S&P CORELOGIC CASE-SHILLER INDEX RECORDS 3.9% ANNUAL GAIN IN FEBRUARY 2025

Core Insights - The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices reported a 3.9% annual gain in U.S. home prices for February 2025, a slight decrease from 4.1% in January 2025 [1][2][3] - The 10-City Composite Index saw a 5.2% annual increase, down from 5.4%, while the 20-City Composite posted a 4.5% increase, down from 4.7% [2][3] - New York led the 20 cities with a 7.7% annual increase, followed by Chicago at 7.0% and Cleveland at 6.6%, while Tampa experienced the lowest return with a decline of 1.5% [2][4] Year-over-Year Trends - The U.S. National Home Price NSA Index recorded a 3.9% annual return for February, reflecting a cooling trend in home price growth [2][3] - The 10-City Composite Index increased by 5.2% year-over-year, and the 20-City Composite Index rose by 4.5% [2][3] Month-over-Month Trends - Month-over-month, the U.S. National Composite Index increased by 0.4%, the 10-City Composite by 0.8%, and the 20-City Composite by 0.7% [3][5] - Seventeen out of twenty metro areas reported positive monthly price gains, reversing recent seasonal weakness [5] Regional Performance - New York, Chicago, and Cleveland showed the highest annual gains, while Tampa continued to struggle with a year-over-year decline [4][5] - Markets in the Sun Belt that previously saw rapid appreciation are adjusting due to higher financing costs and affordability constraints [4][6] Affordability and Supply Issues - Mortgage rates remain in the mid-6% range, contributing to affordability challenges, yet limited housing supply is supporting a gradual upward trend in home prices [6] - Existing homeowners are reluctant to sell due to low pandemic-era mortgage rates, exacerbating supply shortages [6]