How to read this source
Census housing indicators describe construction, new-home sales and the housing stock using different surveys and definitions. A permit, a start, a completion and a sale mark different stages. Read the reference month, seasonal adjustment and revision notes before assuming that a national release describes homes available today in a particular neighborhood.
What to check in each release
- Distinguish permits, starts, completions and sales.
- Check national versus regional coverage.
- Treat price and volume estimates as context, not a property valuation.
The headlines below retain the publisher’s dates. Open the original release for complete tables, footnotes and any later corrections, and use the accompanying guides to connect the information with a borrowing decision.