Two Months of Progress for Existing-Home Sales

By Odeta Kushi on September 16, 2024
Key Points: Existing-home sales for August are expected to increase 0.5 percent from July’s pace of sales. If realized, this would mark two consecutive monthly increases. While house-buying power is nearly 4 percent greater than last month, and 10 percent above a year ago, it remains 7 percent below the two-year, pre-pandemic average. Even if ... Read More

Housing Mortgage Rates Existing-Home Sales

Mortgage Rate Relief Brings Much-Needed Optimism to the Housing Market

By Odeta Kushi on August 20, 2024
Housing market sales activity in 2024 has closely followed the path of mortgage rates, and we expect that to remain true with July’s existing-home sales data that will publish on July 22. Each month, we use our Existing-Home Sales Outlook Report to ‘nowcast’ existing-home sales based on the historical relationship between sales, demographic ... Read More

Housing Mortgage Rates Existing-Home Sales

The Tale of Two Markets Continues…For Now

By Odeta Kushi on July 19, 2024
Even with more existing-home inventory on the market than last year, today’s potential home buyers face one of the least affordable markets in history due to record-high and still-rising home prices and elevated mortgage rates. Each month, we use our Existing-Home Sales Outlook Report to ‘nowcast’ existing-home sales based on the historical ... Read More

Housing Mortgage Rates Existing-Home Sales

Twin Market Dynamics Continue to Stifle Existing-Home Sales

By Odeta Kushi on June 14, 2024
The housing market is struggling to gain momentum with mortgage rates above their levels from a year ago. Higher rates have a dual impact on sales – pricing out buyers who lose purchasing power and keeping some potential sellers rate-locked in. Our Existing-Home Sales Outlook Report ‘nowcasts’ existing-home sales based on the historical ... Read More

Housing Mortgage Rates Existing-Home Sales

More Homes for Sale Sparks Uptick in Housing Market Activity

By Odeta Kushi on May 20, 2024
In the housing market, the seller and the buyer are, in many cases, the same. To buy a new home, you must sell the home you already own. For several years, a persistent and historic lack of supply has restrained the housing market, but a recent uptick in inventory is poised to boost sales activity as the spring home-buying season peaks. Our ... Read More

Housing Mortgage Rates Existing-Home Sales

Sales Activity Driven by the Five Ds Amid Persistent Market Headwinds

By Odeta Kushi on April 10, 2024
Our Existing-Home Sales Outlook Report ‘nowcasts’ existing-home sales based on the historical relationship between sales, demographic trends, house-buying power, and the prevailing financial and economic conditions. Based on our nowcast, we expect March existing-home sales to rise 1.7 percent compared with February, but remain approximately 16 ... Read More

Interest Rates Federal Reserve Mortgage Rates Existing-Home Sales