Taylor Scott International News
Existing home sales in the United States fell by 3.4% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.36 million from 5.55 million in September, the latest data shows. All four major regions of the country saw no gains in sales. However, despite the decline sales are still 3.9% above a year ago at 5.16 million, the figures from the National Association of Realtors also show. According to Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, the sales cooldown in October was likely given the pullback in contract signings in the previous couple of months. ‘New and existing home supply has struggled to improve so far this fall, leading to few choices for buyers and no easement of the ongoing affordability concerns still prevalent in some markets,’ he said. ‘Furthermore, the mixed signals of slowing economic growth and volatility in the financial markets slightly tempered demand and contributed to the decreasing pace of sales,’ he pointed out. ‘As long as solid job creation continues, a gradual easing of credit standards even with moderately higher mortgage rates should support steady demand and sales continuing to rise above a year ago,’ he added. The median existing home price for all housing types in October was $219,600, which is 5.8% above October 2014 when it was $207,500). October's price increase marks the 44th consecutive month of year on year gains. The data also shows that total housing inventory at the end of October decreased 2.3% to 2.14 million existing homes available for sale, and is now 4.5% lower than a year ago. Unsold inventory is at a 4.8 month supply at the current sales pace, up from 4.7 months in September. The share of first time buyers increased to 31% in October, up from 29% both in September and a year ago. NAR's annual Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, released earlier this month, show that the annual share of first time buyers fell to its second lowest level since the survey began in 1981. All-cash sales were 24% of transactions in October which was unchanged from September and down from 27% a year ago. Individual investors, who account for many cash sales, purchased 13% of homes in October, unchanged from September but down from 15% a year ago. Some 62% of investors paid cash in October. Distressed sales, foreclosures and short sales, declined to 6% in October, which is the lowest since NAR began tracking them in October 2008 and own from 9% a year ago. Some 5% of October sales were foreclosures and 1% were short sales. Foreclosures sold for an average discount of 18% below market value in October, up from 17% in September, while short sales were discounted 8% compared to 19% in September. ‘All-cash and investor sales are still somewhat elevated historically despite the diminishing number of distressed properties. With supply already meagre at the lower end of the price range, competition from these buyers only adds to the list of obstacles in the… Taylor Scott International
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