Sales of existing homes dropped for the fourth straight month due to a very low supply of homes on the market.<\/p>\n

Existing home sales fell 0.9 percent in May from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 5.8 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors. That is the fourth straight month of declines. The 5.8 million rate is modestly above pre-pandemic levels.<\/p>\n

Sales were 44.6 percent higher from the same period a year ago, but that comparison is skewed massively, given that the housing market basically shut down for about two months at the start of the pandemic. The market then rebounded dramatically last summer and remained strong for all of last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cSales are essentially returning towards pre-pandemic activity,\u201d said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR. \u201cLack of inventory continues to be the overwhelming factor holding back home sales, but falling affordability is simply squeezing some first-time buyers out of the market.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sales of homes priced between $750,000 and $1 million jumped by 178 percent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

There were just 1.23 million homes for sale at the end of May, a 20.6 percent drop from a year ago. At the current sales pace that represents a 2.5-month supply.<\/p>\n

Very low inventory amid high demand continues to fuel extraordinary price increases. The median price of an existing home in May was $350,300, a 23.6 percent increase compared with May 2020. That is not only the highest median price ever recorded but also the strongest annual appreciation ever.<\/p>\n

Prices are, however, skewed by the mix of sales. The market is now tilted toward the upper end, where there is far more supply of homes for sale. For example, sales of homes priced between $100,000 and $250,00 dropped 2 percent from a year ago, while sales of homes priced between $750,000 and $1 million jumped 178 percent.<\/p>\n

Real estate agents work an open house in West Hempstead, N.Y., on April 18, 2021.<\/span>Raychel Brightman \/ Newsday RM via Getty Images file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sales declined in every geographical area except in the Midwest, where homes are priced the lowest.<\/p>\n

Mortgage rates fell pretty sharply in April, when the bulk of these contracts were signed. The average rate on the 30-year fixed ended March at 3.45 percent, and by the start of May the rate was heading below 3 percent, according to Mortgage News Daily. That would have helped give buyers some additional purchasing power, but the drop in rates was clearly not enough to offset fast-rising home prices.<\/p>\n

Sales numbers for newly built homes \u2014 which are based on signed contracts, not closings \u2014 dropped 6 percent in April compared with March, according to the U.S. Census. Prices for those homes were up about 20 percent year over year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith four consecutive monthly declines in existing home sales, May\u2019s sales activity points to a potential moderation in growth for the remainder of 2021,\u201d said George Ratiu, senior economist at realtor.com.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs inflation is weighing on consumers\u2019 budgets and the Federal Reserve indicating it may pull back on its monetary easing sooner than anticipated, interest rates and high prices will keep affordability front-and-center for buyers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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