July home sales bounced back after a sluggish June by increasing 2.4 percent year-over-year, according to the latest RE/MAX National Housing Report. This was enough to end nine months of year-over-year inventory growth as the number of homes for sale declined 1.4 percent.
A drop in home sales from June to July is typical in the report’s 53 metro areas, but the 0.2 percent decline from June to July 2019 was by far the smallest month-over-month decline since July 2013. While June sales failed to top May for only the second time in the report’s 10-year history, July sales set a report record for the month.
“July sales snapped back after a tepid June, as attractive low interest rates appear to have brought more buyers into the mix,” says RE/MAX CEO Adam Contos. “The housing market has been a bit uneven since the early spring, with each encouraging month seemingly followed by one with lukewarm results. It’s possible the housing market has finally shaken some mud off its boots and can maintain its momentum for the back half of the year. If the broader macro environment hangs on, we could see a potentially strong finish to 2019.”
July’s median sales price of $273,000—while down slightly from June’s all-time report record high—was 9.2 percent higher than July of 2018. It marked the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year price growth. Home prices have risen, year-over-year, in 88 of the last 90 months dating back to February 2012. Says Contos, “although lower interest rates help affordability, we have now seen two straight months of accelerating price increases. If the trend continues, it’s not an encouraging development for buyers.”
July’s days on market total of 43 saw sales closing at the same rate as they did in June, but taking two days longer than in July 2018. Months of inventory in July 2019 totaled 2.7, down compared to June’s 2.9 and 3.3 in July 2018.
Closed Transactions
Of the 53 metro areas surveyed in July 2019, the overall average number of home sales is down 0.2 percent compared to June 2019, and up 2.4 percent compared to July 2018. Leading the month-over-month sales percentage increase were Honolulu, Hawaii, at +11.8 percent, Anchorage, Alaska, at +10.2 percent, and New York, N.Y. at +9.2 percent.
Median Sales Price
In July 2019, the median of all 53 metro median sales prices was $273,000, down 0.7 percent from June 2019, and up 9.2 percent from July 2018. Three metro areas saw a year-over-year decrease in median sales price: Anchorage, Alaska, at -3.2 percent, Trenton, N.J., at -2.1 percent, and San Francisco, Calif., at -2.0 percent. Five metro areas increased year-over-year by double-digit percentages, with the largest increases seen in Wichita, Kan., at +16.7 percent, Cleveland, Ohio, at +12.9 percent, and Cincinnati, Ohio, at +11.7 percent.
Days on Market
The average days on market for homes sold in July 2019 was 43, equivalent to the average in June 2019, and up two days from the July 2018 average. The metro areas with the lowest days on market were Omaha, Neb., at 21, Manchester, N.H., at 24, and Cincinnati, Ohio, at 26. The highest days on market averages were in Augusta, Maine, at 87, Miami, Fla., at 82, and Hartford, Conn., at 72. Days on market is the number of days between when a home is first listed in an MLS and a sales contract is signed.
Months Supply of Inventory
The number of homes for sale in July 2019 was down 2.2 percent from June 2019 and down 1.4 percent from July 2018. Based on the rate of home sales in July 2019, the months supply of inventory decreased to 2.7 compared to 2.9 in June 2019, and decreased compared to 3.3 in July 2018. A six months’ supply indicates a market balanced equally between buyers and sellers. In July 2019, of the 53 metro areas surveyed, only Miami, Fla., at 6.8, reported a months’ supply at or over six, which is typically considered a buyer’s market. The markets with the lowest months supply of inventory were Phoenix, Ariz., and Boise, Idaho, both at 1.5.
For more information, please visit www.remax.com.
