Nonsubstantive Change Request (form modifications)

Request for Non-Substantive Change to the

U.S. Department of Commerce/ U.S. Census Bureau

Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions (SOC-QI)

OMB Control Number 0607-0110

The Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions, otherwise known as Survey of Construction (SOC) is partially funded by Department of Housing and Urban Development. The SOC collects data on new residential buildings currently authorized by a building permit or started in areas not requiring a building permit.

The Census Bureau uses the information collected in the SOC to publish estimates of the number of new residential housing units started, under construction, completed, and the number of new houses sold and for sale. The Census Bureau also publishes many financial and physical characteristics of new housing units. Government agencies use these statistics to evaluate economic policy, measure progress towards the national housing goal, make policy decisions, and formulate legislation.

The Census Bureau plans to make modifications to the forms for the purpose of improving accuracy of responses, providing clarification and to align the single and multi-family questionnaire responses. Field representatives have provided informal feedback through correspondence at the time of the monthly data collection and SOC refresher training regarding question clarification and survey questionnaire alignment. Additionally, additional response categories and open-ended responses will better guide field representatives through the process to classify units correctly. The modification of the approved forms will not increase burden time. The proposed versions of the questionnaires are shown in Attachment A and B.

Summary of Changes:

• SOC-QI/SF.1

• Updating responses for one question (STORIES)

• SOC-QI/MF.1

• Removal of two questions (ATTACHED,  ATTACHED_UNITS)

• Rewording of one question (BUILDINGS)

Will this project be:

1 = Detached Housing Unit

2 = Stacked Building

3 = Side-By-Side Building

4 = Mixture of Units Building

5 = More Than One Building

• Updating responses for four questions (PARKING, HEATPUMP, PRIMARYSOURCE)

Parking:

Within the building

Within the complex

Garage

 

Heat Pump:

(Use all SF options)

 

Primary Source

(Use all SF options)

 

The contact person for questions relating to this collection is Raemeka Mayo, Chief of the Residential Construction Branch in the Census Bureau’s Manufacturing and Construction Division. She can be reached at (301) 763 4688.

Attachments:

1. Proposed updated version of Form SOC-QI/SF.1, ‘Survey of Construction

Single-Family Buildings

2. Proposed updated version of Form SOC-QI/MF.1, ‘Survey of Construction Multifamily Buildings