Home builders boost new construction 11% to 15-month high in March

11 articles · Updated · MarketWatch · Apr 29

U.S. housing starts surged to an annual rate of 1.5 million in March, up from 1.36 million in February, as warmer weather ended a cold snap.
Despite the jump, permits for new homes fell again and sales remain depressed, with unsold completed homes reaching a 17-year high and mortgage rates still above 6%.
Builders remain cautious amid high prices, lingering economic uncertainty after the U.S.-Iran war, and low confidence, signaling continued sluggishness in the housing market for the rest of 2026.

Will the recent surge in home construction finally make housing more affordable?

As material costs and new tariffs soar, can the homebuilding boom last?

Can federal deregulation truly solve the nation's massive housing shortage?

Is America's housing crisis a construction problem or an income problem?

How will ongoing global conflicts continue to influence your mortgage rate?