US home builders ramped up construction in July, beating expectations!!

Victor K • September 3, 2023
Two construction workers are giving each other a high five at a construction site.

The buying housing market may look down the barrel, but the construction industry is not. The construction activity has surged by 3.9% in July as compared to June of 2023. With new dwellers settling in and new laws making the construction of new properties in dense areas easier, the new home construction industry is booming. A vital gauge of fresh residential expansion attained a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.452 million during the preceding month, outperforming the market's estimated figure of 1.448 million as per statistics by the Census Bureau.

 

Even if one compares the figure with July of last year, the increase is a soaring 5.9% which in the construction industry is a lot. Single-family housing property takes a major share of this number with a 6.7% increase in July accounting for 983,000 starts.

 

Real Estate experts at United Seattle have repeatedly pointed out a current trend where potential buyers are looking for affordable housing as prices surge along with mortgage rates throughout the USA. In response to the resurgence in demand, homebuilders escalated their production efforts during the initial five months of 2023 and introduced incentives. The most recent data indicates a discernible shift in activity towards the realm of single-family housing.

 

The starts have been soaring but the project completion has an 11.8% decline compared with June of this year. However, the Midwest and West regions managed to drive up the completion pace of single-family homes during this period.

 

Another aspect indicating an increase in start is the issuance of building permits across the country. A meager 0.1% increase was seen as compared with June of this year. However, this small percentage translated into an increase of 1.4 million starts. Moreover, the permits issued in July of 2023 were 13% more than the ones issued in July of last year.

A construction site with a lot of cranes and buildings in the background.

In response to the resurgence in demand, homebuilders escalated their production efforts during the initial five months of 2023 and introduced incentives. The most recent data indicates a discernible shift in activity towards the realm of single-family housing. Although the slight rise in housing starts indicates some builder optimism, the impact of potential mortgage rate increases on the future remains uncertain. Housing mobility has decreased, as many owners who would typically sell are now choosing to stay, upgrading their existing homes rather than purchasing larger move-up models.

 

The buyer interest has slowed down considerably though with the mortgage rate soaring at an all-time high of 7%. However, home builders are motivated by the demand-supply issue which requires more family units in the coming 5-10 years. Unveiled on Tuesday, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index assesses present sales, buyer traffic, and the sales projections for new construction homes in the forthcoming half-year.

 

 

Therefore, many factors are affecting builder sentiments including high mortgage rates, increases in construction costs, lack of skilled labor and availability of local materials. However, with the demand for new construction increasing by the month, builders have ramped up construction in July which is a trend we might see increase more as the year closes in. 

By Victor K • October 8, 2026
All commercial projects depend heavily on coordination between the general contractor and the commercial subcontractor in Seattle. However, there are many aspects of the coordination that GCs miss out on, which directly results in project delays and disputes. Each task separately presents a different challenge for both parties. Therefore, the commercial construction subcontractor Seattle requires specialization in any aspect they are picked for. Once the trades operate independently and without cohesion, they provide a massive challenge for the GC. Working with an experienced design-build contractor like United Seattle can ease most of the problems that a GC can face over the period of the project. By bringing design coordination and trade-specific expertise together early, a subcontractor can help general contractors identify potential conflicts, streamline installation, and reduce uncertainty across the exterior envelope scope. Understanding the basics lets a GC stay on top of the project and make a meaningful difference in the delivery timelines and cost. What Does Design-Build Mean at the Subcontractor Level? Design-build in Seattle is often defined as one commercial subcontractor Seattle providing all the required services. However, these services can come in packages once the project is large in size and capacity. It is practically impossible for one building subcontractor Washington to have expertise in all departments, and this is where packaged delays come into play. The GC has to be careful that these combined packages are made in such a way that the tasks are cross-linked so delays can be avoided through proper workflows. For example, the exterior works like roofing, siding , windows, and waterproofing can be done through one commercial construction subcontractor Seattle, whereas the interior including ceiling, flooring , bathroom and kitchen renovation can be through another. The best way to go about it for a GC is to delegate design responsibilities to the respective construction management subcontractor. This approach offers access to specialized expertise without requiring the general contractor to coordinate every technical detail between separate exterior trades independently. Why Early Subcontractor Involvement Matters Many GCs make a common mistake of getting the design done and then involving the commercial subcontractor Seattle. This often leads to design and capability conflicts for both parties. It also helps in maintaining linear timelines so one trade is ready to start their job once the previous team is in its final stages of work. This is easily done once one commercial construction subcontractor Seattle provides the majority of the trade tasks. If the issues are discovered mid-project, they can easily lead to delays in the project as well as disputes that put the whole project on hold. The commercial construction subcontractor Seattle loses money, whereas the GC loses credibility for the future.
By Victor K • September 22, 2026
General contractors or GC often look out for a complete package in their commercial subcontractor Seattle. The enormous task of combining multiple commercial construction subcontractor Seattle for a single project is a recipe for disaster and all GCs know this well. However, when it comes to selecting that one, the cost bid must not be the only criterion. The lowest bid might not have the overall expertise that is required for the project. GCs can bundle all the tasks and award them to one construction management subcontractor. However, the cost comparison between a single commercial subcontractor Seattle or multiple ones is not linear as lower coordination costs, fewer scope gaps, and better schedule control must also be taken into account. Total Installed Cost Vs. Trade Pricing In simple mathematical terms, the total project cost is just the amount the commercial subcontractor Seattle charges the GC. However, factors like Trade bid price, coordination cost, schedule exposure and change-order exposure must also be taken into account while pricing for a singular or multiple construction management subcontractors. The GC can simply request a quote for each task, generate competition and get the lower cost. However, the factors listed account for additional cost in this scenario as the GC needs to coordinate multiple contracts, schedules, site mobilizations, foremen, RFIs, submittals, invoices, inspections, and handoffs. A single-source commercial subcontractor Seattle like United Seattle may cost more than a competitive breakdown of subtasks but the additional factors are eliminated and long-term cost and time savings are achieved. Schedule Float Vs. Small Bid Difference Multiple tasks have multiple timelines which are often linear rather than parallel. This means that one commercial construction subcontractor Seattle needs to wait for the other one to complete their task before starting. An ideal example of this is flooring and drywall installation. One cannot be done before the first task is completed. A delay in the earlier task can lead to delays, extra cost and rising disputes, all of which have a price tag that the GC has to pay. Therefore, calculations are to be carried out before using multiple contractors rather than one. For example, if a bundled subcontractor costs $30,000 more than the combined lowest trade bids but gives the project team additional schedule flexibility and reduces the likelihood of a costly sequencing delay, that $30,000 should not be evaluated in isolation.
By Victor K • September 14, 2026
Learn how to vet a commercial subcontractor before signing. Check licensing, bonding, insurance, safety, capacity, references, and project management.
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