Existing-home sales increased by 5.1% in December, with a total of 4.35 million units sold. Median existing-home price reached $405,400, up 0.4% from last year. The South led the way with a 6.9% increase in sales, while the West saw a 6.6% increase. Mortgage rates averaged 6.19% in December, down from the previous year. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted that despite challenges in 2025, December saw the strongest home sales in nearly three years. Inventory remains tight, but more homes are expected to come to market in February. Existing-home sales make up over 90% of total home sales and are based on a significant data sample of about 40% of multiple listing service data each month. The annual rate for a specific month represents what the total number of actual sales for a year would be if the relative pace for that month continued for 12 consecutive months. Seasonally adjusted annual rates account for variations in resale activity due to weather and family buying patterns. Single-family and condo data collection began in different years but were combined in 1999. Median prices are a more accurate reflection of market conditions than average prices. Condo prices are typically higher than single-family home prices nationally, but the opposite is often true in specific metro areas.

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