The Existing Home Sales report (homes that have been previously occupied) is hot off the press. The National Association of Realtors released the data this morning for the largest segment of our housing market.
Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, came in at an annual rate of 5.08 million in February which is 2.2 percent higher than a year ago.
Job growth and low rates continue to fuel the housing market but a severe lack of inventory is making it difficult to move at a faster pace and was the primary reason that the month-over-month reading fell.
The median existing-home price for all housing types in February was $210,800, up 4.4 percent from February 2015 ($201,900). February's price increase marks the 48th consecutive month of year-over-year gains.
Total housing inventory at the end of February increased 3.3 percent to 1.88 million existing homes available for sale, but is still 1.1 percent lower than a year ago (1.90 million). Unsold inventory is at a 4.4-month supply at the current sales pace, up from 4.0 months in January.
All-cash sales were 25 percent of transactions in February, down from 26 percent both in January and a year ago. Individual investors, who account for many cash sales, purchased 18 percent of homes in February (17 percent in January), matching the highest share since April 2014. Sixty-four percent of investors paid cash in February.
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