Dive Brief:

• The level of homebuilder optimism in the housing market dipped just slightly in January, but it still indicates that more builders believe their sales prospects for the next six months are good rather than poor.

• The latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index fell one point to 57 from December’s 58 reading. A reading of greater than 50 means more homebuilders than not are optimistic.

• NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe said the reading is consistent with forecasts for steady, gradual growth in the housing market.

Dive Insight:

That optimism is grounded in predictions that mortgages will be easier to come by this year and that the unemployment rate will continue to fall. In addition, mortgage interest rates have declined each of the last three weeks, making it less expensive to buy a home.