In response, builders have offered various incentives to stimulate demand and clear inventory, particularly for homes priced between $150,000 and $500,000, which have attracted the attention of potential buyers.
Additionally, builders have taken measures such as offering preferential loan rates and reducing material costs to make housing more affordable for a wider range of buyers.
In fact, September's sales of new homes increased by 33.9% compared to the same period last year, with noticeable growth in sales in regions such as the Northeast, South, and West. This indicates a continued strong demand in the new home market, drawing widespread attention in different areas.
However, unlike the new home market, the number of resales reached a 13-year low. This is primarily due to the sharp increase in mortgage rates, which directly affected homeowners' willingness to move and also dampened the enthusiasm of first-time homebuyers. This phenomenon has raised concerns within the industry as the sluggishness in the existing home market may impact the overall real estate market.
Although the construction of single-family homes and the issuance of building permits saw an increase in September, builder confidence has declined for three consecutive months.
In fact, the report from the National Association of Home Builders indicates that about a third of builders have resorted to price reductions, with an average discount of 6%, the highest rate in 10 months. These signs suggest that builders are adopting a cautious stance regarding the future prospects of the real estate market, casting a shadow over the new home market as well.