US Pending Home Sales Unexpectedly Rise to Highest Since August

US pending home sales unexpectedly rose in February for a third month، adding to signs that the housing market may be stabilizing after a tumultuous year.

The National Association of Realtors’ index of contract signings to purchase previously owned homes increased 0.8% last month to 83.2 — the highest since August — according to data released Wednesday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 3% decline.

Getting back on its feet

The increase in sales indicates the housing market may be getting back on its feet after last year’s rapid run-up in borrowing costs. Mortgage rates eased last week to a six-week low، helping drive demand to purchase a home.

They may decline further if the unfolding banking crisis continues to drive down Treasury yields، and the Federal Reserve has signaled it’s nearly done hiking interest rates.

“After nearly a year، the housing sector’s contraction is coming to an end،” Lawrence Yun، NAR’s chief economist، said in a statement.

Signings rose in February in all regions but the West، while the increase was led by a 6.5% advance in the Northeast. However، on an unadjusted basis، contract signings were down 21.1% from a year ago. 

There are some other signs the residential real estate sector is feeling a reprieve. Separate data last week showed sales of previously owned homes surged by the most since mid-2020 in February، ending a year-long decline. It also pointed to the first decline in pre-owned home prices in more than a decade.

The pending home sales report is often seen as a leading indicator of existing home sales given homes typically go under contract a month or two before they’re sold.