Skip to Content

Autoblog reviews all the hottest cars

Homes sales jump 9.4% in September

More
Text SizeAAA

Filed under: Real Estate

September homes sales jumped 9.4% to the highest level in two years, according to the National Association of Realtors, as home buyers took advantage of low prices to qualify for the first-time home buyer tax credit which is scheduled to expire in December -- although it seems likely to be extended in some form.

According to The Associated Press, "The National Association of Realtors said Friday that sales rose 9.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million in September, from a downwardly revised pace of 5.1 million in August. Sales had been expected to rise to an annual pace of 5.35 million, according to economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters."

Stabilization in housing -- if it indeed that and not just the mother of all head fakes -- is good for the broader economy, but the housing bust has also created fantastic opportunities for first-time buyers. According to an upcoming report from NAR, first-time buyers accounted for an astounded 45% of all home sales over the past year.

"The current housing supply is the lowest we've seen in two and a half years," NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. "If we could continue to absorb inventory at this pace, home prices would return to normal, modest appreciation patterns next year."

But keep this in mind: The National Association of Realtors is a trade group and Lawrence Yun is one of the four or five dumbest people in America and has been wrong about everything that he's ever said in his entire life.
Subscribe to Walletpop

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.

Vote Now For the Readers' Choice Best in Food Awards
Nominations have been received and vetted for the best-of-breed in gourmet grocers, online gourmet ...
Zingerman's Bakehouse: Artisan Bread and Pastry from Ann Arbor
Zingerman's Bakehouse of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is nominated for a Luxist Award in the best bread ...

Mortgage Basics

Jason Cochran
Jason Cochran Filed under: Bargains, Extracurriculars, Transportation, Travel, Celebs & Money

On board the new Oasis of the Seas: Is it worth the money?

So here I am, writing this from off the coast of Florida as part of the first two-day preview cruise of the magnificent Oasis of the Seas. Royal Caribbean has launched the largest cruise ship in the ...
Geoff Williams
Geoff Williams Filed under: Credit cards

Citigroup holds its customers hostage

Across the nation, Citibank credit card holders are receiving what pretty much amounts to a ransom note: We're going to raise your rates, says the letter, in so many words, but if you spend more ...
Bonnie McCarthy
Bonnie McCarthy Filed under: Budgets, Kids and Money, Saving Money, Technology

Family budgets: Make movie night safe again with family-friendly review sites

Around my house, we don't make the decision to pile into the car and head over to our local Cineplex as easily as we once did. It costs a lot of money these days to see talking animals, wild things ...
Madhusmita Bora
Madhusmita Bora Filed under: Transportation

Shop the friendly skies? The airlines are hoping you'll buy while in the sky

Along with sandwiches and soda, you may one day be able to buy tickets to Lion King and Animal Kingdom while cruising 35,000 feet above ground. A New York Times story reported that the airline ...

Featured Partner

What is Your Home Worth?



Headlines from WalletPop Partners