Cost to Construct a Home Rose Significantly Over Last Two Years
Construction costs accounted for 64.4% of the average price of a new home in 2024 compared to 60.8% in 2022, according to NAHB’s most recent Cost of Construction Survey.
The latest finding marks a record high for construction costs since the inception of the series in 1998 and the fifth instance where construction costs represented over 60% of the total sales price.
Broad inflation in the global economy since 2022 — particularly in building material prices — is largely to blame for the increased construction costs.
The finished lot was the second largest cost at 13.7% of the sales price, down more than four percentage points from 17.8% in 2022. The average builder profit margin was 11.% in 2024, up from 10.1% in 2022.
Explore the interactive dashboard below to view the costs and percentage of construction costs for eight stages of construction and their 36 components.
For more on the survey, please see this Eye on Housing post from NAHB economists.
Latest from NAHBNow
Jul 10, 2026
Plenty of Building Systems Predict High-Performance Envelopes. Here's One That Proved It.Building-envelope performance claims appear in every construction system's specs. But how those systems hold up in the real world is what matters to builders and home buyers.
Jul 10, 2026
NAHB’s Monthly Update Features Landmark Housing Legislation HighlightsThe talking points this month include information about how NAHB helped secure the passage of a historic housing bill.
Latest Economic News
Jul 10, 2026
2025 New Single-Family Starts by Census DivisionPersistently high mortgage rates, elevated costs for builders, and ongoing supply-side constraints continued to weigh on single-family construction in 2025.
Jul 09, 2026
Existing Home Sales Slowed in JuneAfter reaching a five-month high last month, existing home sales pulled back in June as record-high home prices and elevated mortgage rates weighed on buyers. This monthly volatility reflects the sensitivity of home buyer demand to mortgage rate changes.
Jul 09, 2026
Remodeling Market Sentiment Remains in Positive Territory in Second QuarterIn the second quarter of 2026, the NAHB Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 61, down one point compared to the previous quarter. The RMI has remained in the low 60s consistently over the past year.