Amidst the ebb and flow of the U.S. housing market, a pertinent question emerges: have home prices finally hit rock bottom? While a shortage of housing inventory continues to hamper sales, the tug-of-war between supply and demand is preventing a substantial decline in prices.
The housing sector has grappled with a significant 22.3% drop in home sales during the initial seven months of this year compared to the same period in 2022. Yet, a near-record low inventory of available properties is causing a counterbalancing effect. Buyers engaging in bidding wars are sustaining home prices, resulting in a recent uptick.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the national median sales price surged to $406,700 last month. This marks the first annual increase since January, with two consecutive months where the median price has exceeded $400,000.
Despite a few minor price dips, including a 3% decrease in May, the trend of annual declines subsided last month, as the median sales price experienced a 1.9% growth compared to the previous July. Impressively, the median price is now an astonishing 45% higher than it was in July 2019.
Looking forward, analysts are cautiously optimistic about the trajectory of prices. Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist, asserts that the housing recession appears to have concluded, suggesting a higher likelihood of price increases than further declines in the upcoming months. Mike Simonsen, president of Altos Research, echoes this sentiment, noting that data has yet to indicate a significant decline in home prices.
“If you’re a prospective homebuyer, you’re likely in a tough spot. While the allure of waiting for interest rates to decline is strong, delaying too much could potentially lead you into a battleground of surging home prices.” – Annette Greenwald, Luxury Real Estate Agent and Broker at Royce United
A shortage of available homes has fueled intense competition among buyers, sparking bidding wars in many markets, particularly for affordable properties. Approximately 35% of homes sold in July fetched prices higher than their initial listing, aligning with sales data from the preceding months.
Despite its historical lows, the housing inventory has seen a modest uptick while the average 30-year mortgage rate lingers above 7%. Annette Greenwald, Broker at ROYCE UNITED, cautions that should mortgage rates remain at these heightened levels and inventory maintains its upward trajectory, there is a looming possibility for the national median sales price to experience a dip in the months ahead.
While some experts predict a lateral movement in the U.S. median home price this year, others point out the resilience of prices throughout the market’s downturn. Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, expects home prices to remain steady, acknowledging that it still requires a significant portion of income to afford homes at current price levels and mortgage rates.
Despite the housing market’s ability to withstand price downturns, the current slump shows limited signs of improvement. The National Association of Realtors reported a 2.2% decline in sales of previously occupied U.S. homes in July, hitting the slowest pace since January.
On a positive note, the inventory of homes for sale increased by 3.7% in July compared to June, totaling 1.11 million homes on the market. While this reflects a 14.6% decrease from the previous year, it’s still indicative of a constrained supply.
The prolonged combination of high borrowing costs and fierce competition for affordable homes is deterring many first-time buyers. These prospective buyers represented just 30% of home sales in the previous month, although this marked an improvement from June.
Evidently, persistently low home inventory and rising mortgage rates have left many aspiring homeowners on the sidelines. With 30-year mortgage rates reaching their highest levels in over two decades, the financial strain is evident. High rates are not only limiting borrowers’ purchasing power but also discouraging homeowners from selling, as those who locked in lower rates are disinclined to relinquish them.
As the housing market continues to navigate these challenges, the trajectory of prices remains an area of keen interest, with experts offering varying perspectives on the path ahead.