Despite a slowdown in single-family construction activity, newly built homes are becoming increasingly accessible to American buyers, in terms of both availability and affordability. According to data from the New-Construction Insights report released by Realtor.com, in the second quarter

Signed contracts declined despite lower interest rates and improved affordability and inventory, the National Association of REALTORS® said.   

The pace of home-price appreciation declined to its slowest pace in two years, according to the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index. 

The upside surprise came despite monthly and yearly declines in the pace of sales. 

Nationally, home sales rose 0.6% year over year but slid 0.7% month over month, RE/MAX said. 

The association said the housing market is making a definitive swing back in the direction of the buyer thanks to wage growth, slowing home-price gains and rising inventory. 

The single-family sector managed to eke out a slight monthly gain, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index slid a point to 32, reflecting ongoing negative sentiment in the homebuilding industry. 

The gain in the average buyer’s agent commission is the third quarterly increase since the National Association of REALTORS® changed its commission rules last August. 

NAR’s report — which surveyed nearly 5,000 Realtor members — also found that the typical agent took on 10 transactions in 2024, the same as a year prior.

As the spring homebuying season ended, U.S. home price growth softened significantly, opening the door to improved affordability.

Home-purchase activity remained elevated from 2024, but a cloudy economic outlook has deterred some would-be homebuyers. 

After years of fast-paced home sales, tight inventory and relentless price growth, the U.S. housing market may finally be entering a new chapter.

The law helps delinquent VA borrowers and allows them to pay buyer-agent commissions when house shopping. 

Geographically, the only region to post a monthly increase in pending sales was the Northeast, where they rose 2.1%, according to NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index.

Nationally, the pace of home-price appreciation declined to its slowest pace in almost two years, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index.