November Home Sales Lose Momentum as Inventory Tightens

The U.S. housing market showed renewed signs of strain in November as higher home prices, elevated mortgage rates, and a pullback in listings continued to pressure buyers. New data from the National Association of Realtors shows that existing-home sales made only modest gains while inventory slipped at a critical point in the year.

Sales of previously owned homes rose just half a percent from October and were still 1% lower than a year earlier, coming in at an annual pace of 4.13 million homes. Because these figures are based on completed closings, they reflect buyer activity from early fall, when mortgage rates briefly eased before settling back into a narrow range.

Housing supply, which had been improving for much of 2025, moved in the opposite direction in November. Total inventory fell to 1.43 million homes, down nearly 6% from October, though still higher than last year. At the current pace of sales, that equals about a 4.2-month supply—well below the six months typically associated with a balanced market.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR, said inventory growth is starting to stall. With homeowners sitting on strong equity and distressed sales remaining rare, many sellers see little reason to list during the winter months.

More sellers also chose to pull listings after weeks without offers, especially in higher-priced markets. That pullback helped keep prices firm. The median existing-home price reached $409,200 in November, up 1.2% from a year earlier and the highest November level on record.

The price mix continues to shift. Sales of lower-priced homes declined sharply, while properties priced above one million dollars saw increased activity. That trend shows higher-end buyers remain more resilient, while affordability continues to limit entry-level demand.

Homes also took longer to sell, averaging 36 days on the market compared with 32 days last year. First-time buyers made up just 30% of purchases, well below historical norms. At the same time, investors increased their share of the market, accounting for 18% of sales as rental demand stayed strong.

While wage growth has helped on paper, affordability remains tight. Until inventory grows or mortgage rates fall further, the slow pace seen in November may carry into early 2026. For direct financing consultations or mortgage options for you visit 👉 Nadlan Capital Group.

🔍 If you’re looking to get the best possible mortgage in the U.S. for Foreign Nationals and Americans, and want to run an auction between more than 3,000+ lenders, click here👇

Creative Financing – Nadlan Capital Financing for Foreign Nationals & Americans

Continue reading on our site:

https://www.forumnadlanusa.com/2025/12/november-home-sales-lose-momentum-as-inventory-tightens/

#HousingMarket

#HomeSales

#RealEstateTrends

#HousingInventory

#Affordability