Existing-Home Sales Up 2% in July, Inventory at Five-Year High

Washington, DC, August 21, 2025-Existing-home sales increased by 2.0% in July, according to the National Association of Realtors Existing-Home Sales Report. 

Month-over-month sales increased in the Northeast, South, and West, and fell in the Midwest. Year-over-year, sales rose in the South, Northeast, and Midwest, and fell in the West.

"The ever-so-slight improvement in housing affordability is inching up home sales," said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. "Wage growth is now comfortably outpacing home price growth, and buyers have more choices. Condominium sales increased in the South region, where prices had been falling for the past year."

"Near-zero growth in home prices suggests that roughly half the country is experiencing price reductions. Overall, homeowners are doing well financially. Only 2% of sales were foreclosures or short sales – essentially a historic low. The market's health is supported by a cumulative 49% home price appreciation for a typical American homeowner from pre-Covid July 2019 to July this year," Dr. Yun continued.

"Homebuyers are in the best position in more than five years to find the right home and negotiate for a better price. Current inventory is at its highest since May 2020, during the Covid lockdown."