Lot Values Surge at Record Breaking Pace
Lot values for single-family detached homes started in 2020 surged 18% to a record-high median lot price of $53,000, according to NAHB’s analysis of the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) data. Lot values are now approaching the record levels of the housing boom of 2005-2006, when half of lots were going for more than $43,000, which is equivalent to approximately $55,000 when adjusted for inflation.
Lots are most expensive in the New England region, in which half of all single-family detached (SFD) spec homes started in 2020 reported lot values of more than $120,000. New England is known for strict local zoning regulations that often require very low densities.
The second most expensive is the Pacific division, with a median lot value of $103,000 in 2020 — a new nominal record for the division. The Pacific division has the smallest lots, which make them the most expensive per acre.
The Mountain division also set a new record, with half of the lots priced at or above $73,000.
The West South Central Division posted the fastest lot value appreciation, with the median lot price rising 20% to $60,000.
Just eight years ago, half of the SFD lots were going for $30,000 or less — half of the current median. Natalia Siniavskaia, NAHB assistant vice president for housing policy research, provides more analysis in this Eye on Housing post.
Latest from NAHBNow
May 01, 2026
Rescinded Energy Code Mandate Major Win for NAHB and Housing AffordabilityHUD and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week that they are rescinding a requirement that imposed the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1-2019 as the minimum energy-efficiency standards for certain single-family and multifamily housing programs.
May 01, 2026
Make Your Voice Heard: Take the Industry Pulse Check TodayAs NAHB builds toward our 100th anniversary, we’ve launched Blueprint to 100, a bold effort to strengthen and modernize the Federation. At the center of this initiative is the Industry Pulse Check — the largest listening and learning initiative in NAHB’s history. And it only works if you’re part of it.
Latest Economic News
Apr 30, 2026
U.S. Economy Rebounded in the First Quarter of 2026Real GDP growth accelerated in the first quarter of 2026, rebounding from a weak finish at the end of 2025, as government spending recovered following a disruptive shutdown.
Apr 29, 2026
Powell’s Chair Ends but He Keeps His Board SeatThe April meeting of the Fed’s monetary policy committee featured a lot of institutional news for a month in which the Fed kept monetary policy unchanged. The outlook for the economy and monetary policy remains unclear due to geopolitical turbulence and domestic policy uncertainty.
Apr 29, 2026
Home Building Shows Signs of Stabilization with Monthly Gain in StartsHousing construction activity strengthened in March, with a notable rebound in both single-family and multifamily starts, signaling improved builder activity despite ongoing headwinds from financing costs and affordability constraints. While the monthly gain points to renewed momentum, year-to-date trends remain mixed, particularly in the single-family sector, and permit activity suggests some caution moving forward.