# March housing starts reach 4-year peak as affordability remains elusive  
**Published:** 2026-05-04T09:50:46.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/04/repub/single-family-housing-starts-in-march-at-their-highest-since-2022/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/march-housing-starts-reach-4-year-peak-as-affordability-remains-elusive

Single-family housing starts nationwide surged to their highest level in four years during March, according to data released April 29 by the [U.S. Census Bureau](https://www.census.gov/construction/nrc/data/series.html), yet economists warn the strong start masks deeper concerns about the nation's persistent affordability crisis.

[According to the Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/04/repub/single-family-housing-starts-in-march-at-their-highest-since-2022/), there were 88,900 single-family housing starts in March, the highest for that month since March 2022 when there were 100,100. The March surge followed a disappointing February that saw only 66,900 starts, the lowest for that month since 2019.

The data release was delayed due to the federal government shutdown, with February and March figures originally scheduled for mid-March and mid-April release. The volatile month-to-month swings suggest that warmer weather and brief optimism about interest rates drove builders to break ground in March, according to housing trends analysts.

Regional performance varied significantly. The South led with 50,000 of the nation's 88,900 starts. The Northeast and Midwest both posted their best March performance since 2021, while the West achieved its best March since 2022. The South recorded its best March since 2024.

Despite the improved starts data, concerns persist about the construction pipeline. New housing permits, which signal future building, fell compared to March 2025 levels. [Housing analysts noted](https://shoveltokeys.substack.com/p/data-dig-single-family-housing-starts) that builder margins are being squeezed by rising material costs tied to geopolitical uncertainty, combined with already-elevated land and labor expenses.

In Nebraska and the Lincoln area, housing markets continue facing tight inventory conditions. [Lincoln's median sale price sits at $265,000](https://www.noradarealestate.com/blog/lincoln-ne-housing-market-trends/), significantly below the national average and attracting continued buyer interest despite economic headwinds. [Local experts project](https://4.9%) continued modest appreciation through 2026, supported by stable employment in education, healthcare, and government sectors.

Existing home sales declined 1 percent year-over-year in March, with median prices rising just 1.4 percent to $403,100 according to the National Association of Realtors. The trade group's chief economist said the market needs 300,000 to 500,000 additional homes for sale to approach normal conditions and give consumers more purchasing flexibility.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/04/repub/single-family-housing-starts-in-march-at-their-highest-since-2022/)
- [U.S. Census Bureau housing starts data](https://www.census.gov/construction/nrc/data/series.html)
- [Shovel to Keys housing analysis](https://shoveltokeys.substack.com/p/data-dig-single-family-housing-starts)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/04/repub/single-family-housing-starts-in-march-at-their-highest-since-2022/.