We’re going to start with some good news, because there isn’t much of it. Existing home sales increased by more than 7 percent year-over year in February, posting the highest annual rate (5.77 million units) in 13 years. New home sales increased by more than 14 percent, year-over-year.

After sinking in the aftermath of the “Great Recession,” the rate rebounded from the low point of 62.9 percent four years ago, to 65.1 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, according to a Census Department report. But it’s been stuck near that level since the fourth quarter of 2018, despite favorable interest rates and solid employment growth.

Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) remained near an all-time high in December, propelled by a 16 percent year-over-year increase in the number of respondents declaring this a good time to buy a home.

January 2020

December 2019

November 2019

October 2019

September 2019

August 2019

July 2019