【World Journal Property】U.S. Housing Shortage Increases in March, Driving Prices Up 18 Percent

U.S. property broker Redfin is reporting this week that the median home-sale price increased 18% year over year to $344,625--an all-time high.

Mortgage purchase applications increased 6% week over week (seasonally adjusted). For the week ending April 22, 30-year mortgage rates fell to 2.97%, the lowest level since the week ending February 25.

"There has been an ongoing debate at Redfin about whether fear of coronavirus infection was keeping homeowners from selling. With a third of American adults now fully vaccinated and still hardly any homes being listed for sale, we're close to settling that debate," said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather.

"Homeowners are staying put because if they move and buy another home they will face a very competitive housing market as buyers, and they don't need to sell to take advantage of record low mortgage rates. They can just refinance their current home. On top of that, builders are struggling to construct new homes given an ongoing lumber shortage. Without more homeowners listing, buyers are scrambling to compete for the limited number of homes on the market, which continues to drive prices up to new heights."

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