SILVER SPRING, Md.—The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes declined slightly for the fourth straight month, but it was still a record high for December.
The National Association of Realtors’ index of pending home sales dipped 0.3 percent to 125.5 in December, an all-time high, according to the Jan. 29 report. An index of 100 represents the level of contract activity in 2001. Contract signings rose 21.4 percent over December 2019.
Contract signings are considered a barometer of purchases that will take place in the next one to two months. While it’s not always completely accurate, the report would suggest a strong winter for the housing market.
Regionally, contract signings were essentially flat in the West and South, while they declined 3.6 percent in the Midwest. Signings rose 3.1 percent in the Northeast.
Thanks to a sizzling summer that continued into fall, the housing market has largely weathered the economic downturn, even with a huge spring decline due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Historically low interest rates are drawing prospective buyers into the market, but prices for both existing and new homes have risen significantly in the past year as supply remains near all-time lows.
The median sales price for an existing home was $309,800 in December, up 12.9 percent from a year ago. Prices for a new home have risen about 8 percent in the past year, some of that because of a sharp increase in the cost of framing lumber.
Mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac reported on Jan. 28 that the average rate on the 30-year fixed-rate home loan remained near record lows at 2.73 percent.
