Washington, DC – August 10, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Median existing-home prices declined modestly in the second quarter with 27 percent of metropolitan areas experiencing price gains from a year ago, while state home sales declined from the second quarter of 2010, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of Realtors®.
The median existing single-family home price rose in 40 out of 150 metropolitan statistical areas1 (MSAs) in the second quarter from the same period in 2010, including four with double-digit increases; one was unchanged and 109 areas showed price declines. In the first quarter, 34 metro areas had posted gains from a year earlier.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home prices have been moderating. “Median home prices have been moving up and down in a relatively narrow range in many markets, which shows a stabilization trend,” he said. “Markets showing consistent price stability or increases are those with solid labor market conditions, such as in Washington, D.C.; San Antonio; or Fargo, N.D.”
Yun noted the median price measurement reflects the types of homes that are selling during the quarter and can be misleading at times. “The level of foreclosures, which can artificially depress median prices, can vary notably in given markets. The annual price gauge smoothes out the quarterly swings and has shown fairly stable price trends in most markets.”
He added the housing market should be stronger. “With home prices in a broad trough and historically low mortgage interest rates, high housing affordability conditions and rising rents could stimulate a more rapid sales recovery if banks get back into the business of lending to more creditworthy borrowers,” Yun said.
NAR’s Housing Affordability Index stood at 176.6 in the second quarter, the third highest on record after the first quarter of 2011 and fourth quarter of 2010. The index measures the relationship between median home price, median family income and mortgage interest rates; the higher the index, the greater household purchasing power. Recordkeeping began in 1970.
The national median existing single-family home price was $171,900 in the second quarter, down 2.8 percent from $176,800 in the second quarter of 2010. The median is where half sold for more and half sold for less. Distressed homes,2 typically sold at a discount of about 20 percent, accounted for 33 percent of second quarter sales, down from 39 percent in the first quarter; they were 32 percent a year earlier.
Total state existing-home sales, including single-family and condo, declined 5.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate3 of 4.86 million in the second quarter from 5.14 million in the first quarter, and were 12.7 percent below a 5.57 million pace during the second quarter of 2010. June 2010 was the closing deadline for the home buyer tax credit.
NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I., said the key to healthy housing is credit access. “It’s frustrating for many creditworthy potential home buyers to realize that when they’re ready to make a move, banks remain risk averse,” he said. “People with good jobs, long-term plans and who are willing to stay well within their means deserve an opportunity to realize their American dream of home ownership. When banks return to normal and safe but sensible lending standards, housing will be able to contribute its traditional share to economic growth.”
Yun clarified the point on economic growth. “The direction of the economy will be determined principally by the housing market recovery, and indications now are pointing toward only a modest recovery,” he said.
The share of all-cash home purchases was 30 percent in the second quarter, up from 25 percent in the second quarter of 2010. Investors, who make up the bulk of cash purchasers, accounted for 19 percent of second quarter transactions, up from 14 percent a year ago.
First-time buyers purchased 35 percent of homes, down from 46 percent in the second quarter of 2010. Repeat buyers accounted for a 56 percent market share in the second quarter, up from 40 percent a year earlier.
In the condo sector, metro area condominium and cooperative prices – covering changes in 54 metro areas – showed the national median existing-condo price was $169,200 in the second quarter, which is 3.5 percent below the second quarter of 2010. Fourteen metros showed increases in the median condo price from a year ago and 40 areas had declines.
Regionally, the median existing single-family home price in the Northeast rose 2.0 percent to $245,600 in the second quarter from a year ago. Existing-home sales in the Northeast declined 4.6 percent in the second quarter to a level of 763,000 and are 19.9 percent below the second quarter of 2010.
The median existing single-family home price in the Midwest fell 5.4 percent to $139,800 in the second quarter from the same period in 2010. Existing-home sales in the Midwest were down 3.1 percent in the second quarter to a pace of 1.05 million and are 18.3 percent below a year ago.
In the South, the median existing single-family home price declined 2.7 percent to $153,000 in the second quarter from a year earlier. Existing-home sales in the South fell 3.4 percent in the second quarter to an annual rate of 1.89 million and are 9.9 percent below the second quarter of 2010.
The median existing single-family home price in the West declined 3.1 percent to $218,000 in the second quarter from the second quarter of 2010. Existing-home sales in the West dropped 10.8 percent in the second quarter to a level of 1.16 million and are 6.2 percent below a year ago.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
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NOTE: Data tables for both metro area home prices and state existing-home sales are posted at:
www.realtor.org/research/research/metroprice. For areas not covered in the tables, please contact the local association of Realtors®.
There often are differences between NAR’s data and locally reported data because of differences in methodology, which may include the geographic coverage area, housing types, and Census benchmarking used in NAR’s model. More importantly, there is a parallel between the percentage changes over time that is typically seen even when using different methodologies.
1Areas are generally metropolitan statistical areas as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. A list of counties included in MSA definitions is available at: www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro-city/0312msa.txt.
Regional median home prices include rural areas and samples of many smaller metros that are not included in this report; the regional percentage changes do not necessarily parallel changes in the larger metro areas. The only valid comparisons for median prices are with the same period a year earlier due to seasonality in buying patterns. Quarter-to-quarter comparisons do not compensate for seasonal changes, especially for the timing of family buying patterns.
NAR began tracking of metropolitan area median single-family home prices in 1979; the metro area condo price series dates back to 1989.
Because there is a concentration of condos in high-cost metro areas, the national median condo price generally is higher than the median single-family price. In a given market area, condos typically cost less than single-family homes. As the reporting sample expands in the future, additional areas will be included in the condo price report.
2Distressed sales, first-time buyers, investors and all-cash transactions are from a survey for the Realtors® Confidence Index.
3The seasonally adjusted annual rate for a particular quarter represents what the total number of actual sales for a year would be if the relative sales pace for that quarter was maintained for four consecutive quarters. Total home sales include single family, townhomes, condominiums and co-operative housing. NAR began tracking the state sales series in 1981.
Seasonally adjusted rates are used in reporting quarterly data to factor out seasonal variations in resale activity. For example, sales volume normally is higher in the summer and relatively light in winter, primarily because of differences in the weather and household buying patterns.
Third quarter metro area home price and state resale data will be released November 9 at 10:00 a.m. EST.
Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section. Statistical data in this release, other tables and surveys also may be found by clicking on Research.
Contact:
Walter Molony 202/383-1177
