NAR Existing-Home Sales Report Shows 0.2% Decrease in August

Core Insights - Existing-home sales in August decreased by 0.2% from July, remaining stable overall [1][5] - The Midwest region showed month-over-month sales increases, while the Northeast and South experienced declines [2] - Year-over-year sales rose in the Midwest and South, but fell in the Northeast and West [2] Sales and Inventory Data - Total existing-home sales for August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.0 million, reflecting a 0.2% decrease month-over-month and a 1.8% increase year-over-year [5] - Total housing inventory in August was 1.53 million units, down 1.3% from July but up 11.7% from August 2024 [5] - The median existing-home price in August was $422,600, marking a 2.0% increase from the previous year [3][5] Regional Performance - The Midwest was the best-performing region, with median home prices 22% below the national median [2] - The Northeast and South saw declines in sales, while the Midwest and West experienced increases [2] Mortgage Rates - The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in August was 6.59%, down from 6.72% in July and 6.50% a year ago [8] Market Dynamics - Elevated mortgage rates and limited inventory have contributed to sluggish home sales in recent years [2] - Declining mortgage rates and increasing inventory are expected to boost sales in the coming months [2] - Record-high housing wealth and stock market performance may encourage current homeowners to trade up, benefiting the upper end of the market [2]