New Home Sales Category
New Home Sales Drop In July — Just Like Existing Home Sales
August 27th, 2010 categories: New Home Sales
One day after the National Association of Realtors released the softest Existing Home Sales report since 1995, the U.S. Census Bureau released a similarly-weak New Home Sales report.
Americans bought just 276,000 newly-built homes in July. That marks the fewest units sold since the government started keeping records in 1963.
In addition, although new home inventory actually dropped 2,000 units in July, the slowing sales pace still managed to push the national supply higher by 1.1 months. At July’s rate of sales, the nation’s new home inventory would be exhausted in just about 9 months.
None of this news should surprise you, though. It’s all been foreshadowed for weeks.
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Single-Family Housing Starts Fade In July
August 19th, 2010 categories: Existing Home Sales, Home Values, Homebuilders, Housing Starts, New Home Sales, Pending Home Sales
Sometimes, you need to look deeper than the headlines to get the news that matters. This basic truth’s latest example comes from the July Housing Starts data, as published by the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to the newspapers, Housing Starts improved last month:
- US Housing Starts Make Modest Rebound (FT)
- Housing Starts Rise Slightly (MoneyWatch)
- Housing Starts Tick Higher In July (MarketWatch)
However, these stories are speaking in terms of all housing starts — not just the single-family ones. This is a major point of difference for home buyers in Farragut because the most people don’t buy the multi-unit homes and apartment buildings that’s also a part of the Housing Starts data.
The overwhelming majority of buyers buy single-family homes and in July, as in the previous 3 months, the number of single-family housing starts fell.
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New Homes Sales Gain in June, But Gains Are Relative
July 27th, 2010 categories: New Home Sales
After a down month in May, the sales of newly-built homes appears back on track.
As published by the Census Bureau, June’s New Home Sales report showed:
- A 24 percent sales volume increase from the month prior
- A 2-month drop in the supply of newly-built home
There are now just 210,000 new homes for sale nationwide.
June’s data is a major improvement over May, but it’s possible that the true “new home market” may be softer than the statistics suggest. This is for several reasons.
First, we’re comparing June’s sales data to the worst month in New Home Sales history.
In May, sales of new homes totaled just 267,000 units nationwide. That’s one-quarter fewer sales than in the previous worst month in New Home Sales history. May’s sales levels were awful by any measure but June’s improvement to 330,000 units remains second-worst sales levels ever posted.
Second, although much improved, June’s new home supply of 7.6 months is elevated versus the historical norm near 6.0 months. The last year has averaged 7.7 months.
For buyers of new homes in Farragut , this combination of low sales volume and higher-than-normal inventory may be a positive. It’s the main reason why homebuilder confidence is reeling and the downturn has opened some doors for big discounts and deals. Free upgrades and closing cost credits can make a well-priced home even more attractive.
Plus, with mortgage rates at all-time lows and expected to rise, home affordability is may never be better.
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Buyers Take The May 2010 New Home Sales Data All The Way To The Bank
July 12th, 2010 categories: New Home Sales
One month after the federal homebuyer tax credit’s official expiration, the New Home Sales report turned in its worst showing ever.
In May 2010, for the first time in 11 months, the inventory of unsold new homes crossed the 8-month marker, posting an 8.5 month supply overall.
Additionally, new homes sales volume fell to 300,000 units nationwide — a drop of 32% and its lowest level since the Commerce Department started tracking data in 1963.
Now, universally, the press is referring to the May New Home Sales report as “poor“. A closer look, however, shows that may not be the case.
For one, we have to keep New Home Sales in perspective as a percentage of overall home sales. Yes, there were just 300,000 new homes sold in May, but there were also 5.66 million “existing” homes sold.
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May 2010 Existing Home Sales Is Better Than The Headline Data Suggests
June 24th, 2010 categories: Existing Home Sales, Home Price Index, Home Values, Household Finances, Housing Starts, New Home Sales, Pending Home Sales, Sellers
Existing Home Sales dropped in May for the first time in 3 months but still managed to post its second-highest since November 2009, buoyed by the expiring federal tax credit program.
An “existing home” is a home that cannot be considered new construction; a resale of an existing home. Existing Home Sales fell 2.2 percent in May.
The press is calling the drop in sales “unexpected” and disappointing, but a deeper look at the data shows the news isn’t as bad as it first appears.
First, on a regional basis, sales were mostly solid. Only the Northeast region posted a loss. The West even managed a gain.
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New Homes Sales Were Strong in March, But Not As Strong As The News Would Have You Believe
April 28th, 2010 categories: New Home Sales
The sales of newly-built homes soared in March. Even more than what was expected. But the news may not be as glowing as what the media is telling us.
Take a look at the headlines from last Friday:
- Sales of new homes rocketed up 27 percent in March (WaPo)
- New-home sales rise fastest in 47 years (CNNMoney)
- Sales of New Homes Climb by Most Since 1963 (Business Week)
None of these statements is false, per se, but each is somewhat misleading. The biggest reason why March’s New Home Sales was even able to rise 27 percent is because data from the month before it — February — was the worst in New Home Sales history.
In February, new homes sold posted its lowest level in recorded history.
A better comparison would be against March a year earlier; or October 2009, the month before the home buyer tax credit’s initial expiration date.
Against both of those time periods, March 2010 fared well.
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Knoxville FHA Buyers You Better Hurry — Fees Increase 1/2 Percent Starting Monday, April 5, 2010
March 30th, 2010 categories: Buyers, FHA Mortgages, Homebuyer Tax Credit, Market Trends, Mortgage Rates, New Home Sales
Have you Been Looking At Homes?? Plan on using FHA financing to buy your new Knoxville Area Home??
Starting Monday, April 5, 2010, getting an FHA mortgage in Knoxville TN and nationwide will be more expensive for borrowers.
In new guidelines set forth earlier this year, the FHA announced plans to raise additional revenue and reduce the overall risk of its mortgage portfolio.
The changes include the following:
- Increase Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premiums from 1.75% to 2.25% for everyone
- A plan to reduce seller concessions from 6 percent to 3 percent
- An increase in minimum downpayment for FICOs 580 or lower
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As The Supply Of New Knoxville Homes Grows, So Does The Opportunity For A “Good Deal”
February 25th, 2010 categories: Existing Home Sales, Home Price Index, Housing Starts, Market Trends, Mortgage Rates, New Home Sales, Sellers, Statistics
Knoxville New Home Buyers Don’t Miss Your Best Buying Opportunity Ever
The housing recovery showed particular weakness in the Knoxville New Homes Sales category last month — good news for Knoxville TN homebuyers in in the Knoxville Real Estate Market and around the country.
A “new home” is a home for which there’s no previous owner.
New Home Sales fell 11 percent from the month prior and posted the fewest units sold in a month since 1963 — the year the government first started tracking New Home Sales data.
Right now, there are roughly 234,000 new homes for sale nationwide and, at the current sales pace, it would take 9.1 months to sell them all. This is nearly 2 months longer than at October 2009’s pace.
The reasons for the spike in supply are varied:
- The original home buyer tax credit expired in November
- Weather conditions were awful in most of the country in January
- Weak employment and consumer confidence continue to hinder big ticket sales
Now, these might be less-than-optimal developments for the economy as a whole, but for buyers of new homes, it’s a welcome turn of events. Home prices are based on supply and demand, after all.
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