After a rough start to the year, some of the supply chain problems plaguing construction of new housing are showing signs of abating.

Lower housing starts has softened demand, according to a pair of industry watchers, meaning product availability has improved for some products — though others still remain difficult to snag and on longer lead times. And ultimately, those supply chain improvements will ease shortages and tame prices.

"We're starting to see slight improvements," said Chris Beard of John Burns Real Estate Consulting. "We're seeing some dealers saying that some products are coming back to normal. We're hearing manufacturers themselves say that inventory levels are returning back to somewhat normal. But we have to evaluate, is this normal 2021 normal, where lead times were extended and where there really was an overall shortage? Or are we talking 2019, pre-COVID normal?"