Home sales rose in July for the first time in five months

Closed sales of previously owned homes rose 1.3% in July compared with June to a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of 3.95 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors. That was the first gain in five months.

Sales were 2.5% lower compared with the same time last year.

Sales saw the biggest gains in the Northeast and were flat in the Midwest. Prices also rose the most in the Northeast.

"Despite the modest gain, home sales are still sluggish," said Lawrence Yun, the NAR's chief economist, in a release. "But consumers are definitely seeing more choices, and affordability is improving due to lower interest rates."

These sales are based on contracts that were likely signed in May and June, when mortgage rates were well over 7% on the popular 30-year fixed loan. Rates began dropping in July and are now hovering around 6.5%.

All-cash offers made up 27% of July sales, up from 26% the year before and far higher than the historical norm.

The supply of homes for sale continued to move higher in July. At the end of the month, there were 1.33 million houses on the market, an increase of 0.8% from June and 19.8% higher than in July 2023. At the current sales pace, that represents a four-month supply, slightly lower than it was in June.

The increase in supply did not, however, help to cool home prices. The median price of an existing home sold in July was $442,600, an increase of 4.2% year over year.

First-time buyers made up 29% of sales in July, unchanged from June but down from 30% in July 2023. Historically, these buyers make up closer to 40% of home sales, but affordability has been hit hard in the last two years due to fast-rising home prices and higher mortgage rates.

With rates now slightly lower, demand is