Housing Starts Report: What to Expect Sept. 2026

On Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, the government releases a report called New Residential Construction. Most people just call it housing starts. It counts how many new homes builders began building.

This page is here before the new number comes out. That way you can understand it the moment it lands. We will not guess the number. We will explain what to watch for and what each result could mean for you.

Why care? Homes started today become homes for sale next year. That future supply shapes prices and rent right here in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.

What this report actually measures

The U.S. Census Bureau counts new homes across the country each month. A home is started when builders begin work on it, like digging the foundation. This is not sales. It is not finished homes. It is the very start of building.

Think of it as a look into the future. A home started this month may not be ready to live in for many months. So the count tells you how much new supply is coming down the road.

The report is a national number. It covers the whole country, not just Florida. But what happens nationally still ripples down to us.

What the charts show right now

The chart above shows the national count. In August 2026, builders started 1,275K homes. The K means thousand, so that is about 1,275,000 homes, counted at a yearly pace.

That is down from 1,309K the month before. It is also down from 1,291K a year ago. So building has slowed both from last month and from last year.

Here is the key idea. Fewer homes started now means fewer new homes for sale later. Less supply tends to keep prices firm. When there are fewer homes to go around, sellers do not have to cut prices as much.

The South Florida chart above shows what local sellers are asking. In August 2026, the typical asking price was $589,000 in Miami-Dade, $380,000 in Broward, and $480,000 in Palm Beach. All three are lower than a year ago. Miami-Dade was $599,000 a year ago. Broward was $400,000. Palm Beach was $485,000.

What it means for your mortgage payment

Housing starts do not set your mortgage rate. But they hint at where housing is headed, and that can nudge rates over time.

Small rate moves matter a lot. On a $600,000 loan paid over 30 years, going from a 6.5% rate to a 6% rate lowers the monthly payment by about $195. That is real money each month. So keep an eye on rates when you shop.

What it means for home prices

When building slows, fewer new homes reach the market next year. That tighter supply usually supports prices. When building speeds up, more homes arrive, which can ease price growth.

South Florida asking prices are already down from a year ago in all three counties, as the chart above shows. A slow building pace could put a floor under those prices over time.

What it means for rent

Many new homes become rentals. Fewer starts today can mean fewer new rentals later. When there are fewer places to rent, rents tend to hold up or rise.

If you own a home and rent it out, watch this trend. Less new building can mean steadier demand for your unit.

The bottom line

One month is just one month. Watch the direction over several months. If starts keep falling, that points to tighter supply ahead. If they climb back, more homes are on the way. Either way, this report helps you plan your next move.

What sellers are asking in our three counties

County figures from FRED, latest month published: August 2026.

Every figure on this page comes straight from FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) — series HOUST. We publish these before the report lands so you can read the background while it is still quiet, then we add the actual number here the moment it is out.