US Existing Home Rebound Less than Expected

2026-05-11 14:09 By Andre Joaquim 1 min. read

Existing home sales in the United States inched higher by 0.2% from the seven-month low in the previous month to an annualized rate of 4.02 million units in April of 2026.

The result was slightly below expectations 4.05 million units sold, pressured by higher mortgage rates after the surge in energy prices drove long-term Treasury yields to increase.

Sales fell sharply in the West (-2.6% to 750 thousand), offsetting an increase in the Midwest (2.2% to 950 thousand).

Inventory grew by 5.8% to 1.47 million, equivalent to 4.4 months of supply.

Still, the NAR saw the result as optimistic.

“Despite mixed macroeconomic signals—including a record-high stock market and historically low consumer confidence—home sales were modestly boosted by the continued improvement in housing affordability,” said NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun.

“Mortgage rates are lower from a year ago, and average income growth is outpacing home price gains.”



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