Existing-home sales slipped in March, according to the National Association of Realtors^®. Among the four major U.S. regions, sales slid in the Midwest, South and West, but rose in the Northeast for the first time since November 2023. Year-over-year, sales decreased in all regions.

Total existing-home sales^[i] – completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – receded 4.3% from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.19 million in March. Year-over-year, sales waned 3.7% (down from 4.35 million in March 2023).

“Though rebounding from cyclical lows, home sales are stuck because interest rates have not made any major moves,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “There are nearly six million more jobs now compared to pre-COVID highs, which suggests more aspiring home buyers exist in the market.”

Total housing inventory^[ii] registered at the end of March was 1.11 million units, up 4.7% from February and 14.4% from one year ago (970,000). Unsold inventory sits at a 3.2-month supply at the current sales pace, up from 2.9 months in February and 2.7 months in March 2023.

“More inventory is always welcomed in the current environment,” Yun added. “Frankly, it’s a great time to list with ongoing multiple offers on mid-priced properties and, overall, home prices continuing to rise.”

The median existing-home price^[iii] for all housing types in March was $393,500, an increase of 4.8% from the previous year ($375,300). All four U.S. regions registered price gains.

REALTORS^® Confidence Index

According to the monthly REALTORS^® Confidence Index, properties typically remained on the market for 33 days in March, down from 38 days in February but up from 29 days in March 2023.

First-time buyers were responsible for 32% of sales in March, up from 26% in February and 28% in March 2023. NAR’s 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers – released in November 2023^[iv] – found that the annual share of first-time buyers was 32%.

All-cash sales accounted for 28% of transactions in March, down from 33% in February but up from 27% one year ago.

Individual investors or second-home buyers, who make up many cash sales, purchased 15% of homes in March, down from 21% in February and 17% in March 2023.

Distressed sales^[v] – foreclosures and short sales – represented 2% of sales in March, virtually unchanged from last month and the prior year.

Mortgage Rates

According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.88% as of April 11. That’s up from 6.82% the previous week and 6.27% one year ago.

Single-family and Condo/Co-op Sales

Single-family home sales declined to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.8 million in March, down 4.3% from 3.97 million in February and 2.8% from the prior year. The median existing single-family home price was $397,200 in March, up 4.7% from March 2023.

At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 390,000 units in March, existing condominium and co-op sales decreased 4.9% from last month and 11.4% from one year ago (440,000 units). The median existing condo price was $357,400 in March, up 5.8% from the previous year ($337,900).

Regional Breakdown

Existing-home sales in the Northeast climbed 4.2% from February to an annual rate of 500,000 in March, ending a four-month streak where sales in the Northeast registered 480,000 units. Compared to March 2023, home sales were down 3.8%. The median price in the Northeast was $434,600, up 9.9% from one year ago.

In the Midwest, existing-home sales retracted 1.9% from one month ago to an annual rate of 1.01 million in March, down 1.0% from the prior year. The median price in the Midwest was $292,400, up 7.5% from March 2023.

Existing-home sales in the South faded 5.9% from February to an annual rate of 1.9 million in March, down 5.0% from one year before. The median price in the South was $359,100, up 3.4% from last year.

In the West, existing-home sales slumped 8.2% from a month ago to an annual rate of 780,000 in March, a decline of 3.7% from the previous year. The median price in the West was $603,000, up 6.7% from March 2023.

^[i] Existing-home sales, which include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, are based on transaction closings from Multiple Listing Services. Changes in sales trends outside of MLSs are not captured in the monthly series. NAR benchmarks home sales periodically using other sources to assess overall home sales trends, including sales not reported by MLSs.

Existing-home sales, based on closings, differ from the U.S. Census Bureau’s series on new single-family home sales, which are based on contracts or the acceptance of a deposit. Because of these differences, it is not uncommon for each series to move in different directions in the same month. In addition, existing-home sales, which account for more than 90% of total home sales, are based on a much larger data sample – about 40% of multiple listing service data each month – and typically are not subject to large prior-month revisions.

              The annual rate for a particular month represents what the total number of actual sales for a year would be if the relative pace for that month were maintained for 12 consecutive months. Seasonally adjusted annual rates are used in reporting monthly data to factor out seasonal variations in resale activity. For example, home sales volume is normally higher in the summer than in the winter, primarily because of differences in the weather and family buying patterns. However, seasonal factors cannot compensate for abnormal weather patterns.

              Single-family data collection began monthly in 1968, while condo data collection began quarterly in 1981; the series were combined in 1999 when monthly collection of condo data began. Prior to this period, single-family homes accounted for more than nine out of 10 purchases. Historic comparisons for total home sales prior to 1999 are based on monthly single-family sales, combined with the corresponding quarterly sales rate for condos.

^[ii] Total inventory and month’s supply data are available back through 1999, while single-family inventory and month’s supply are available back to 1982 (prior to 1999, single-family sales accounted for more than 90% of transactions and condos were measured only on a quarterly basis).

^[iii] The median price is where half sold for more and half sold for less; medians are more typical of market conditions than average prices, which are skewed higher by a relatively small share of upper-end transactions. The only valid comparisons for median prices are with the same period a year earlier due to seasonality in buying patterns. Month-to-month comparisons do not compensate for seasonal changes, especially for the timing of family buying patterns. Changes in the composition of sales can distort median price data. Year-ago median and mean prices sometimes are revised in an automated process if additional data is received.

The national median condo/co-op price often is higher than the median single-family home price because condos are concentrated in higher-cost housing markets. However, in a given area, single-family homes typically sell for more than condos as seen in NAR’s quarterly metro area price reports.

^[iv] Survey results represent owner-occupants and differ from separately reported monthly findings from NAR’s REALTORS^® Confidence Index, which include all types of buyers. The annual study only represents primary residence purchases, and does not include investor and vacation home buyers. Results include both new and existing homes.

^[v] Distressed sales (foreclosures and short sales), days on market, first-time buyers, all-cash transactions and investors are from a monthly survey for the NAR’s REALTORS^® Confidence Index, posted at nar.realtor.

Many members of Generation X — born between 1965 and 1980 — are well into their middle age. While most Gen Xers aren’t house hunting, they make up a notable chunk of homebuyers in today’s expensive housing market.

To highlight where Gen Xers are looking to buy, we analyzed mortgage offers given to users of our online shopping platform across the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas in 2023. Here's what we found. 

• Across the nation’s 50 largest metros, 21.25% of mortgage offers in 2023 on the LendingTree platform went to Gen Xers. 
• Gen Xers made up the largest share of potential homebuyers in Miami, Riverside, Calif., and Las Vegas. In Miami, 27.43% of mortgage offers made on the LendingTree platform went to Gen Xers. The shares in Riverside and Las Vegas were 27.14% and 27.07%, respectively. 
• Gen Xers made up the smallest share of potential buyers in Buffalo, N.Y., Salt Lake City and Boston. With 15.39% and 15.92% of mortgage offers going to Gen Xers in Buffalo and Salt Lake, these were the only two metros in which fewer than 16% of mortgage offers went to Gen Xers.
• Gen Xers often planned to put larger down payments toward their homes than millennials, but they tended to be offered smaller mortgages.

You can check out our full report here: https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/most-popular-metros-gen-x-homebuyers/

LendingTree's Senior Economist and report author, Jacob Channel, had this to say:

"Members of Generation X are by no means the largest group of homebuyers in today’s housing market, but they nonetheless make a sizable impact. Owing to the fact that many are in their peak earning years, homebuying can be attainable for some Gen Xers, even in today’s expensive housing market. Of course, not all Gen Xers are wealthy and like members of any generation, dealing with relatively high mortgage rates and home prices can be challenging."

Nationwide, one-third of homeowners who lost insurance have moved or plan to move, but nearly the same share are staying in their home with little or no coverage

Nearly three-quarters (70.3%) of Florida homeowners and over half (51%) of California homeowners say they or the area they live in has been affected by rising home insurance costs or changes in coverage (e.g., their insurer dropped them) in the past year. That compares with less than half (44.6%) of homeowners nationwide, according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.

This report is based on a Redfin-commissioned survey by Qualtrics in February 2024. The nationally representative survey was fielded to 2,995 U.S. homeowners and renters.

Insurance is top of mind for homeowners in Florida and California because those states are the epicenters of the insurance housing crisis. Many homeowners have seen their premiums skyrocket, and some have lost coverage altogether because intensifying natural disaster risk has prompted many insurers to stop doing business in Florida and California. Seven of California’s biggest property insurers have recently opted to limit new policies in the Golden State amid increasing wildfire risk. And in the Sunshine State, 11 insurers have liquidated amid growing flood and storm risk.

Mounting insurance costs and natural disasters are prompting some people to relocate. In Florida, 11.9% of survey respondents who plan to move in the next year cited rising insurance costs as a reason—roughly twice the national share of 6.2%. And in California, 13.1% of people who intend to relocate in the coming year cited concern for natural disasters or climate risks as a reason, compared with 8.8% of respondents nationwide. But while some people are leaving disaster-prone areas, there are still more people moving in than out, a separate Redfin analysis found.

“Homeowners living in areas where insurance premiums are surging are at risk of seeing their properties gain less value than homeowners in areas with stable premiums—and in some cases, they may even lose money,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “Homes with low disaster risk and low insurance costs will likely become increasingly popular, and thus more valuable, as the dangers of climate change intensify.”

Condo prices in some parts of Florida have already started to fall amid an increase in insurance costs and HOA fees.

12% of Florida Homeowners Who Have Faced Insurance Changes Were Dropped By Their Insurer

This section focuses on the 1,198 U.S. homeowner respondents who said they or their area has or may have been impacted by rising home insurance costs or changes in coverage in the past year. Redfin asked these homeowners specifically which insurance insurance-related changes they’ve seen and are concerned about.

Roughly one in eight Florida respondents (12%) and one in nine California respondents (10.7%) said their insurance company stopped offering coverage for their home, compared with 8.3% of respondents overall.

Other homeowners are worried they will be dropped by their insurer in the future: Over one-quarter (27.7%) of respondents in Florida said they are or have been concerned their insurer may stop offering coverage for their home, compared with 13.5% of respondents in California and 8.9% of respondents as a whole.

Most respondents have seen a rise in insurance costs: Overall, nearly three-quarters (71.7%) said their policy premium increased, with a slightly higher share in Florida (76%) and a slightly lower share in California (62.9%).

The average annual U.S. home insurance rate is expected to rise 6% this year to $2,522 after surging 19.8% between 2021 and 2023, according to Insurify. In Florida, the average annual rate is $10,996—higher than any other state.

1 in 3 Homeowners Who Lost Insurance Coverage Has Moved or Plans To Move

Roughly 100 homeowners who participated in the survey indicated that their insurance company stopped offering coverage for their home. One-third (33.2%) of those respondents moved or plans to move to a new area where coverage is available. But nearly the same share (30%) are staying in their home with little or no coverage.

Almost half (46%) of respondents who lost insurance coverage said they’ve found a new insurer to cover their home. A similar share (44.5%) said they pay a significantly higher premium for coverage than before.

Oftentimes when homeowners lose insurance coverage through a private insurer, they’re forced to buy into a more expensive state-created plan—such as California’s FAIR Plan or Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. But in many cases, it’s unclear whether those programs have enough money to cover losses; a Bloomberg analysis found that 36 states have residual insurance plans, but 21 of those don’t explicitly spell out how they’d pay deficits that exceed their assets.

Only One-Third of Homeowners Know Which Natural Disasters Their Insurance Covers

Roughly one-third of U.S. homeowners (34%) know which natural disasters their insurance for their home covers. An even smaller share—27.2%—know which natural disasters their insurance covers and how much damage is covered under their policy.

With climate disasters on the rise, homeowners should revisit their existing insurance policies so they know exactly what and how much is covered, Fairweather said. In some cases, they may want to purchase an additional policy covering a specific disaster, like fire or flood.

Over One-Third of Real Estate Agents Have Seen an Increase in Insurance-Related Issues

More than one-third of real estate agents (34.4%) have experienced an increase in issues related to home insurance during transactions over the past year.

This is according to a separate Redfin-commissioned survey of 500 real estate agents from a wide spectrum of U.S. brokerages, conducted by Qualtrics in December 2023.

The share was significantly higher in Florida and California. In Florida, nearly three-quarters (73%) of agents have seen an uptick in insurance issues in the last year, and in California, the share was 64%.

To view the full report, including charts, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/news/home-insurance-survey-report-2024

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) Multifamily today announced a series of policy and process enhancements that further strengthen underwriting due diligence, bolster fraud detection and deterrence, and mitigate other risks. Effective April 18, the changes include enhanced property inspection requirements and additional due diligence, among other measures.

"Freddie Mac remains focused on risk management and works to enhance our processes to better detect and deter fraud and misrepresentation,” said Ian Ouwerkerk, senior vice president of Multifamily Underwriting & Credit. “We take these issues seriously, and these enhancements are just the latest step in our effort to manage risk and improve our execution."

The enhancements will appear in Freddie Mac’s Multifamily Seller/Servicer Guide (“Guide”) and take effect on April 18. They specifically include the following:

• Property inspections will require an increased number of unit inspections and higher lease audit sample sizes. Additional documentation will be required for lease audits to confirm actual tenant rental payments.
• Stronger “Know Your Customer” requirements, including enhanced due diligence for first-time borrowers and borrowers with limited multifamily experience, additional liquidity verification and verification of real estate owned by the borrower.
• Updated process to limit Freddie Mac Multifamily business with certain title companies when applicable.
• Additional appraisal review and appraiser independence requirements to safeguard the independence, objectivity and impartiality of appraisers.

The April updates reflect another step in Freddie Mac’s ongoing effort to enhance its processes. In November 2023, the company announced new measures to clarify multifamily documentation chain of custody requirements as loan due diligence moves from borrower to lender.

Freddie Mac Multifamily is the nation's multifamily housing finance leader. Historically, more than 90% of the eligible rental units we fund are affordable to families with low-to-moderate incomes earning up to 120% of area median income. Freddie Mac securitizes about 90% of the multifamily loans it purchases, thus transferring the majority of the expected credit risk from taxpayers to private investors.

Freddie Mac’s mission is to make home possible for families across the nation. We promote liquidity, stability, affordability and equity in the housing market throughout all economic cycles. Since 1970, we have helped tens of millions of families buy, rent or keep their home. Learn More:
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