Benzinga - by AJ Fabino, Benzinga Staff Writer.
The siren song of homeownership has hit a sour note for many prospective buyers.
The nationwide median home-sale price has surged to an eye-watering $380,000, according to a Thursday Redfin Corp (NASDAQ:RDFN) report, reflecting a 5% year-over-year increase — the most substantial uptick in almost a year.
The rising tide of home prices, propelled by a severe lack of inventory, swelled the typical monthly mortgage payment to an all-time high of $2,649, Redfin said.
Here’s a look into the data and its implications for the housing market and key players like Rocket Companies Inc (NYSE:RKT), Lennar Corp (NYSE:LEN) and Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC).
The Redfin Data: A severe inventory shortage is driving the price surge, Redfin noted, as new listings are down 10% while the total number of U.S. homes for sale plummeted 19%. The lock-in effect is keeping homeowners in place, as they don't want to part with their low mortgage rates, most of which are below 6%. Current rates are climbing toward 8%.
Notably, pending sales declined 14%, Redfin said, and mortgage-purchase applications dipped 27%, implying a smaller pool of potential borrowers for lenders like JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM).
Read also: ZenniHome Wants To Solve Affordable Housing Crisis
Despite sluggish demand, there is competition persisting for the few available homes. It's a double-edged sword for mortgage originators like Ocwen Financial Corp (NYSE:OCN), whose revenues are likely to be affected by fewer mortgage applications.
Miami An Outlier: While nationwide trends are significant, the Miami real estate market is charting its own course. With a staggering 17% year-over-year increase in median home-sale prices, the metro area is in a league of its own.
A combination of supply shortage and influx of cash-rich out-of-town buyers is fueling the unique situation. That resilience could be an appealing factor for home builders like PulteGroup, Inc (NYSE:PHM) considering the market’s resistance to broader economic trends and its allure for wealthy buyers.
The Last Word: Continued inventory shortages and climbing mortgage rates are signaling a cautionary note in the sector, but as Miami’s market shows, local factors can buck the trend. The data sends mixed signals for companies like Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC), who are deeply embedded in the home loan ecosystem.
Read next: Lowe’s Earnings Shed Light On Housing Trends As Sales Drop
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