SUMMER HOUSING MARKET NOT COOLING DOWN THIS FALL

The summer housing market saw high demand next to rising home prices, but don’t expect Fall to bring any relief. In fact, it could bring the hottest fall in a decade, new data from realtor.com shows.

Home sales in September moved 4% faster than last year, according to the data. The number of days on market is also expected to decreased by three days from last year.

In August, Lawrence Yun, the National Association of Realtors Chief Economist, said that without new housing construction, the housing recovery could stall.

Housing inventory declined annually for 15 consecutive months, and properties closed 11 days quicker than August last year, according to the Pending Home sales report by NAR.

Inventory also remains down as less than 450,000 new listings came on the market in September, while the median home price rose 9% from last year to $250,000, a new high for the month.

“House hunters who were shut out this summer because of fierce competition could fare better this fall, with more opportunities to buy and mortgage rates still near all-time lows,” realtor.com Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke said. “But don’t expect bargains—prices haven’t come down from this summer’s record highs.”

“Overall, the fundamental trends we have been seeing all year remain solidly in place as we enter the traditionally slower sales season, and pent-up demand remains substantial as buyers seek to get a home under contract while rates remain so low,” Smoke said.