U.S. Housing Market Rebalancing in New Year

By Helen Adams Realty - February 10, 2023

Canopy Realtor® Association Market Updates

Reprinted from January 2023 CRRA Monthly Indicators

The U.S. housing market began the year in a state of rebalance, with many buyers and sellers remaining cautious while they wait to see where the market is headed. Nationally, pending sales rose 2.5% month-to-month, marking the first increase since May, while sales of existing homes fell 1.5% as of last measure, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Demand for housing persists, but higher mortgage interest rates have cut into housing affordability, with total home sales down 17.8% last year compared to 2021.

New Listings were down in the Charlotte region by 20.0 percent to 3,184. Pending Sales decreased 12.0 percent to 3,638. Inventory grew 55.8 percent to 5,768.

Prices moved higher as Median Sales Price was up 7.2 percent to $375,000. Months Supply of Homes for Sale was up 114.3 percent to 1.5., indicating that supply increased relative to demand.

As sales slow, time on market is increasing, with the average home spending 26 days on market as of last measure, according to NAR. Seller concessions have made a comeback, giving buyers more time and negotiating power when shopping for a home. Although home prices remain high, mortgage rates declined steadily throughout January, falling to their lowest level since September, sparking a recent surge in mortgage demand. Lower rates should aid in affordability and may soon lead to an uptick in market activity ahead of the spring selling season.

A Closer Look