Home builder confidence came back to earth in January after surging to an 11-year high on post-election euphoria. The closely-watched sentiment index from the National Association of Home Builders slipped 2 points to 67 in January from a downwardly-revised December reading. Even with the revision, December’s reading was still the index’s highest point since the peak of the housing boom in 2005 - and January was the second-highest. Economists had forecast a reading of 69 in January. A reading over 50 is a sign of improvement. While not as giddy as in December, builders are still “optimistic that a new Congress and ... (full story)