Single-family existing-home sales fell 2.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.86 million units in June from a pace of 4.99 million in May, and are 15.5% lower than the 5.75 million-unit rate in June 2007, according to yesterdays National Association of Realtors release.
However, the association said it expects the enactment of a homebuyer tax credit to bring more first-time buyers into the market.
Sales of previously owned homes fell from a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.40 million in May to 4.27 million in June. Sales were off by 15% since June 2007, and the median price of a single-family home was down 6.7% from that of a year earlier, to $213,800.
Congress is expected to send a major housing bill to the president later this week that contains a $7,500 first-time homebuyer tax credit.
"With many potential first-time homebuyers on the sidelines, a first-time homebuyers' tax credit would have a significant positive impact on both housing and the economy," NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said.
The tax credit is refundable, and it works like an interest-free loan the homebuyer has to pay back in 15 years.
