EmailExisting home sales fell from an annualized rate of 5.00 million in April to 4.81 mln in May. The Briefing.com consensus expected sales to drop to 4.79 million units.
The National Association of Realtors blamed temporary factors -- including poor weather, high oil prices, and difficult financing conditions -- as the main causes for the pullback in contract signings in April. With little contract activity last month, sales weakened in May.
While the temporary factors may play a role, the uncertainty surrounding the economic recovery along with the recent double-dip in housing prices are the main focal points for the current weakness in housing sales. After the temporary factors are gone, these underlying problems will keep housing sales from rebounding materially in the near future without a meaningful pickup in hiring activity.
Distressed property sales continue to comprise a large portion of the total sales numbers. These properties accounted for 31% of sales in May, down from 37% in April.
Median prices fell 4.6% y/y to $166,500 in May, but this compares unfavorably against an artificial spike in sales caused by the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit last May.
Total housing inventories increased from a 9.0 month supply in April to a 9.3 month supply in May. This is the largest inventory level since November 2010.
