U.S. Metro Home Prices Climb to New All-Time High

WASHINGTON—Amidst staggeringly low inventory levels in much of the country during the second quarter, existing-homes sales cooled and home prices maintained their robust level of appreciation, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of Realtors released on Aug. 8. Last quarter, the San Francisco metro area joined the San Jose metro area for having a median sales price above $1 million.

The national median existing single-family home price in the second quarter was $269,000, which was up 5.3% from the second quarter of 2017 ($255,400) and surpasses last year’s second quarter as the new peak. The median sales price during this year’s first quarter increased 5.7% from the first quarter of 2017.

Single-family home prices last quarter increased in 90% of measured markets, with 161 out of 178 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) showing sales price gains in the second quarter compared to a year ago. Twenty-four metro areas (13%) experienced double-digit increases, down from 30% in this year’s first quarter.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says this year’s spring buying season did not meet expectations, despite very strong demand. “The ongoing supply crunch affecting much of the country worsened for most of the second quarter, as the growing number of interested buyers in many markets overwhelmed what was already a meager level of available listings,” he said. “With not enough homes for sale, multiple bids caused prices to rise briskly and further out of the reach of some prospective buyers.”

Total existing-home sales, including single family and condos, decreased 1.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.41 million in the second quarter from 5.51 million in the first quarter, and were 2.4% lower than the 5.55 million pace during the second quarter of 2017.

“Solid economic growth, a healthy labor market and the large millennial population should be driving home sales much higher,” said Yun. “As long as economic conditions maintain current levels, there’s still a chance for sales to break out this year. However, with mortgage rates trending higher, it will only happen if supply levels improve enough to cool the speedy price growth in a majority of the country.”

At the end of the second quarter, there were 1.95 million existing homes available for sale, which was 0.5% above the 1.94 million homes for sale at the end of the second quarter in 2017. The average supply during the second quarter was 4.1 months—down from 4.2 months in the second quarter of last year.

The national family median income rose to $75,1064 in the second quarter, but overall affordability decreased from a year ago because of higher mortgage rates and home prices. To purchase a single-family home at the national median price, a buyer making a 5% down payment would need an income of $64,239, a 10% down payment would require an income of $60,858, and $54,096 would be needed for a 20% down payment.

“The unaffordable conditions in many of the largest metro areas—especially in the West—continues to be a growing concern for many middle-class households aspiring to buy a home,” said Yun. “Homebuilders, facing higher costs and labor shortages, are simply not producing enough affordable homes to satisfy demand. Local governments need to acknowledge this glaring issue and ease some of the zoning laws, permitting processes and regulations that are slowing construction.”

The five most expensive housing markets in the second quarter were the San Jose, CA metro area, where the median existing single-family price was $1,405,000; San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA, $1,070,000; Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA, $830,000; urban Honolulu, $795,200; and San Diego-Carlsbad, CA, $645,000.

The five lowest-cost metro areas in the second quarter were Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH, $94,400; Cumberland, MD, $94,900; Decatur, IL, $96,900; Elmira, NY, $106,300; and Erie, PA at $121,700.

Metro area condominium and cooperative prices—covering changes in 61 metro areas—showed the national median existing-condo price was $248,200 in the second quarter, up 3.6% from the second quarter of 2017 ($239,600). Ninety percent of metro areas showed gains in median condo price from a year ago.

Regional Breakdown

Total existing-home sales in the Northeast were at an annual rate of 683,000 (unchanged from the first quarter of 2018) and down 8.9% from a year ago. The median existing single-family home price in the Northeast was $288,900 in the second quarter, up 2.3% from a year ago.

In the Midwest, existing-home sales rose 1.6% in the second quarter but were 2.8% below a year ago. The median existing single-family home price in the Midwest grew 3.5% to $210,600 in the second quarter from the same quarter a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the South declined 2.7% in the second quarter but were 0.6% higher than the second quarter of 2017. The median existing single-family home price in the South was $238,500 in the second quarter, 4.0% above a year earlier.

In the West, existing-home sales in the second quarter decreased 4.1% and were 3.6% below a year ago. The median existing single-family home price in the West increased 8.3% to $403,300 in the second quarter from the second quarter of 2017.