Existing home sales slow in December
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing home sales (completed transactions) slowed by 1.0 percent compared to November, as inventory levels continue to move home prices up, with annual prices rising the most since 2005. Total sales in 2012 were the highest in five years, and although the month slipped a bit, existing home sales for the month rose 12.8 percent from December 2011.
The trade group is reporting preliminarily that existing home sales totaled 4.65 million for 2012, up 9.2 percent from the 4.25 million units closed in 2011, marking the highest volume since 2007, just prior to the economic collapse. 2012 saw the strongest annual increase since 2004.
The national median existing home price was $180,800 in December, fully 11.5 percent above December 2011, marking the tenth consecutive month of annual gains, which has not happened since August 2005 to May 2006, and is the strongest increase since November 2005 when it jumped 12.9 percent.
The median time on market rose to 73 days in December, up from 70 days in November, but is 26.3 percent below 99 days in December 2011. The median time on market for short sales was 117 days, and 45 days for foreclosures, while non-distressed homes’ median average was 74 days on market. Fully 31.0 percent of all homes sold in December were on the market for less than a month.
“Pent-up demand is sustaining the market.”
Dr. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said pent-up demand is sustaining the market. “Record low mortgage interest rates clearly are helping many home buyers, but tight inventory and restrictive mortgage underwriting standards are limiting sales.”
“The number of potential buyers who stayed on the sidelines accumulated during the recession,” Dr. Yun added, “but they started entering the market early last year as their financial ability and confidence steadily grew, along with home prices. Likely job creation and household formation will continue to fuel that growth. Both sales and prices will again be higher in 2013.”
Inventory levels in December
As Dr. Yun noted, inventory levels remain tight, falling 8.5 percent in December compared to November, representing a 4.4 month supply at the current sales pace, down from 4.8 months in November. NAR data shows December as having the lowest housing supply since May of 2005 when it was 4.3 months.
Listed inventory is 21.6 percent below a year ago when there was a 6.4-month supply, and raw, unsold inventory is at the lowest level since January 2001 when there were 1.78 million homes on the market.
Distressed homes accounted for 24 percent of all sales in December (12 percent were foreclosures and 12 percent were short sales), up from 22 percent in November but below the 32 percent share in December 2011. Foreclosures sold for an average discount of 17 percent below market value in December, while short sales were discounted 16 percent.
Affordability conditions
NAR President Gary Thomas, broker-owner of Evergreen Realty in Villa Park, Calif., said affordability conditions will be fairly stable in the near term. “Although mortgage interest rates should gradually rise as the year progresses, they’re expected to stay below 4 percent during the first half of the year, meaning qualified buyers generally can stay well within their means,” he said.
“Although tight inventory is limiting home sales in many areas, overall sales are expected to stay on an upward trend. The biggest impact of tight inventory is upward pressure on home prices, but after values fell below replacement construction costs, prices are still affordable in most of the country.”
Key stats: types of buyers and sales
According to the NAR:
- First-time buyers accounted for 30 percent of purchases in December, unchanged from November; they were 31 percent in December 2011.
- All-cash sales were at 29 percent of transactions in December, compared with 30 percent in November and 31 percent in December 2011. Investors, who account for most cash sales, purchased 21 percent of homes in December, up from 19 percent in November; they were 21 percent in December 2011.
- Single-family home sales slipped 1.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.35 million in December from 4.41 million in November, but are 11.5 percent above the 3.90 million-unit pace in December 2011. The median existing single-family home price was $180,300 in December, up 10.9 percent from a year ago.
- Existing condominium and co-op sales rose 1.7 percent to an annualized level of 590,000 in December from 580,000 in November, and are 22.9 percent higher than the 480,000-unit level a year ago. The median existing condo price was $184,100 in December, up 16.0 percent from December 2011.
Key stats: regional sales varied widely
According to the NAR:
- Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast rose 3.2 percent to an annual rate of 640,000 in December and are 10.3 percent above December 2011. The median price in the Northeast was $231,600, up 5.3 percent from a year ago.
- Existing-home sales in the Midwest fell 5.9 percent in December to a pace of 1.12 million but are 15.5 percent higher than a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $144,800, which is 12.3 percent above December 2011.
- In the South, existing-home sales declined 3.0 percent to an annual level of 1.95 million in December but are 14.7 percent above December 2011. The median price in the South was $161,100, up 11.0 percent from a year ago.
- Existing-home sales in the West rose 5.1 percent to a pace of 1.23 million in December and are 8.8 percent higher than a year ago. The median price in the West was $239,900, which is 17.3 percent above December 2011.
