Housing starts — Aug. 16

The Commerce Department will release housing starts data for July on Tuesday, Aug. 16. Last month, the department reported housing starts rose 4.8% in June to an annual rate of 1.19 million units. Multifamily construction increased 5.4%, while single-family starts bumped up 4.4%.

June housing starts beat economist estimates, as they predicted starts would rise to an annualized rate of 1.15 million units, according to Reuters. However, the year-over-year decline in building permits last month signaled that the industry could be hitting "a lull."

Will Tuesday's report keep up the positive trend of an increase in housing starts?

Construction in Cuba feature article — Aug. 16

Relations have warmed a bit between the U.S. and Cuba, but it is still unclear when and if Congress will lift the trade embargo. If lawmakers open trade between the two countries, what would it mean for the U.S. construction industry? Some companies are already making exploratory trips to the nation to determine the possible opportunities. Earlier this year, heavy equipment giant Caterpillar said it was ready to do business in Cuba as soon as Congress lifts the trade embargo.

In our feature article on Tuesday, Aug. 16, we'll explore whether Cuba is receptive to private construction industry involvement, and what open trade relations between the two countries would mean for U.S. construction companies.

AIA billings — Aug. 17

The American Institute of Architects will release its Architectural Billings Index on Wednesday, Aug. 17. Last month, the AIA reported the index slipped slightly to 52.6 in June, down from 53.1 in May. Despite the slight downward movement in June, the reading still marked the fifth consecutive month of increased demand for design services.

In last month's report, AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker said the fall of design contracts to a negative Index reading for the first time in two years was "something of a concern."

The ABI is a significant report for the commercial construction industry, as it serves as an indicator of future construction spending — with a lead time of about nine to 12 months. Will Wednesday's results offer the sector more of a sense of optimism, or will design services slip for the second consecutive month?

Microhousing feature article — Aug. 18

Microcondos and microapartments are some developers' answer to the lack of affordable housing in the most densely-populated cities in the world, but the concept is getting mixed results in the U.S. Just last week, Houston developer Surge Homes announced its plans to include 14 microcondo units in its new 28-unit residential building. However, last month, Houston developer Novel Creative Development said that its planned microcondo project failed to draw the attention of its targeted market of millennials and empty nesters during presales. They said they were shifting the building to a condo hotel concept.

In our feature article on Thursday, Aug. 18, we will explore whether microhousing is just an affordable stepping stone to a larger space, or whether it represents a shift in what some Americans are looking for in a home — like the ever-growing tiny house trend.