Aug 30, 2012 | Housing Analysis
In July, the third time this year, the Pending Home Sales Index crossed its benchmark value of 100, moving to 101.7.
A “pending home sale” is a home under contract to sell, but not yet sold. Data for the index is collected by the National Association of REALTORS® and published monthly.
The rise in July’s Pending Home Sales Index reading is important for two reasons — both of which highlight a U.S. housing market in recovery. Buyer and sellers in Massachusetts and across the country would do well to pay attention.
First, the Pending Home Sales Index is at its highest point since April 2010, the last month of that year’s federal home buyer tax credit. (more…)
Jul 27, 2012 | Housing Analysis
Home sales appear headed for a mid-summer breather.
One month after posting a multi-year high, the Pending Home Sales Index retreated to 99.3 in June — a strong reading in its own right.
A “pending home sale” is a home that is under contract to sell, but not yet sold. June’s value of 99.3 marks the 14th consecutive month during which the index showed year-to-year gains.
Last year in June, the index read 90.7.
For home buyers in Worcester County area and nationwide, the 14-month winning streak is one worth noting — specifically because the Pending Home Sales Index is different from the other housing market data that tends to make headlines.
Unlike the FHFA’s Home Price Index, for example; or the monthly New Home Sales data which both report on how housing performed in the past, the National Association of REALTORS®’ Pending Home Sales (more…)
Jul 20, 2012 | Housing Analysis
Home resales slipped more than 5 percent last month, putting a damper recent housing market enthusiasm.
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, Existing Home Sales fell to 4.37 million units in June 2012 on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis. This is 250,000 fewer home sales per year as compared May’s figures which NAR has revised 2 percentage points higher.
The pace at which homes are selling has slowed, too. As compared to May, the Existing Home Supply rose 0.2 months. At the current pace of sales nationwide, the national home supply (more…)
Jul 3, 2012 | Housing Analysis
Homes are going under contract at a quickening pace.
In May, for the second time in 3 months, the Pending Home Sales Index crossed the 100 barrier, stretching to 101.1. A “pending home sale” is a home under contract to sell, but not yet sold.
Statistically, the Pending Home Sales Index reading is significant for two reasons.
First, the index’s reading is at its highest since April 2010. From this, we infer that today’s pace of home buying in Massachusetts and nationwide is approaching the “stimulated” levels of two years ago — but without the federal stimulus.
This is a positive signal for the housing market.
Second, because the Pending Home Sales Index is a relative index; and, because it was assigned a value of 100 upon its inception in 2001, readings higher than 100 imply that the housing market is performing better than it did during the index’s first year.
2001 happened to be a strong year for housing. 2012, it seems, is shaping up to be a better one.
And, there’s another reason why the Pending Home Sales Index matters so much to buyer and sellers of Massachusetts — the Pending Home Sales Index is among the few “forward-looking” housing market indicators.
Rather than report on how the housing market looked 30-60 days in the past, as the Case-Shiller Index does; or the Existing Home Sales report, the Pending Home Sales Index looks 30-60 days to the future.
80% of homes under contract sell within 2 months so, as the Pending Home Sales Index goes, so goes housing. Based on May’s data, therefore, we can assume that home sale figures will rise through the summer.
If you’re shopping for homes right now, consider going under contract while the market remains somewhat soft. Mortgage rates are low and so are home prices. It makes for good home-buying conditions.
May 31, 2012 | Housing Analysis
The housing market took a breather in April.
After forging past its benchmark value of 100 in March, April’s Pending Home Sales Index dropped back to 95.5, its lowest reading of the year. The data suggests fewer home resales throughout Worcester County area and nationwide in the months ahead.
A “pending home” is a home under contract to sell, but not yet closed. The Pending Home Sales Index is tracked and published monthly by the National Association of REALTORS®.
As a housing market indicator, the Pending Home Sales Index is fundamentally different from other housing metrics which often make headline news.
Unlike the Existing Home Sales report, for example; or the New Home Sales report, the Pending Home Sales Index is purported to be predictor of future housing market performance. It measures the number of homes (more…)
