美国二手房签约量继续下滑 买家观望情绪浓厚

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. existing home sales contract activity continued to decline in January, with mortgage rates falling and home price growth slowing failing to stimulate buyer interest [1][2] Group 1: Market Data - The existing home sales contract index decreased by 0.8% in January, with December's data revised to a decline of 7.4% [1][2] - Bloomberg's median forecast from economists anticipated a 2% increase in contract activity [2] - January's weak data is concerning for the real estate industry, which is in need of a boost for the upcoming spring selling season [2] Group 2: Economic Insights - NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun stated that improvements in affordability have not led to increased buyer activity [1][2] - Recent data shows no signs of improvement, with the December contract index only slightly above early 2025 levels and January sales dropping over 8% [1][2] - Despite mortgage rates nearing a one-year low, home prices have shown almost no growth [1][2] Group 3: Industry Outlook - Market analysts had previously projected that existing home sales would grow between 1.7% and 14% in 2026 [2] - The existing home sales contract report serves as a leading indicator for home sales, as homes typically remain under contract for one to two months before transactions are completed [1][2]