Sales of new U.S. homes top forecast in September

U.S. New-Home Sales Top Forecast With Best Pace Since March.

- Sales of new U.S. homes increased in September to the highest level in six months, underscoring solid underlying demand.

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Purchases of new single-family homes increased 14% to an 800,000 annualized pace after a downwardly revised 702,000 rate in August, government data showed Tuesday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 756,000 rate.

The figures suggest demand is stabilizing after high prices and a lack of inventory pushed the pace of contract signings below pre-pandemic levels in recent months. However, headwinds remain as rising supply chain and labor challenges slow construction and ongoing mortgage rates weigh on homebuyer affordability.

Quarterly home orders at PulteGroup Inc. missed estimates, the Atlanta-based builder said earlier on Tuesday. Pulte, faced with a backlog of contracts, have slowed sales while it catches up on production.

The housing industry continues to experience robust demand, but significant disruptions in the manufacture and supply of many building products are extending overall build cycles, Ryan Marshall, Pulte's chief executive officer, said in a statement.

The report, produced by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, showed that the median sales price of a new home jumped 18.7% from a year ago to a record $408,800. The increase reflected a pickup in sales of homes priced at least $300,000.

As of September 29 there were 379,000 new homes for sale, unchanged from a month earlier. At current sales pace, it would take 5.7 months to exhaust the supply of new homes, compared with 3.5 months a year ago.

Of the homes sold in September, almost one third had yet to be started, though the report showed an increase in purchases of already completed dwellings.

Sales rose in three of four regions, led by sharp gains in the Northeast and South.

Separate data out last week showed purchases of previously owned homes, which account for the majority of the market, jumped by the most in a year last month, underscoring the strength of underlying demand.

New home purchases account for about 10% of the market and are calculated when contracts are signed. They are considered a timelier barometer than purchases of previously owned homes, which are calculated when contracts close.

However, the monthly data are volatile. The report showed 90% confidence the change in sales ranged from a 3.9% decline to a 31.9% increase.

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