U.S. existing-home sales rose unexpectedly to a nine-month high

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes rose unexpectedly in October to the highest level since the start of the year, pointing to healthy demand as more buyers take advantage of stronger job growth and low mortgage rates.

Contract closings increased 0.8% from the prior month to an annualized 6.34 million, figures from the National Association of Realtors showed Monday. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 6.2 million pace in October.

While the monthly pace of sales has settled back after reaching a 14-year high a year ago, they remain well above pre-pandemic levels. Sales are on track to exceed 6 million this year, which would be the strongest since 2006.

“Inflationary pressures, such as fast-rising rents and increasing consumer prices, may have some prospective buyers seeking the protection of a fixed, consistent mortgage payment,” Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said in a statement.

Bing Guan/Bloomberg

The median selling price rose more than 13% in October from a year ago to $353,900. That compares with $351,200 in the prior month.

There were 1.25 million homes for sale last month, down 12% from a year ago. At the current pace it would take 2.4 months to sell all the homes on the market. Realtors see anything below five months of supply as a sign of a tight market.

Properties remained on the market for an average of 18 days last month, compared to 21 days a year ago. All-cash sales accounted for 24% of all transactions in October.

Investors, who make up many of cash sales, comprised 17% of October contract signings. That compares with 13% in September and 14% a year earlier.

The gain in October purchases reflected stronger results in the upper-end market, whereas sales for cheaper properties were restrained because of a lack of inventory.

Digging Deeper

• Sales of previously owned single-family homes increased 1.3% last month to a 5.66 million pace
• Existing condominium and co-op sales fell 2.9% in October to 680,000
• Two regions — the Midwest and South — posted sales increases last month. Purchases rose 4.2% in the Midwest and 0.4% in the South
• Existing-home sales account for about 90% of U.S. housing and are calculated when a contract closes. New-home sales, which make up the remainder, are based on contract signings and October data will be released on Wednesday