In August, homebuilders closed 2,107 sales, up 9.11% from the same month a year earlier. They pulled 2,537 permits in August, up 25.28% from the same month last year, according to the latest report by RL Brown Housing Market Reports.

But some clouds also are gathering on the pricing front, which may or may not have an impact on future month’s performances, said RL Brown, publisher of the housing report.

He expects new home closings to remain robust for the next several months, driven by a combination of a shortage of resale listings, low mortgage rates and the robust regional economy.

If mortgage rates stay in the near-record low range and consumer confidence remains high in the region, Brown said 2020 could end better than everyone had been forecasting when the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Even so, rising construction costs — especially for lumber — can’t be ignored, he said.

“With over 9,000 permits pulled in the last four months closings should remain robust through 2020 and into the first quarter of 2021,” said Jim Daniel, president of RL Brown Housing Reports.

The number of residential communities closing out so far this year has eclipsed the number of new openings, which means homebuilders need to step it up.

A total of 170 communities have opened and 220 have sold out, which translates into fewer active stores, said Jim Belfiore, founder of Belfiore Real Estate Consulting, who also just issued his KnowledgeBase report this week.

“Home prices are rising at a scary pace,” Belfiore said. “The latest data has new home prices rising at more than 1% monthly. Resale prices are rising faster.”