Existing home sales end 2025 stronger than expected
CNBC • • general
Key Points:
- Sales of previously owned homes in December rose 5.1% from November to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.35 million units, surpassing analysts' expectations and marking the strongest monthly sales in nearly three years.
- Full-year existing home sales in 2025 remained steady at 4.06 million units, unchanged from 2024, with sales increasing annually in the Northeast and Midwest but declining in the South and West.
- The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate during the sales period was between 6.2% and 6.3%, lower than rates near 7% in spring and summer, contributing to improved market conditions in the fourth quarter.
- Inventory dropped 18% from November
