The report from the Commerce Department indicated an unexpected decline in the sales of new US single-family homes in February, following an increase in mortgage rates during the month. However, it noted that the overall trend remained robust amidst a persistent shortage of previously owned houses available in the market.
According to Conrad DeQuadros, a senior economic advisor at Brean Capital, housing activity seemed to be stabilizing as homebuilders were observed to be constructing more affordable and likely smaller homes. DeQuadros mentioned that sales had maintained relative stability around the levels seen in December over the past two months, with prices experiencing a decline at mid-single-digit rates on a year-over-year basis.
The data revealed that the median price of new homes last month was the lowest in more than 2-1/2 years, while the supply reached its highest level since November 2022. Builders were reported to be increasing construction efforts and implementing strategies such as price reductions, offering incentives, and reducing floor size to enhance housing affordability.
The Commerce Department's Census Bureau reported a 0.3% decrease in new home sales to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 662,000 units in the previous month. The sales pace for January was revised upward to 664,000 units from the initially reported 661,000 units. Economists surveyed by Reuters had predicted that new home sales, constituting 13.1% of U.S. home sales, would climb to a rate of 675,000 units. Notably, new home sales are recorded at the contract signing stage, rendering them a leading indicator of the housing market, albeit subject to volatility on a month-to-month basis. Sales saw a year-on-year increase of 5.9% in February.
