NAR: Existing-Home Sales Slid 1.0% in September

WASHINGTON — Existing-home sales drew back in September, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Three out of four major U.S. regions registered sales declines while the West experienced a sales bounce. Year-over-year, sales fell in three regions but grew in the West.

Total existing-home sales  — completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops — receded 1.0% from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.84 million in September. Year-over-year, sales waned 3.5% (down from 3.98 million in September 2023).

“Home sales have been essentially stuck at around a four-million-unit pace for the past 12 months, but factors usually associated with higher home sales are developing,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “There are more inventory choices for consumers, lower mortgage rates than a year ago and continued job additions to the economy. Perhaps, some consumers are hesitating about moving forward with a major expenditure like purchasing a home before the upcoming election.”

Total housing inventory registered at the end of September was 1.39 million units, up 1.5% from August and 23.0% from one year ago (1.13 million). Unsold inventory sits at a 4.3-month supply at the current sales pace, up from 4.2 months in August and 3.4 months in September 2023.

“More inventory is certainly good news for home buyers as it gives consumers more properties to view before making a decision,” Yun said. “However, the inventory of distressed properties is minimal because the mortgage delinquency rate remains very low. Distressed property sales accounted for only 2% of all transactions in September.”

The median existing-home price for all housing types in September was $404,500, up 3.0% from one year ago ($392,700). All four U.S. regions registered price increases.

“Moderating home price increases are welcome news for home buyers,” Yun added. “With wage growth now outpacing home price appreciation, housing affordability will improve.”

Realtors® Confidence Index

According to the monthly Realtors Confidence Index, properties typically remained on the market for 28 days in September, up from 26 days in August and 21 days in September 2023.

First-time buyers were responsible for 26% of sales in September — matching the all-time low from August 2024 and November 2021 — and down from 27% in September 2023. NAR’s 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers —released in November 2023 — found that the annual share of first-time buyers was 32%.

All-cash sales accounted for 30% of transactions in September, up from 26% in August and 29% in September 2023.

Individual investors or second-home buyers, who make up many cash sales, purchased 16% of homes in September, down from 19% in August and 18% in September 2023.

Distressed sales — foreclosures and short sales — represented 2% of sales in September, virtually unchanged from last month and the previous year.

Mortgage rates

According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.44% as of October 17. That’s up from 6.32% one week ago but down from 7.63% one year ago.

Single-family and condo/co-op sales

Single-family home sales edged lower by 0.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.47 million in September, down 2.3% from the previous year. The median existing single-family home price was $409,000 in September, up 2.9% from September 2023.

Existing condominium and co-op sales dropped 5.1% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 370,000 units, down 14.0% from one year ago (430,000 units). The median existing condo price was $361,600 in September, up 2.2% from the previous year ($353,900).

Regional breakdown

Existing-home sales in the Northeast in September retracted 4.2% from August to an annual rate of 460,000, down 6.1% from September 2023. The median price in the Northeast was $467,100, up 6.0% from last year.

In the Midwest, existing-home sales slipped 2.2% in September to an annual rate of 900,000, down 5.3% from the prior year. The median price in the Midwest was $306,600, up 5.0% from September 2023.

Existing-home sales in the South decreased 1.7% from August to an annual rate of 1.72 million in September, down 5.5% from one year before. The median price in the South was $359,700, up 0.8% from one year earlier.

In the West, existing-home sales ascended 4.1% in September to an annual rate of 760,000, up 5.6% from a year ago. The median price in the West was $616,400, up 1.7% from September 2023.

© 2024 National Association of Realtors® (NAR)