Realtors Pare Sales Estimates; Temporary Factors Help Rates; What’s a Short Squeeze?

Realtors Pare Sales Estimates; Temporary Factors Help Rates; What’s a Short Squeeze?

In the face of continuing inventory shortages, declining consumer sentiment in favor of buying a home, and concern about the homeownership impacts of the 2017 tax cut bill, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) has revised down, albeit only slightly, its forecast for home sales this year. Chief Economist Lawrence Yun told Realtors attending NAR's Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo that, after accelerating 3.8 percent in 2016, existing home sales rose only 1.1 percent to 5.5 million in 2017. He forecasts they will finish this year around 5.6 million, a gain of 1.8 percent. In his initial 2018 forecast last November Yun said he expected sales to increase by 3.7 percent to 5.67 million units. Looking further into the future, he sees 2019 sales totaling 5.7 million existing homes.