by Calculated Risk on 6/05/2012 12:43:00 PM

Press Release: Trulia Reports Flat Asking Prices in May After Three Straight Months of Increases, as Foreclosure Prices Decline

Based on the for-sale homes and rentals listed on Trulia, these monitors take into account changes in the mix of listed homes and reflect trends in prices and rents for similar homes in similar neighborhoods through May 31, 2012.

Asking prices on for-sale homes–which lead sales prices by approximately two or more months – were unchanged in May month-over-month, seasonally adjusted. Together with increases in April and March, asking prices in May rose nationally 1.6 percent quarter over quarter (Q-o-Q), seasonally adjusted. The price increase unadjusted for seasonality was even higher: 5.2 percent Q-o-Q, since prices typically jump in springtime. Year over year (Y-o-Y) asking prices fell slightly by 0.2 percent. Nationally, 41 out of the 100 largest metros had Y-o-Y price increases, and 86 out of the 100 largest metros had Q-o-Q price increases, seasonally adjusted.

More from Jed Kolko, Trulia Chief Economist: Home Prices Stall, Breaking 3-Month Streak of Rising Prices

On Rents:

In May, rents were 6.0 percent higher than they were a year ago, up from the 5.4 percent Y-o-Y rent increase in April, and 4.8 percent in March

Note that Trulia adjusts asking prices for both mix and seasonality. A 1.6% increase for the quarter is pretty significant.