by Calculated Risk on 11/22/2016 10:09:00 AM

From the NAR: Existing-Home Sales Jump Again in October

Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, grew 2.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.60 million in October from an upwardly revised 5.49 million in September. October's sales pace is 5.9 percent above a year ago (5.29 million) and surpasses June's pace (5.57 million) as the highest since February 2007 (5.79 million). ...

Total housing inventory 3 at the end of October declined 0.5 percent to 2.02 million existing homes available for sale, and is now 4.3 percent lower than a year ago (2.11 million) and has fallen year-over-year for 17 straight months. Unsold inventory is at a 4.3-month supply at the current sales pace, which is down from 4.4 months in September.

Click on graph for larger image.

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

Sales in October (5.60 million SAAR) were 2.0% higher than last month, and were 5.9% above the October 2015 rate.

The second graph shows nationwide inventory for existing homes.

According to the NAR, inventory decreased to 2.02 million in October from 2.03 million in September.   Headline inventory is not seasonally adjusted, and inventory usually decreases to the seasonal lows in December and January, and peaks in mid-to-late summer.

The third 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 4.3% year-over-year in October compared to October 2015.  

Months of supply was at 4.3 months in October.

This was above consensus expectations. For existing home sales, a key number is inventory - and inventory is still low. I'll have more later ...