This article in the NY Times says
What in the world is “homebuilder sentiment”?
I have no clue, and I build houses.
A couple of paragraphs later, there’s this:
In other words, it’s like the Consumer Confidence surveys.
It sounds like it’s nostalgia for some form of architecture, but that be what it really is!
according to this article… http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/16/business/NA-US-Economy-Builder-Sentiment.php
"The latest home builder report reflects a survey of almost 400 residential developers nationwide, tracking builders’ perceptions of current market conditions and expectations for home sales over the next six months.
Index readings higher than 50 indicate positive sentiment about the market. The seasonally adjusted index has been below 50 since May 2006.
Respondents gave dour assessments of current sales, prospective home buyer traffic and sales expectations in the months ahead, sending the index for each to new lows."
So it appears to be a quasi-official “term” based on the results of a report that’s published by the NAHB…
You know, some people just aren’t sentimental, and* that’s OK*.