Zonda

The rental market doesn’t exist in a silo. That’s why we built Apartment Outlook—a new research product that brings together Zonda’s housing data, multifamily pipeline visibility, and economic analysis to deliver a clearer view of today’s rental market. Get national and local insights, quarterly reports, custom research, supply forecasts, REIT summaries, and exclusive renter behavior data. 🔗 Preview → https://lnkd.in/dNGE7phD

DFW is the biggest new home sales market in the US (and it's not even close). Some fun facts about the DFW builder market: 🧐 There are more active builders in just DFW than the entire state of California 🏡 The DFW market has over 90k homes in Vacant Developed Lot status (homes that aren't under construction yet, but will likely hit the market in the next 1-12 months) 👷 The 3 biggest subsdivisions in DFW are all in Collin County (home to Allen, McKinney, etc) 💵 The top builder LOs in DFW are doing over $100m in loan volume per year (just in new home purchase loans) What else would you like to know about the DFW market? Nicollette Chapman Ali Wolf Robby MacAskill Taylor Zaycer Kyle Cheslock Brittany Young Spencer Laichak #dallas #dfw #texas #realestate #homebuilders #mortgage #lending #homeloans #loanofficers

Lot supply is at its highest level in nearly a decade — with a caveat. “For the first time in eight years, Zonda’s LSI is on the verge of moving from significantly undersupplied to slightly undersupplied. The shift in our LSI is more a function of demand than supply, though. Builders are intentionally reducing housing starts to align with sluggish demand, which is slowing lot absorption.” - Ali Wolf Read the full report ⬇️

Buyers today want connection, but also space. Authenticity, but also practicality. In the latest Inside Edge, Mollie Carmichael, principal at Zonda Advisory, sits down with Tim Sullivan to explore how these evolving preferences are shaping communities across the country. From privacy and traditional architecture to “value per acre” and regional nuances, Mollie shares insights on what buyers want, what they’ll pay for, and how builders can turn those insights into profitable, livable communities. Learn more about Zonda Advisory Group: https://bit.ly/4pRuqoh

Markets are always moving. The stories we tell about them change too. But the real work is in understanding why. Who’s driving demand. How people are living. Where the pressure points really are. That’s what Kimberly Byrum (formerly Fiala) focuses on -- finding the patterns behind the data, the signals that don’t always make the headlines. In this episode of Inside Edge with Tim Sullivan, she shares how curiosity and context reveal what’s really happening in the market & why seeing clearly matters more than ever. Learn more about Zonda Advisory Group: https://bit.ly/4pRuqoh

I just left Zonda’s sold out Future Place event, the premier gathering of the nation’s largest landowners, builders, and capital leaders focused on master planned communities (MPCs). Below are my five takeaways: 1. Social programming in MPCs: lowest cost, highest value 2. Consumers are seeking wellbeing, nature, and human connection, all tied to mental health. What can our communities offer to support this focus? 3. Even though baby boomers have a lot of wealth, many are still shopping for value (prioritizing cash and a low maintenance lifestyle) 4. Builders should try to continue to buy or land bank/control land in both good times and bad, given the choppiness of housing demand and length of development timelines  5. We are on track to see more data centers built than office buildings (!) When asked about the potential market upside for 2026, many panelists had a similar take: there are so many consumers on the sidelines that once confidence improves, they will snap back. On the flip side, the biggest concerns for 2026 were slow/negative job growth and/or sustained uncertainty weighing on demand. ZNO subscribers, we are digging more into labor market dynamics and will be sending out a new report asap. Sean Fergus Mia Vallo Siobhan O. Jenna Wylie Tim Sullivan Mollie Carmichael

The future of community is being rewritten. Day 1 of Future Place brought industry leaders together to define what’s next for master-planned communities—and one message came through loud and clear: success today starts with understanding how people want to live tomorrow. ✅ Consumers have more room to move: Despite economic turbulence, consumers gained 8–11% in purchasing power this year. “Fifty-eight percent of top markets now have more inventory than in 2019. Consumers don’t feel pressured to act immediately.” — Ali Wolf, Chief Economist, Zonda and NewHomeSource ✅ Demographics are shifting demand: The median first-time buyer is nearing 40, single buyers are surging, and affordability is redefining design. “Fifteen of the top 25 MPCs are active adult communities.” — Sean Fergus, Executive Director, Zonda ✅ Great communities start early: From signage to amenities, every design decision shapes the long game. “Everything has to be right from day one.” — Fred Balda, Hillwood Communities The day ended with a standing ovation for Syd Kitson, recipient of the Future Place Legends Award, honored for his vision and leadership in building resilient communities like Babcock Ranch. And that was just Day 1. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e_5tARzp

The government is shut down, but Zonda is still collecting data daily on what’s happening in the housing market. Here is the latest: -Sales have been rangebound for the past year as consumer grapple with mixed messages in the economy and widespread unaffordability. -Builders have supported sales through the continued and increasingly creative use of incentives, strategic price cuts where needed, and a focus on providing buyers with more options. -Builder efforts plus mortgage rates averaging below 6.5% helped lift sales modestly month-over-month. The overall market was still classified as average in September, with 40% of top markets falling within that ranking (see map below). Noteworthy shifts: -         Entry-level prices fell YOY -         Community count levels grew for the 10th consecutive month -         Quick move-ins per community rose to the highest level since 2022 Eva Beeth Trevor Tetzlaff Sarah Bonnarens Bryan Glasshagel Keith Hughes Kyle Cheslock Cameron McIntosh

New home sales stabilized in September — supported by increased supply, builder incentives, and slightly lower mortgage rates. Our latest New Home Market Update shows: • Sales rose 3.1% month-over-month • Mortgage rates averaged below 6.5% • 40% of top markets were classified as “average” • Entry-level home prices dipped 1.5% “Buyers are still cautious,” says Ali Wolf, Zonda’s Chief Economist. “For consumers to make the largest purchase of their lives, they need a reason to move, adequate affordability, and confidence in where the market is headed.” Read the full national report for more data, market rankings, and builder insights ⬇️