United States Existing Home Sales

Existing home sales in the US tumbled 5.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.43 million in October of 2022, the lowest since December of 2011 with the exception of a very brief fall at the beginning of the pandemic, and compared to the market forecasts of 4.38 million. It was the ninth straight month of falling sales as home prices remained elevated and a 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit a 20-year high pushing many buyers out of the market. "More potential homebuyers were squeezed out from qualifying for a mortgage in October as mortgage rates climbed higher. The impact is greater in expensive areas of the country and in markets that witnessed significant home price gains in recent years", said NAR Chief Economist Yun. Meanwhile, the total housing inventory fell 0.8% to 1.22 million units. The median existing-home price for all housing types was $379,100, up 6.6% from October 2021. Properties typically remained on the market for 21 days in October, up from 19 days in September.