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September 03, 2010 at 08:00 PM
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported Thursday, September 2 that its pending home sales index for contracts signed in July rose 5.2% to 79.4 from a downwardly revised June reading of 75.5, the lowest on record. That level remains 19.1% below July 2009, when it stood at 98.1. A 100 reading marks the average level of sales activity in 2001, when the index began.
July’s modest rise in pending home sales followed a sharp drop in the months immediately after expiration of the home buyer tax credit. For the rest of 2010, a long recovery process is expected for the overall U.S. housing market–which is good news for those who can afford to buy homes now or refinance their mortgages.
“Home sales will remain soft in the months ahead, but improved affordability conditions should help with a recovery,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. “But the recovery looks to be a long process. Home buyers over the past year got a great deal, and buyers for the balance of this year have an edge over sellers. For those who bought at or near the peak several years ago, particularly in markets experiencing big bubbles, it may take over a decade to fully recover lost equity.”
Refinancings Hit 15-Month High
On September 1, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported an increase in mortgage applications as interest rates hit a new low. The MBA weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ended August 27 rose 2.7%, seasonally adjusted, over the previous week.
