[Kufu Ietate Survey] Tightening Middle East Situation Impacts Housing Prices and Supply. Over 60% of National Housing Companies Feel 'Impact of Material Costs'
Kufu Sumai Co., Ltd. conducted a survey targeting 70 housing companies and builders nationwide, revealing that the tightening Middle East situation is significantly impacting the housing market. 61.4% of companies feel the impact of rising material costs and supply anxieties, leading to increased housing prices, construction delays, and a polarization of customer purchasing behavior.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 01:44 (14h 12m after Collected)
Kufu Sumai Co., Ltd., which operates the housing consultation service "Kufu Ietate Counter" and the housing event "Kufu Ietate Fair," conducted a survey targeting 70 affiliated housing companies and builders nationwide regarding "the impact of the worsening Middle East situation on housing materials and housing purchases." The results showed that in addition to rising material prices and supply anxieties, changes were also observed in customer purchasing behavior and consultation content, revealing a trend of ripple effects across the entire housing market.
61.4% responded that there was "an impact from the Middle East situation," with concerns about material costs becoming apparent.
Survey Outline: Survey on "The Impact of the Middle East Situation on Housing Materials and Housing Purchases"
Target Audience: Housing companies and builders nationwide (affiliated companies of "Kufu Ietate Counter")
Valid Responses: 70 companies
Survey Method: Questionnaire survey for executives, branch managers, and sales representatives of housing companies and builders
Survey Period: April 20, 2026 - April 22, 2026
Q1. Is the current "worsening Middle East situation" affecting your company's home building (prices, construction periods, material procurement, etc.)? (n=70)
Survey Summary:
・This survey revealed that 61.4% of housing companies and builders nationwide feel the impact of the Middle East situation, and the reality of rising material prices and supply anxieties in housing construction has become apparent. In particular, impacts such as "price increases," "construction delays," and "specification changes" are spreading across both cost and supply aspects, and the ripple effect on the entire housing market is progressing.
・Furthermore, changes are also observed in customer purchasing behavior, with a strengthening "wait-and-see" attitude and longer consideration periods, while "pull-forward demand" in anticipation of future price increases is also becoming apparent in some areas, leading to a polarization of decision-making. In response to this situation, housing companies are increasingly proposing practical measures such as avoiding cost increase risks through "early contract and start of construction," as well as "clarifying priorities" and "revising financial plans."
"Price increases" are the most common, with construction delays and specification changes also progressing - impacts are multi-layered.
Q2. Specifically, what kind of impacts are occurring (or are predicted to occur within approximately the next month)? (n=70, multiple selections)
"Increase in building material prices (procurement)" (67.1%) was the most frequently cited, standing out among all responses, revealing the reality that the impact of the Middle East situation is spreading to the housing market as a "direct cost increase." In addition, "instability in supply" such as construction delays and specification changes were also cited multiple times, indicating that the impact is spreading in a complex manner at housing construction sites.
In particular, responses such as "delays in construction start and handover periods" (51.4%) and "changes in specifications of ancillary equipment" (35.7%) are progressing, and cases where it is difficult to proceed with housing construction as planned are increasing. Furthermore, in some cases, supply restrictions for specific materials are also occurring, suggesting the possibility of a gradual ripple effect even on companies where the impact is currently limited.
Small increases in unit price per tsubo are mainstream, but suggest an expansion to future price transfers.
Q3. What is the extent of the recent (current to within 1 month forecast) "unit price per tsubo" increase due to the impact of the Middle East situation? (single selection)
Regarding the unit price per tsubo, "prices remain unchanged" accounted for 50.0% of responses, revealing that half of housing companies have not yet moved to pass on costs. The other half, however, already anticipate price increases, indicating that cost-push pressures are steadily spreading.
While relatively "small price increases" are central to the extent of the increase, depending on trends in material prices and logistics costs, further price transfers may progress in the future.
Naphtha shortage primarily impacts "water-related equipment" in housing. Specification changes and alternative responses are expanding on site.
Q4. Due to the impact of naphtha shortages, etc., which materials are currently experiencing significant procurement delays or forced specification changes? (multiple selections)
As materials particularly experiencing procurement delays and specification changes due to the impact of naphtha shortages, "water-related equipment" (51.4%) and "insulation materials" (41.4%) were frequently cited, revealing that the impact is apparent in areas highly dependent on petrochemical products. In addition, the impact is also spreading to "exterior materials" and "painting-related" (31.4%), affecting all materials related to the basic performance and finishing processes of housing.
In response to this situation, cases where alternative materials are used or specifications are reviewed are also observed at construction sites, highlighting the reality that it is affecting customer proposals, such as adjustments to insulation performance, durability, and design.
Customer decision-making is polarizing, with "wait-and-see" and "pull-forward" progressing simultaneously.
Q5. What "changes" do you feel in customer behavior and psychology? (multiple selections)
Against the backdrop of supply anxieties, changes are also observed in customer purchasing behavior, with a strengthening "wait-and-see" attitude and longer consideration periods (34.3%).
61.4% responded that there was "an impact from the Middle East situation," with concerns about material costs becoming apparent.
Survey Outline: Survey on "The Impact of the Middle East Situation on Housing Materials and Housing Purchases"
Target Audience: Housing companies and builders nationwide (affiliated companies of "Kufu Ietate Counter")
Valid Responses: 70 companies
Survey Method: Questionnaire survey for executives, branch managers, and sales representatives of housing companies and builders
Survey Period: April 20, 2026 - April 22, 2026
Q1. Is the current "worsening Middle East situation" affecting your company's home building (prices, construction periods, material procurement, etc.)? (n=70)
Survey Summary:
・This survey revealed that 61.4% of housing companies and builders nationwide feel the impact of the Middle East situation, and the reality of rising material prices and supply anxieties in housing construction has become apparent. In particular, impacts such as "price increases," "construction delays," and "specification changes" are spreading across both cost and supply aspects, and the ripple effect on the entire housing market is progressing.
・Furthermore, changes are also observed in customer purchasing behavior, with a strengthening "wait-and-see" attitude and longer consideration periods, while "pull-forward demand" in anticipation of future price increases is also becoming apparent in some areas, leading to a polarization of decision-making. In response to this situation, housing companies are increasingly proposing practical measures such as avoiding cost increase risks through "early contract and start of construction," as well as "clarifying priorities" and "revising financial plans."
"Price increases" are the most common, with construction delays and specification changes also progressing - impacts are multi-layered.
Q2. Specifically, what kind of impacts are occurring (or are predicted to occur within approximately the next month)? (n=70, multiple selections)
"Increase in building material prices (procurement)" (67.1%) was the most frequently cited, standing out among all responses, revealing the reality that the impact of the Middle East situation is spreading to the housing market as a "direct cost increase." In addition, "instability in supply" such as construction delays and specification changes were also cited multiple times, indicating that the impact is spreading in a complex manner at housing construction sites.
In particular, responses such as "delays in construction start and handover periods" (51.4%) and "changes in specifications of ancillary equipment" (35.7%) are progressing, and cases where it is difficult to proceed with housing construction as planned are increasing. Furthermore, in some cases, supply restrictions for specific materials are also occurring, suggesting the possibility of a gradual ripple effect even on companies where the impact is currently limited.
Small increases in unit price per tsubo are mainstream, but suggest an expansion to future price transfers.
Q3. What is the extent of the recent (current to within 1 month forecast) "unit price per tsubo" increase due to the impact of the Middle East situation? (single selection)
Regarding the unit price per tsubo, "prices remain unchanged" accounted for 50.0% of responses, revealing that half of housing companies have not yet moved to pass on costs. The other half, however, already anticipate price increases, indicating that cost-push pressures are steadily spreading.
While relatively "small price increases" are central to the extent of the increase, depending on trends in material prices and logistics costs, further price transfers may progress in the future.
Naphtha shortage primarily impacts "water-related equipment" in housing. Specification changes and alternative responses are expanding on site.
Q4. Due to the impact of naphtha shortages, etc., which materials are currently experiencing significant procurement delays or forced specification changes? (multiple selections)
As materials particularly experiencing procurement delays and specification changes due to the impact of naphtha shortages, "water-related equipment" (51.4%) and "insulation materials" (41.4%) were frequently cited, revealing that the impact is apparent in areas highly dependent on petrochemical products. In addition, the impact is also spreading to "exterior materials" and "painting-related" (31.4%), affecting all materials related to the basic performance and finishing processes of housing.
In response to this situation, cases where alternative materials are used or specifications are reviewed are also observed at construction sites, highlighting the reality that it is affecting customer proposals, such as adjustments to insulation performance, durability, and design.
Customer decision-making is polarizing, with "wait-and-see" and "pull-forward" progressing simultaneously.
Q5. What "changes" do you feel in customer behavior and psychology? (multiple selections)
Against the backdrop of supply anxieties, changes are also observed in customer purchasing behavior, with a strengthening "wait-and-see" attitude and longer consideration periods (34.3%).