by Calculated Risk on 6/20/2013 10:00:00 AM

The NAR reports: Existing-Home Sales Rise in May with Strong Price Increases

Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 4.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.18 million in May from 4.97 million in April, and is 12.9 percent above the 4.59 million-unit pace in May 2012.

Total housing inventory at the end of May rose 3.3 percent to 2.22 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 5.1-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 5.2 months in April. Listed inventory is 10.1 percent below a year ago, when there was a 6.5-month supply.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows existing home sales, on a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) basis since 1993.

Sales in May 2013 (5.18 million SAAR) were 4.2% higher than last month, and were 12.9% above the May 2012 rate. This is the highest sales rate since November 2009 (housing tax credit).

The second graph shows nationwide inventory for existing homes.

According to the NAR, inventory increased to 2.22 million in May up from 2.15 million in April.   Inventory is not seasonally adjusted, and inventory usually increases from the seasonal lows in December and January, and peaks in mid-to-late summer.

The last graph shows the year-over-year (YoY) change in reported existing home inventory and months-of-supply. Since inventory is not seasonally adjusted, it really helps to look at the YoY change. Note: Months-of-supply is based on the seasonally adjusted sales and not seasonally adjusted inventory.

Inventory decreased 10.1% year-over-year in May compared to May 2012. This is the 27th consecutive month with a YoY decrease in inventory, and the smallest YoY decrease since 2011 (I expect the YoY decrease to get smaller all year).

Months of supply decreased to 5.1 months in May.

This was  just above expectations of sales of 5.0 million.  For existing home sales, the key number is inventory - and inventory is still down year-over-year, although the declines are slowing.   This was another solid report.  I'll have more later ...