While multifamily starts surged 13.7% compared to November, the pace of new single-family housing construction slid 2.3%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“While lean existing home inventory and solid buyer demand are supporting the need for new construction, the combination of ongoing increases for building materials, worsening skilled labor shortages and higher mortgage rates point to declines for housing affordability in 2022.” — NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke

The cost of living has risen across the nation, but some U.S. metros have experienced particularly significant increases.

“MBA expects solid growth in purchase activity this year, as demographic drivers and the strong economy support housing demand,. However, the strength in growth will be dependent on housing inventory growing more rapidly to meet demand.” — Mortgage Bankers Association associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting Joel Kan

Despite the record low number of homes for sale, prices and pending sales continue to rise.

Housing prices continue to exacerbate ongoing affordability challenges, as home appreciation continued to accelerate in November.

Washington has been hit harder by the housing crisis than any other state, according to a new study by the Washington State Department of Commerce. Washington ranks last among 50 states in the ratio of housing units to the number of existing households, the EcoNorthwest study revealed.

At the same time, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 3.33%, its highest level since April 2021, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Inflation concerns are influencing plans for homebuyers and sellers, according to a recent Redfin survey.

Housing affordability fell to its lowest level since 2008 in October as home prices rose 19.6% from last year.

Nationally, housing prices were also on the rise, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index. 

Seattle and Tacoma were among the top 50 most competitive rental markets in 2021, according to a year-end report from RentCafé.

“There was less pending home sales action this time around, which I would ascribe to low housing supply, but also to buyers being hesitant about home prices,” National Association of REALTORS® chief economist Lawrence Yun said.

“Fewer homes are selling because of a lack of supply, while demand remains strong.” — Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather

The median sales price of new homes hit a new high of $416,900.

The holiday season has done little to deter home buyer demand as the number of real estate showings at new property listings is heating up across the country. New listings in 13 housing markets averaged double-digit showings in November, according to the latest data from ShowingTime.