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While housing starts and building permits continue to trend higher, builder confidence, which often dovetails nicely with housing construction figures, has dipped over the last few months.

So what gives?

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), which, in conjunction with Wells Fargo, publishes the builder confidence index, waning confidence is not necessarily due to diminishing demand for new homes.

Hovering in the same three-point range during the past four months, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) slipped a point in February.

The measure of builder confidence declined from 47 in January to 46 in February, according to the data released Tuesday morning.

Small business owners as a group are now the most pessimistic they have been since the third quarter of 2010, according to the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index. The index fell 28 points to negative 11 in the post-election survey conducted Nov. 12 to 16, 2012. Key drivers of this decline include business owners' concerns about their future financial situation, cash flow, capital spending and hiring over the next 12 months.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes edged slightly higher for a sixth consecutive month in October, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The one-point gain brings the index to 41, its strongest level since June 2006.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose two points for August  on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This is the fourth consecutive month of improvement, and brings the HMI to its highest point -- 37 -- since February 2007.

Wells Fargo is opening a new division that will focus on lending to regional and mid-sized builders, according to an Aug. 15 article in the Wall Street Journal. The loans are expected to finance small projects ($10 to $15 million) up to large corporate loans that can surpass hundreds of millions of dollars.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes reached its highest level since May 2007, reaching a level of 29 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This is a gain of five points from the previous month, which was downwardly revised.

84 Lumber has finalized a $225 million senior secured revolving credit facility to refinance existing debt, and for general corporate purpose. Wells Fargo Capital Finance and PNC Bank and acted as joint lead arrangers. GE Capital acted as co-collateral and documentation agent for the loan.

84 Lumber chief financial officer Paul Lentz said the new facility will give 84 Lumber greater financial flexibility and liquidity as it continues to improve its business following the housing market crash.

Using the phrase “significant milestone” to describe the news, Peabody, Mass.-based Beacon Roofing Supply entered a new five-year senior-secured credit facility consisting of a $550 million credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank.

The deal also includes a C$15 million Canadian credit facility.

The deal refinanced the Company’s prior combined $515 million credit facilities that were provided through GE Antares and an affiliate.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose two points to 21 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for December. This marks the third consecutive month in which builder confidence has improved, and brings the index to its highest point since May 2010. 

Leeds, Ala.-based Marvin's Building Materials and Home Centers closed a five-year, $20 million revolving secured credit facility. The financing was provided by Wells Fargo Bank.

“Marvin’s was looking for a financial partner to provide stability and guidance in our banking matters,” said Gregg Denny, Marvin’s CFO. “The Wells Fargo team was very knowledgeable regarding the retail industry and offered Marvin’s an asset-based credit facility, which met our long-term strategic objectives.”