Cory Thompson

Mid America Mortgage, Inc.

  • Home
  • About
    • About Cory
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Texas Recovery Fund Notice
  • Blog
  • Mortgage Info
    • First Time Seller Tips
    • First Time Buyer Tips
    • Loan Programs
    • Home Appraisal
    • Loan Checklist
    • Loan Process
    • Mortgage FAQ
    • Mortgage Glossary
    • What to Expect at a Loan Closing: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • Zillow Reviews
  • Pre-Qualify
  • Contact

Cory Thompson April 22, 2016

Existing Home Sales Jump, Builder Confidence Holds Steady

Home buyers kicked the spring home shopping season into gear and boosted sales of pre-owned homes in March. Existing home sales rose 5.10 percent in March according to the National Association of Realtors®. 5.33 million pre-owned homes were sold in March against expectations of 5.30 million sales and February’s reading of 5.07 million sales on a seasonally adjusted annual basis.

Demand for homes remains strong in spite of rapidly escalating prices in many areas. Short supplies of available homes continue to drive demand and home prices. Sales rose only 1.50 percent year-over-year, but during the first quarter of 2016, existing home sales rose by 4.80 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2015. Sales were 11.11 percent higher in the Northeast, which was a notable improvement over lagging sales in recent months.

There was a 4.50 month supply of available homes in March and the median price of an existing home rose 5.70 percent to $222,700. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted that the annual increase in home prices was more than twice the rate of average wage increases. First-time home buyers represented 30 percent of buyers in March; this was the same percentage as February. First-time and moderate income buyers continue to face challenges due to rapidly rising home prices competition for available homes.

NAHB: Home Builder Confidence Unchanged in March

According to the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index for March, home builder confidence remained at 58 for the third consecutive months. Any reading over 50 indicates that more builders are confident about current market conditions than not.

Builder confidence in current market conditions fell two points to 63 while builder confidence rose 1 point to 62 for market conditions in the next six months. Builder confidence in buyer traffic for new home developments also rose one point to 44. Readings for buyer traffic have not exceeded 50 for approximately 10 years. NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz characterized home builder sentiment as “cautiously optimistic.”

Challenges facing home builders include a short supply of labor; the number of job vacancies reached a post-recession high in February. All four regional builder confidence readings declined in April; the Northeast lost two points for a reading of 44. The Midwest and South each lost one point for readings of 57 and 58 respectively. The Western region posted a loss of two points for a reading of 67.

Filed Under: Financial Reports Tagged With: Financial Reports, Home Rates, Home Sales

Cory Thompson

Cory Thompson


Mortgage Loan Originator
Mobile 832.347.1855
Office 281.218.0505

NMLS ID 225056

Legend Lending

Connect with Me

Let’s Keep In Touch!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent Posts

  • What Every Homebuyer Should Know About How Are Property Taxes Calculated
  • Sweet Loans for Every Taste: Which Mortgage Treat Is Right for You?
  • Is Owner Financing Your Home the Smartest Move?
  • What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 27th, 2025

Equal Housing Lender

© 2024 Legend Lending Corporation NMLS 229421 | Texas Recovery Fund Notice  | NMLS Consumer Access | Privacy Notice | Legal | Licensing

Our Location


Legend Lending
17047 El Camino Real Ste 150
Houston, TX 77058

Return to top of page

Copyright © 2025 Cory Thompson. All rights reserved.   Log In