% YoY
- 74% of builders reported labor shortages as top issue in 2023 NAHB survey
- Residential construction productivity grew 1.2% in 2023, lagging overall economy due to skilled labor gaps
- Women comprised 10.9% of construction workforce in 2023, up from 9.8% in 2020
- Hispanic workers made up 30% of residential construction labor in 2023
- Average construction foreman salary was $78,200 annually in 2023
- Training programs enrolled 250,000 new workers in 2023 via NAHB initiatives
- Overtime hours in residential construction averaged 4.2 hours/week per worker in 2023
- Union membership in construction was 12.6% in 2023, down from 13.2% in 2022
- Entry-level apprentice wages started at $18.75/hour in 2023, with 4-year programs common
- Project manager roles grew 6% to 450,000 positions in residential sector 2023
- Injury rate in residential construction was 2.8 per 100 workers in 2023
- Turnover rate for construction laborers hit 25% annually in 2023
- Electrician wages averaged $35.20/hour in residential building 2023
- 65% of builders used subcontractors for 80% of work in 2023 survey
- Plumber median pay $31.50/hour in 2023 residential sector
Labor Statistics Interpretation
Despite paying relatively well and making modest progress, the U.S. homebuilding industry is a paradoxical and creaky machine, where strong wages coexist with chronic shortages, high turnover, and productivity hampered by a persistent—and costly—missing piece: enough skilled hands on deck.
Market Trends
- In 2023, the U.S. housing starts for single-family homes reached 954,000 units, marking a 2.5% increase from 2022 despite supply chain challenges
- Global residential construction market size was valued at $3.89 trillion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $5.12 trillion by 2030 at a CAGR of 3.4%
- New home sales in the U.S. averaged 668,000 units annually in 2023, down 11% from pre-pandemic levels due to high mortgage rates
- The U.S. home building sector contributed $1.2 trillion to GDP in 2022, representing 4.1% of total economic output
- Multifamily housing starts in the U.S. hit 480,000 units in 2023, a 15% decline from 2022 peaks amid rising interest rates
- U.S. single-family home permits issued totaled 935,000 in 2023, reflecting a 5.8% year-over-year decrease
- The average U.S. new home size was 2,299 square feet in 2023, down 1% from 2022 as builders focus on affordability
- Builder confidence index averaged 42 in 2023, the lowest since the Great Recession due to economic uncertainty
- U.S. housing completions reached 1.41 million units in 2023, up 3.2% from prior year
- Remodeling market expenditure hit $450 billion in 2023, 3.9% growth driven by aging housing stock
- U.S. new home inventory stood at 478,000 units in Q4 2023, 7.2 months' supply compared to 3.5 months historically
- Custom home building accounted for 12% of U.S. single-family starts in 2023, up from 10% in 2021
- The national average sales price of new homes was $426,900 in 2023, a 4.5% increase YoY
- U.S. homeownership rate stabilized at 65.7% in 2023, with first-time buyers comprising 31% of purchases
- Modular home production grew 8% to 25,000 units in U.S. in 2023, capturing 3% market share
Market Trends Interpretation
While builders are pragmatically shrinking homes and even their own confidence to navigate high rates and economic jitters, the stubbornly resilient demand for shelter continues to drive a trillion-dollar global construction behemoth, proving that even when the dream gets a bit smaller, the industry’s foundation is anything but.
Material Usage
- Lumber used in U.S. single-family homes averaged 15,000 board feet per house in 2023
- Concrete consumption for foundations: 50 cubic yards per average home in 2023
- Drywall installation: 1,200 sq ft per new single-family home in 2023 standard
- Asphalt shingles covered 85% of new roofs in 2023, averaging 30 squares per home
- Vinyl siding used in 52% of new homes in 2023, totaling 1,500 sq ft average
- Energy Star appliances in 75% of new builds 2023, reducing material waste by 10%
- Steel framing in 25% of homes 2023, saving 40% lumber vs. wood
- Insulation materials: R-19 walls standard, using 1,200 board feet fiberglass in 2023 homes
- Windows: average 25 per home, low-E glass in 90% of 2023 builds
- HVAC systems: 95% ducted forced air in new homes 2023, avg 4-ton capacity
- Countertops: 90% quartz/granite in 2023, averaging 50 sq ft per kitchen
- Flooring: LVP in 40% of new homes 2023, 1,200 sq ft average coverage
- Paint usage: 15 gallons interior/exterior per 2,300 sq ft home in 2023
- Electrical wiring: 1.5 miles per average home in 2023 installations
- Plumbing pipes: 400 linear feet PVC/copper per home 2023
Material Usage Interpretation
The modern American home is a meticulously engineered ecosystem of wood, concrete, and vinyl, where we've traded a forest of lumber for a labyrinth of wires and pipes, all while convincing ourselves that granite countertops and low-E windows are the cornerstones of efficiency.
Regional Data
- Southwest: Texas led with 178,000 single-family starts in 2023
- Northeast: Massachusetts average new home price $620,000 in 2023, highest regional
- Midwest: Ohio saw 8% growth in housing permits to 45,000 in 2023
- West: California multifamily starts 92,000 units 2023 despite shortages
- Southeast: Florida new home sales 120,000 units 2023, up 5%
- Urban vs rural: 60% of starts in suburbs 2023, 25% urban, 15% rural
- Sun Belt migration drove 40% of national starts growth 2023
- Northeast permitting costs 2x national average at $25,000/home 2023
- Midwest lot prices lowest at $55,000 average 2023
- West wildfire regulations increased costs 10% in CA/OR 2023
Regional Data Interpretation
It seems America's housing market is having a geographic identity crisis, where Texas is building a small city of single-family homes while Massachusetts buyers need a gold-plated mortgage just to get a door, all as everyone flocks to the affordable suburbs except in the West, where you pay extra for the thrilling possibility of your new home becoming a climate change statistic.
Regulations
- Building codes updated for resilience in 45 states 2023, hurricane-rated windows standard
- Permitting time averaged 8 weeks for single-family homes in 2023, delaying 20% of projects
- Impact fees averaged $14,000 per home in 2023, up 4% YoY
- Zoning restrictions limited supply in 75% of metro areas 2023, per HUD data
- ADA compliance in 100% of multifamily starts 2023 under FHA rules
- Energy code compliance costs added 2-5% to builds in 2023 IECC states
- Flood zone regulations affected 18% of new site selections 2023, FEMA maps
- OSHA safety fines totaled $150M for residential builders 2023
- Historic preservation reviews delayed 10% of urban projects 2023
- Lien laws reformed in 12 states 2023, reducing disputes by 15%
Regulations Interpretation
It seems America is trying to build a hurricane-proof, universally accessible, and energy-efficient future, but it's currently stuck in a labyrinth of permits, fees, and zoning red tape that would make even Theseus throw in the towel.
Sustainability
- 92% of new homes built to ENERGY STAR standards in 2023, reducing energy use 20%
- Solar panels installed on 15% of new homes in 2023, generating avg 8kW per system
- Net-zero ready homes: 5% of U.S. starts in 2023, up from 2% in 2021
- Recycled materials in builds: 25% by weight average in 2023 green projects
- Water-efficient fixtures cut usage 30% in 65% of new homes 2023
- EV charger readiness in 35% of new garages 2023, per NAHB standards
- LED lighting standard in 98% of new homes 2023, saving 75% energy vs incandescent
- Low-VOC paints used in 70% of interiors 2023, reducing emissions 50%
- Native landscaping in 40% of new developments 2023, conserving 1M gallons water annually per 100 homes
- HERS Index average score 58 for new homes in 2023, indicating 42% efficiency gain
- Geothermal HVAC in 3% of luxury homes 2023, cutting energy 60%
- Rainwater harvesting systems in 12% of Southwest new builds 2023
- Carbon footprint of average new home construction: 120 metric tons CO2e in 2023
- Passive house certifications: 1,200 U.S. homes in 2023, 80% energy savings
Sustainability Interpretation
With impressive strides in efficiency and smarter materials, today's new homes are winking at Mother Nature by cutting energy use nearly in half, tucking solar panels on roofs like hats in the sun, and thoughtfully pouring less water and emissions down the drain.
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