Existing-home sales slid for the second consecutive month, falling 3.4% nationwide as of last measure, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), as higher interest rates continue to impact buyer affordability. Sales are down 23% compared to the same period a year ago, while contract signings dropped 20.3% year-over-year. With sales cooling, buyers in some parts of the country have found relief in the form of declining sales prices, which are down 1.7% year-over-year nationally, although more affordable markets continue to see price gains.
New Listings were down 1.6 percent to 315. Pending Sales increased 12.0 percent to 308. Inventory grew 35.3 percent to 452 units.
Prices moved higher as Median Sales Price was up 6.3 percent to $388,520. Days on Market increased 29.0 percent to 89 days. Months Supply of Inventory was up 53.8 percent to 2.0 months, indicating that supply increased relative to demand.
While fluctuating interest rates have pushed some buyers to the sidelines, a shortage of inventory is also to blame for lower-than-average home sales this time of year, as current homeowners, many of whom locked in mortgage rates several percentage points below today’s current rates, are delaying the decision to sell until market conditions improve. With only 2.9 months’ supply heading into May, available homes are moving fast, with the typical home spending just over three weeks on the market, according to NAR.
