Existing-home
sales seemed to have reclaimed their footing, posting their second consecutive
gain after two straight months of declines.
The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) said March sales of
single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and coops rose 1.1 percent compared to
February, putting sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.60 million
units. The March pace
built on a 3.0 percent increase in February, but sales are still down 1.2
percent compared to March 2017. Sales in
February were at a rate of 5.54 million. Analysts
polled by Econoday had expected
existing home sales in the 5.39 to 5.80 range.
The consensus was 5.51 million units.