June home sales drop as prices hit a record high

Housing Market Sales - Existing home sales decreased by 2.7% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 3.93 million units [1] - The market experienced a miss in sales, with expectations being for essentially flat sales year-over-year [1] - Sales data reflects contracts likely signed in April and May when the average on the 30-year fixed mortgage rate exceeded 7% [1] Housing Supply and Demand - The number of units for sale at the end of June was 1.53 million, up 15.9% from June of the previous year [2] - The month's supply is at 4.7 months, still considered lean compared to the balanced level of 6 months [2] Home Prices and Market Dynamics - The median price of a home sold in June was $435,300, a 2% increase year-over-year, marking the 24th consecutive month of annual increases [2] - Homes are staying on the market longer, averaging 27 days compared to 22 days last June [2] - First-time buyers represent 30% of sales, lower than the historical average of 40% [3] - All-cash sales remain elevated at 29% of total sales [3] - Sales are strongest in the higher end of the market, a shift from the spring when this segment was affected by stock market volatility [3] Potential Policy Impact - A potential cut in capital gains on home sales, as suggested by the president, is estimated to affect 15% of current homeowners, primarily at the highest end of the market [4]