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M REPORT | 53 O R I G I NAT I O N S E R V I C I N G DATA G O V E R N M E N T S E C O N DA R Y M A R K E T THE LATEST DATA Pending Home Sales Rebound in August After two months of declines, pending home sales found their way onto the path to recovery at the end of Q3 2021. T he National Association of Realtors (NAR) has reported that pending home sales rebounded in August, recording significant gains after two prior months of declines, according to its latest Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) measuring data from August 2021. Each of the four major U.S. regions mounted month-over- month growth in contract activity; however, those same territories reported decreases in transac- tions year over year, with the Northeast being hit hardest with a double-digit drop. NAR's PHSI, a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings, increased 8.1% to 119.5 in August, as year-over-year signings dipped 8.3%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001. "Rising inventory and moderating price conditions are bringing buyers back to the market," said Lawrence Yun, NAR's Chief Economist. "Affordability, however, remains challenging as home price gains are roughly three times wage growth." Month over month, the Northeast PHSI rose 4.6% to 96.2 in August, a 15.8% drop from a year ago. In the Midwest, the Index climbed 10.4% to 115.4 last month, down 5.9% from August 2020. Pending home sale transac- tions in the South increased 8.6% to an Index of 141.8 in August, down 6.3% from August 2020. The Index in the West grew 7.2% in August to 107.0; however, still down 9.2% from a year prior. "The more moderately priced regions of the South and Midwest are experiencing stronger signing of contracts to buy, which is not surprising," Yun said. "This can be attributed to some employees who have the flexibility to work from anywhere, as they choose to reside in more affordable places." Affordability continues to elude many, as a recent report by ATTOM found that U.S. homes were less affordable in Q 3 compared to past years, with homes being less affordable in 75% of the counties ATTOM surveyed. This total was up from 56% during the same period in 2020, and represents the highest level of unaffordability since 2008 since wages have largely remained stagnant for years. "Real estate markets are moving toward a new equilibrium, as the pandemic frenzy to find a more spacious home in greener suburbs and lock in historically-low rates has given way to a more tem- pered search for affordability," Realtor.com Manager of Economic Research George Ratiu noted. "Record-high prices are motivating buyers to be more selective, and with monetary tightening expect- ed to push rates higher, buyers are likely to become even more cost-conscious. The days of liberal price-escalation clauses, home inspection waivers and dozens of multiple bids are likely behind us, as the share of homes for sale with price reductions is growing. For millennials and other first- time buyers, today's markets are signaling a return toward seasonal trends, as improvements in the number of available homes-for-sale are tamping down the unsustain- able price trajectory of the last 12 months. A more measured pace of price appreciation is good news for millions of first-time buyers who felt locked-out of the housing market earlier this year." Data compiled by Realtor. com Economic Research Analyst Nicolas Bedo and Chief Economist Danielle Hale in their "Hottest Housing Markets" reports revealed that, out of the largest 40 metros, the most im- proved metros over the past year, as of September 27, were: • Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida • Tampa-St. Petersburg- Clearwater, Florida • Nashville-Davidson- Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee • Jacksonville, Florida • Austin-Round Rock, Texas "Weekly mortgage applica- tions data also signal increasing demand," First American Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi said. "For the week of September 24, the most recent week of data available, seasonally-adjusted pur- chase applications are 6.3% higher than two years ago (2020 is not a good benchmark). This is a strong purchase market and the uptick in inventory is bringing back some buyers who pulled back during peak frenzy."