Overview
- Sales of previously owned homes rose 1.2% from September to a 4.10 million annualized pace, the fastest since February, and were up 1.7% year over year, according to NAR.
- The median sales price reached $415,200, up 2.1% from a year earlier for the 28th straight annual gain, while typical time on market lengthened to 34 days from 29 a year ago.
- Total inventory stood at 1.52 million homes, equal to 4.4 months of supply; listings slipped 0.7% from September but rose 10.9% from a year earlier and remain below pre‑pandemic norms.
- Regional performance was uneven as the Midwest rose 5.3% and the South 0.5%, the Northeast was flat, and the West fell 1.3%; first-time buyers accounted for 32% of sales, up from 27% a year ago.
- Average 30‑year mortgage rates hovered near 6.2% in October and the government shutdown caused localized delays, yet closings advanced and overall activity remains subdued relative to the ~5.2 million pre‑pandemic pace.