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Pending Home Sales in U.S. Increase in March

Pending Home Sales in U.S. Increase in March

Residential News » Washington D.C. Edition | By WPJ Staff | May 1, 2025 6:03 AM ET


Strongest month-over-month gain in 2 Years, but flat annually

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), U.S. pending home sales jumped 6.1% in March 2025 -- the largest month-over-month increase since December 2023, when they rose 7.0%. Regionally, the Northeast saw a slight decline in transactions, while the Midwest, South, and West posted gains, with the South experiencing the most significant growth. Compared to a year ago, contract signings were up in the Midwest but declined in the Northeast, South, and West, with the Northeast showing the steepest drop.

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) -- a leading indicator of future home sales based on contract signings -- increased to 76.5 in March, up 6.1% from the previous month. However, on a year-over-year basis, pending transactions were down 0.6%. A PHSI level of 100 corresponds to contract activity in 2001.

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Lawrence Yun

"Homebuyers are highly responsive to even small changes in mortgage rates," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "While not every signed contract results in a closing, this strong uptick in pending sales signals a growing pool of prospective buyers, driven by steady job gains."

Yun added, "Spring typically brings more activity to the housing market compared to the winter. In March, non-seasonally adjusted contract signings rose 34.1% from February--mirroring trends seen in past years. Inventory also increased 8.1% month-over-month, suggesting a more active and competitive housing market."

Mortgage rates declined by approximately 20 to 30 basis points in March compared to earlier in the year. The average mortgage rate was 6.65% in March, down from 6.96% in January and 6.84% in February.

Regional Highlights - March 2025

  • Northeast: The PHSI slipped 0.5% to 62.5, a 3.0% decrease from March 2024.
  • Midwest: The index rose 4.9% to 77.7, up 1.4% from a year ago.
  • South: Pending sales surged 9.8% to 94.1, though slightly down 0.4% year-over-year.
  • West: The index increased 4.8% to 58.6, but was still 2.0% lower than March 2024.


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