The pace of new multifamily construction, however, jumped, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  

At the same time, the median existing-home price rose 13.4% year over year to $416,000. 

Nationwide, sales hit their highest level of the year, rising 4.7% from June but falling 17.6% on a year-over-year basis, RE/MAX said.

July saw the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index post its second-largest monthly drop ever, as worries about housing affordability dampened builder sentiment. 

The latest data from NWMLS shows a real estate market shifting to something that resembles normalcy after years of a frenzied sellers’ market.

What does the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index show about Seattle real estate?

The increase ends a six-month string of monthly declines, the National Association of REALTORS® said.

New-home inventory rose to 444,000 homes in May from 437,000 homes in April, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported.  

Meanwhile, existing-home sales slid 3.4% from April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.41 million, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. 

Nationwide, sales fell 8.5% annually and rose 5.8% monthly, as rising interest rates and home prices weighed on homebuyers’ purchasing power, RE/MAX said.

New-home completions rose during the month, however, with the increased inventory representing a rare bright spot in an otherwise gloomy government report. 

Active listings in May were the highest in 18 months, according to the latest Northwest MLS housing activity report.

Nationally, the index posted its highest annual increase ever.

Nevertheless, home prices are expected to continue rising through the end of the year, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. 

The rate of new single-family home sales fell 16.6% from March’s revised number, while the median sales price jumped to $450,600 from March’s revised median house price of $435,000. 

Seattle’s median home price hit a new high, while total transactions and inventory improved from month to month.