The sales pace of new homes sold in October was virtually unchanged from the month before, according to estimates jointly released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Sales were down 0.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 368,000, but remain 17.2 percent above last year’s estimate of 314,000. The month’s totals were affected by a significant drop in activity in the Northeast, which was hit by Hurricane Sandy. The median sales price of new houses sold in October was $237,700; the average sales price was $278,900. Also, there was a 4.8 month supply of new homes available for sale at the end of the month. More here and here.
