por admin » Lun Abr 22, 2013 2:08 pm
Las ventas de casas existentes bajaron pero los precios de las casas subieron 12%
April 22, 2013 10:04 AM
Prices of Existing Homes Jump 12%
By Alan Zibel And Sarah Portlock
WASHINGTON—Sales of previously owned homes fell slightly last month, but prices took their biggest jump in more than seven years as the housing market continued to bounce back from a deep slump.
Existing-home sales decreased by 0.6% in March from a month earlier to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.92 million, the National Association of Realtors said Monday. Sales were 10.3% above the same month a year earlier and marked the 21st straight month of year-over year gains.
The median price of homes sold in March was $184,300, up 12% from a year earlier. That was the biggest gain since November 2005, and reflects stronger sales of higher priced homes and weaker sales of cheaper ones. Sales of homes under $100,000 were down 16% from a year earlier, while sales of properties between $250,000 and $500,000 were up 22% from last year.
Sales of distressed properties, including foreclosures, represented 21% of the market in March, the lowest figure since the Realtors group began compiling that data in October 2008.
The number of homes listed for sale grew for the second straight month, indicating that homeowners have started to feel more comfortable that they can sell their properties as demand grows and prices recover. The inventory of previously owned homes listed for sale at the end of March increased 1.6% from February to 1.93 million.
That represented a 4.7 month supply at the current sales pace, up from 4.6 a month earlier. Homes, meanwhile, are selling faster. It took a median 62 days for homes to be sold in March, compared with 91 days last year, the Realtors group said.
The monthly results were worse than analysts expected. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast sales would rise by 0.8% from the originally reported February figure to a pace of 5.02 million. The previous month's figures were revised downward to a reading of 4.95 million.
Compared with a month earlier, sales rose in the Midwest, were unchanged in the Northeast. They fell in the West and the South.
Many economists believe the housing market will be one of the main drivers of the economy this year as inventory shrinks, prices rise and builders break ground on more projects. Single-family housing starts were at a nearly five-year high in February and were up more than 30% from the same period last year, the Commerce Department said last week.
As home prices rise, the number of people who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth is declining, which could encourage them to sell their homes and buy new properties.
Economists largely believe improvements in the housing market will be a bright spot for the tepid economic recovery this year. Investments in residential projects and home improvements have contributed to overall economic growth for seven consecutive quarters.
Construction of new homes rose last week to the highest level since June 2008, the Commerce Department said last week. However, the results were driven by big gains in apartments and condominiums rather than single-family homes.