Sales of previously owned homes in the U.S. fell in August to the lowest since early 2004, and prices fell from year-ago levels for the first time since 1995.
Purchases declined 0.5 percent last month to an annual rate of 6.3 million, from 6.33 million in July, the National Association of Realtors said today in Washington. Sales fell 12.6 percent compared with a year earlier.
The median sales price fell 1.7 percent to $225,000 from a year earlier, the first drop since April 1995, David Lereah, chief economist for the Realtors, said at a briefing. Federal Reserve policy makers, who last week held interest rates steady for a second month, expect housing will cool gradually to slow the economy and help curb inflation.The supply of homes for sale increased to 3.918 million, a 7.5 months supply that was the highest since April 1993, up from 7.3 months at the end of July. (Bloomberg)
David 'soft landing' Lereah, stated that "We've been anticipating a price correction and now it's here. The price drop has stopped the bleeding for housing sales. We think the housing market has now hit bottom.'' Think Again!
NAR: Sales Down, Prices Down, Inventory Up (Calculated Risk)
FLASH: Used home sales fall again, bogus price number shows first year-over-year price decline since 1995, Lereah predicts market has hit bottom (Housing Panic)
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