"Builder expectations for future home sales are now even more buoyant than early in the year," National Assn. of Home Builders President Kent Conine after releasing NAHB's latest Housing Market Index.
The index, based on a monthly survey of home builders, rose to 62 in June from 57 in May, where any reading over 50 indicates that more builders rate sales conditions as good than poor. Helping builders' mood is a continued drop in mortgage rates, which fell another 5 basis points last week, according to Freddie Mac's weekly survey.