U.S. Pending Home Sales Hit Record Low in July Due to High Prices and Borrowing Costs
Aug 29, 2024
According to BlockBeats, the measure of pending home sales in the United States fell to a historic low in July due to high prices and borrowing costs. Data released showed that the index of signed contracts dropped by 5.5% last month to 70.2, marking the lowest level since 2001. This decline exceeded economists' general expectations, reflecting a decrease in sales across all four major regions.Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), stated in a release, 'The positive impact of job growth and increased inventory cannot overcome the challenges of affordability and a certain degree of wait-and-see attitude related to the upcoming US presidential election.' For nearly two years, the second-hand housing market has been sluggish due to high borrowing costs and insufficient inventory. Although mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest level in over a year this month, high home prices and limited inventory continue to deter potential buyers, who may still be waiting for even lower rates. Yun noted that a decrease in mortgage rates would undoubtedly attract buyers back into the market.