Note: National Association of Realtors® (NAR) data shown below is from April (most current national data)
A persistently low supply of existing homes available for sale slowed April’s sales velocity, resulting in a 29-day median number of days that a home remained on the market, a new low according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Total existing-home sales (completed transactions for single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops), fell 2.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million in April from 5.70 million in March. Despite the decline, sales remain 1.6% higher than a year ago and represent the fourth highest pace for the last 12 months.
NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Yun, said that every major region except the Midwest saw a drop in existing sales in April. “Last month’s dip in closings was somewhat expected given that there was such a strong sales increase in March at 4.2 percent, and new and existing inventory is not keeping up with the fast pace homes are coming off the market,” Yun said. “Demand is easily outstripping supply in most of the country and it’s stymieing many prospective buyers from finding a home to purchase.”
Housing Data Takeaways
April’s median existing-home price (all housing types) was $244,800, up 6.0% from the same time last year ($230,900). Price gains in April represent 62 consecutive months of year-over-year growth.
Total housing inventory nationally at the end of April rose 7.2% to 1.93 million existing homes available for sale, and is 9.0% below one year ago (2.12 million) and has dropped year-over-year for 23 straight months. Nationally, unsold inventory offers a 4.2-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 4.6 months a year ago.
Freddie Mac data shows the average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell for the first time in six months, dipping to 4.05% in April from 4.20% in March. For all of 2016, the average commitment rate was 3.65 percent.
