Housing affordability continues to be a major roadblock for market participants, with mortgage rates more than double compared to this time last year. Buyers are delaying home purchases in hopes rates will drop, while many sellers are holding off on listing their homes due to weakening buyer demand, unwilling to trade in their current lower rates for significantly higher borrowing costs on their next property. As a result, existing home and pending home sales have continued to slow as we move into winter.
New Listings decreased 28.1 percent for single-family homes and 31.0 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Pending Sales decreased 32.2 percent for single-family homes and 27.9 percent for townhouse-condo properties.
Inventory decreased 0.9 percent for single-family homes and 29.5 percent for townhouse-condo properties. The Median Sales Price was up 5.7 percent to $438,500 for single-family homes and 19.6 percent to $330,000 for townhouse-condo properties. Days on Market decreased 37.1 percent for single-family homes but increased 14.3 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Months Supply of Inventory increased 25.0 percent for single-family homes but increased 28.6 percent for townhouse/condo properties.
With home sales down, nationwide housing inventory was at 3.3 months’ supply heading into November, up from 2.4 months from this time last year, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Although buyers have more options to choose from, home prices remain high, and soaring borrowing costs have caused monthly payments to increase significantly, with the average homebuyer paying 77% more on their loan per month compared to the same period a year ago, according to Realtor.com.
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