Existing home sales in October are up a record 10.1%, according to data released today. Thanks in large part to buyers getting in at the last minute to take advantage of the first-time home buyers’ credit before it was set to expire at the end of November.
Sales are up 23.5% since their lows in October 2008, which also is a record for year-over-year jump, according to the National Association of Realtors.
It seems the sales are heavily influenced by the governments incentives, so it’s hard to tell if this increase represents a bottoming out of the housing market, and now that the home buyers’ credit has been extended to April, this will remain unclear.
The median sales price of an existing home in October was $173,100, down 7.1% from October 2008. That’s the smallest drop in median home price in more than a year.
What are you seeing on the bank owned property side? Are those inventories starting to shrink or do you see another surge coming?
Thanks,
Dan
Outer Banks Revealed
Great question Dan, thanks.
It’s tough to say. We see a lot of distressed and bank owned sales, but research also indicates that a new wave of defaults could be on the way due to significant mortgage rate adjustments on adjustable rate mortgages. Hopefully the sales continue and the new inventory can be absorbed.