NAR Says Housing Sales Recovery Has Begun

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NAR Says Housing Sales Recovery Has Begun

 

Washington, DC, Oct. 25, 2010 -- House resales rose again in September, affirming that a sales recovery has begun, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Sales jumped 10.0% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.53 million in September from a downwardly revised 4.12 million in August, but remain 19.1% below the 5.60 million-unit pace in September 2009 when first-time buyers were ramping up in advance of the initial deadline for the tax credit last November.

"A housing recovery is taking place but will be choppy at times depending on the duration and impact of a foreclosure moratorium," said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist.

"But the overall direction should be a gradual rising trend in home sales with buyers responding to historically low mortgage interest rates and very favorable affordability conditions," he said.

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low 4.35% in September from 4.43% in August; the rate was 5.06% in September 2009.

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $171,700 in September, which is 2.4% below a year ago. Distressed homes accounted for 35% of sales in September compared with 34% in August; they were 29% in September 2009.

Housing affordability conditions today are sixty percentage points higher than during the housing boom, so it has become a buyers’ market, especially for families with long-term plans, NAR said.

Total housing inventory at the end of September fell 1.9% to 4.04 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 10.7-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 12.0-month supply in August. 

Single-family home sales increased 10.0% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.97 million in September from a pace of 3.61 million in August, but are 19.5% below the 4.93 million level in September 2009. The median existing single-family home price was $172,600 in September, down 1.9% from a year ago.