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Pending Home Sales Rise for Fifth Consecutive Month

The Pending Home Sales Index rose for the fifth consecutive month for year-over-year analysis this January, gaining 1.7 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales rose to the highest level in 18 months. NAR cites improved buyer demand at the beginning of 2015 that helped push pending home sales in January to their highest level since August 2013. 

The PHSI increased to 104.2 in January from an upwardly revised 102.5 in December and is now 8.4 percent above January 2014.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said traditional buyers saw more favorable conditions entering the market this year, citing all-cash sales and sales to investors were both down from a year ago, which created less competition and relief for buyers who still face the challenge of seeing limited homes available for sale.

"All indications point to modest sales gains as we head into the spring buying season," Yun said. "However, the pace will greatly depend on how much upward pressure the impact of low inventory will have on home prices. Appreciation anywhere near double-digits isn't healthy or sustainable in the current economic environment."

Here is the breakdown of PSHI data by region:

  • The Northeast PHSI increased 0.1 percent to 84.9 in January, and is now 6.9 percent above a year ago.
  • The Midwest PHSI decreased 0.7 percent to 99.3 in January, but is 4.2 percent above January 2014.
  • The South PHSI increased 3.2 percent to 121.9 in January (highest since April 2010) and is 9.7 percent above last January.
  • The West PHSI increased 2.2 percent in January to 96.4 and is 11.4 percent above a year ago.

Total existing-homes sales in 2015 are forecast to be around 5.26 million, an increase of 6.4 percent from 2014. The national median existing-home price for all of this year is expected to increase near 5 percent. In 2014, existing-home sales declined 2.9 percent and prices rose 5.7 percent.

About Author: Samantha Guzman

Samantha Guzman is an award-winning visual journalist and graduate of the University of North Texas Mayborn School of Journalism. She specializes in visual storytelling and has skills in video, audio and photography, in addition to news writing. She has traveled to Mexico and Bosnia as an assistant for multiple multimedia projects and taught news writing, photojournalism, and narrative storytelling in the past.
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