Existing-Home Sales Reached 14-Year High in 2020, Rose 0.7% in Dec.

Washington, DC, January 22, 2021-Existing-home sales rose in December, with home sales in 2020 reaching their highest level since 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors. 

Total existing-home sales increased 0.7% from November to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.76 million in December. Sales in total rose year-over-year, up 22.2% from a year ago (5.53 million in December 2019).

"Home sales rose in December, and for 2020 as a whole, we saw sales perform at their highest levels since 2006, despite the pandemic," said Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist. "What's even better is that this momentum is likely to carry into the new year, with more buyers expected to enter the market."

Yun predicts a continuation of the strong activity that's currently taking place in the housing market and in the overall economy.

"Although mortgage rates are projected to increase, they will continue to hover near record lows at around 3%," Yun said. "Moreover, expect economic conditions to improve with additional stimulus forthcoming and vaccine distribution already underway."

The median existing-home price for all housing types in December was $309,800, up 12.9% from December 2019 ($274,500), as prices increased in every region. December's national price increase marks 106 straight months of year-over-year gains.

Total housing inventory at the end of December totaled 1.07 million units, down 16.4% from November and down 23% from one year ago (1.39 million). Unsold inventory sits at an all-time low 1.9-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 2.3 months in November and down from the 3.0-month figure recorded in December 2019. NAR first began tracking the single-family home supply in 1982.