It seems like the news is a constant boxing match between housing-market boosters and housing-market bashers.
Small Victories: Housing Starts, Home Builder Confidence Rise Again
At first glance, the recent U.S. housing sector data does provide a glimmer of hope for everyone counting on a real estate recovery in 2010: Home builder confidence rose in May and housing starts increased for the second straight month in April.
However, digging a little deeper reveals a more somber picture: Housing sector conditions have improved since the lows recorded during the depths of the recession, but neither builder confidence nor housing starts have reached levels considered healthy by historical standards.
The National Association of Home Builders housing market index unexpectedly jumped to 22 in May from 19 in April — and reached its highest level since July 2007 — but the increase doesn’t tell the whole story regarding builder sentiment.