Builder Sentiment Ticks Up in May, but Affordability Still Weighs on Sales

Nearly a third of homebuilders in the United States slashed prices in May, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

A house under construction in Alhambra, Calif., on March 19, 2026. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Builder sentiment improved slightly in May, spurred by modest increases in current and future sales conditions and a slight rise in traffic from prospective buyers.

Builder confidence ticked up three points to 37 in May, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) report, released on May 18. Builder sentiment improved as current and expected sales conditions both ticked up three points to 40 and 45, respectively, while traffic from prospective buyers inched up three points to 25.