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Housing Statistics

 

February 2024 

U.S. existing-home sales grew 3.1% month-over-month to a seasonally
adjusted annual rate of 4.00 million, exceeding economists’ expectations
and marking the strongest sales pace since August 2023, according to the
National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Falling interest rates late last
year, coupled with a recent uptick in inventory, helped existing-home sales
to climb following last month’s decline, with monthly gains reported in the
Midwest, South, and West regions.

 

 

January 2024 

U.S. existing-home sales slipped 1.0% month-over-month and were down
6.2% year-over-year as of last measure, while pending sales jumped 8.3%
from the previous month, marking the largest gain since June 2020,
according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Mortgage
rates have dropped significantly from their peak last fall, and homebuyers
are beginning to come out of the woodwork, with NAR forecasting a 13%
increase in existing-home sales this year compared to 2023.

 

December 2023 

U.S. existing-home sales rose from a 13-year low, climbing 0.8% from the
previous month and breaking a five-month streak in which sales declined,
according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Despite the
increase, sales were down 7.3% compared to the same period last year, as
affordability challenges continue to hinder prospective buyers. Most of this
period’s closed sales went under contract in October, when mortgage rates
were at a two-decade high. With rates having dropped more than a full
percentage point since then, existing-home sales may continue to pick up
in the months ahead.

 

November 2023

Low inventory, elevated sales prices, and decades-high interest rates
continue to weigh on the housing market, causing sales of existing homes
to fall to their slowest pace since August 2010. According to the National
Association of REALTORS® (NAR), U.S. existing-home sales declined 4.1%
month-over-month and 14.6% year-over-year as of last measure, as
prospective buyers, faced with rising homeownership costs, wait for
mortgage rates, and home prices, to drop.

October 2024

U.S. sales of existing homes recently fell to a 13-year low, dropping 2.0%
month-over-month and 15.4% year-over-year as of last measure, according
to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), as surging interest rates
and elevated sales prices continue to make homeownership unaffordable
for many prospective buyers. Purchase activity is down significantly
compared to this time last year, but rising interest rates are also keeping
many current homeowners from selling, causing inventory to remain at
historically low levels nationwide.

September 2023

National sales of existing homes recently fell to a 7-month low, as surging
borrowing costs, rising sales prices, and limited inventory continue to keep
many would-be buyers out of the market. Borrowers have become
increasingly sensitive to fluctuations in mortgage rates, which have
remained above 7% since mid-August. With fewer buyers able to afford the
costs of homeownership, existing-home sales declined 0.7% month-overmonth and were down 15.3% year-over-year, according to the National
Association of REALTORS®(NAR).

AUGUST 2023

Higher mortgage rates, along with elevated sales prices and a lack of
housing inventory, have continued to impact market activity during the
summer homebuying season. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has
remained above 6.5% since May, recently hitting a two-decade high in
August, according to Freddie Mac. As a result, existing-home sales have
continued to slow nationwide, dropping 2.2% month-over-month as of last
measure, with sales down 16.6% compared to the same time last year,
according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).