Cracks Begin Appearing in Housing Market as Sellers Lower Asking Prices

As discussed in March, Housing Affordability Is About To Crash The Most On Record and Biggest Housing Affordability Shock In History Incoming,new data suggests that the red-hot housing market is beginning to crack as new listings increase and sellers reduce asking prices.

Realtor.com reports new listings last week rose 8% from a year ago. This comes after four consecutive weeks of annual declines in listings. There is still a housing market shortage as active inventory for sale is down 13% from a year ago but could soon reverse as more supply is added. Seasonal trends show new listings peak around May.

As more supply comes online and soaring mortgage rates spark an affordability crisis, in a separate report, Redfin notes that sellers are lowering their asking prices. About 12% of home sales had a price drop during the four weeks ending April 3. That’s a 9% increase compared to the same period a year ago. The rate of sellers dropping their asking prices is accelerating.