New home sales rose 27 percent in March to a seasonally
adjusted annual sales rate of 411,000, according to the Commerce Department.
The figures, up from 234,000 in February, represent the largest monthly
increase in 47 years.
At the same
time median sales prices fell to $214,000. While these prices were 4 percent
higher than last year, they were down 3 percent from February.
Economists
said the spike was most likely tied to the $8,000 tax credit for first-time
buyers and $6,500 credit for current homeowners who move into another property.
Regionally,
sales jumped 44 percent in the South, 36 percent in the Northeast, 6 percent in
the West, and 3 percent in the Midwest. The
existing inventory of new homes fell 2 percent in March to 228,000.
Fueled by tax credit, new home sales rise 27 percent
April 23, 2010
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