One-Third of Houses For Sale Are Newly Built, Just Shy of the Record High

Rhea-AI Summary

Redfin's latest report reveals that 33.4% of single-family homes for sale in the U.S. during Q1 were newly built, a figure almost unchanged from last year but still nearly double pre-pandemic levels. The pandemic-led surge in home construction continues to influence the market, although the peak was reached two years ago at 34.5%. High mortgage rates have deterred existing homeowners from selling, reducing the supply of pre-owned homes. Builders, in reaction to current market conditions, are pricing new homes more competitively and offering incentives like mortgage-rate buydowns.

Positive

• 33.4% of single-family homes for sale in Q1 were newly built, maintaining high availability in the market.
• New home construction remains nearly double the pre-pandemic rate, reflecting strong builder activity.
• Builders are providing incentives like mortgage-rate buydowns to attract buyers, making new homes more competitive.
• The supply of newly built homes offers a relief amid the low availability of existing homes for sale.

Negative

• The share of newly built homes for sale has slightly declined from its peak of 34.5% two years ago.
• High mortgage rates have led to a drop in the supply of existing homes, limiting options for buyers.
• Builders are still attempting to sell off homes started in 2021 and 2022, indicating a potential oversupply.

Redfin reports the share of houses for sale that are brand new is hovering at a level that’s nearly double the pre-pandemic rate

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- (NASDAQ: RDFN) — One-third (33.4%) of single-family homes for sale in the U.S. in the first quarter were newly built, essentially unchanged from a year earlier but down from a record-high 34.5% two years earlier. That is according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.

The portion of housing supply that’s newly built is still roughly double pre-pandemic levels.

Newly built homes have taken up an outsized portion of inventory since the pandemic homebuying boom sent builders into overdrive. There are two main reasons for that:

• Homebuilding has shot up. Construction of U.S. homes soared at the start of the pandemic, with builders responding to sky-high homebuying demand brought on by remote work and rock-bottom mortgage rates, and single-family housing starts are still sitting at significantly higher levels than pre-2020.
• The supply of existing homes for sale has dropped. Homeowners are staying put because mortgage rates hit a two-decade high last year, and they’re still elevated far above pre-pandemic and pandemic levels. Many would-be sellers are opting to hang onto their low rate instead of moving and taking on a new one.

“We have a fair amount of new-construction homes for sale, and thank goodness we do,” said Nicole Dege, a Redfin Premier agent in Orlando, FL. “Buyers are having a hard time finding single-family homes in their budget because not many homeowners are letting go of their houses, and those who are listing tend to price high because they haven’t come to terms with the fact that prices have come down from their 2022 peak. Builders have a better understanding of the current market, so they’re pricing fairly, offering mortgage-rate buydowns and providing other concessions to attract buyers.”

The share of for-sale supply that’s newly built has declined slightly from its 2022 peak because total inventory has crept up from last year’s historic lows as more homeowners list their existing homes. At the same time, builders have eased up slightly on housing starts due to high mortgage rates and dampened demand. Many of them are still trying to offload the glut of homes they started developing in 2021 and 2022: For new-construction homes, there were 8.3 months of supply on the market nationwide in March, compared to 3.2 months for existing homes.

To view the full report, including a chart, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/news/new-construction-homes-one-third-of-inventory-2024

About Redfin

Redfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate company. We help people find a place to live with brokerage, rentals, lending, title insurance, and renovations services. We run the country's #1 real estate brokerage site. Our customers can save thousands in fees while working with a top agent. Our home-buying customers see homes first with on-demand tours, and our lending and title services help them close quickly. Customers selling a home can have our renovations crew fix it up to sell for top dollar. Our rentals business empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Since launching in 2006, we've saved customers more than $1.6 billion in commissions. We serve more than 100 markets across the U.S. and Canada and employ over 4,000 people.

Redfin’s subsidiaries and affiliated brands include: Bay Equity Home Loans®, Rent.™, Apartment Guide®, Title Forward® and WalkScore®.

For more information or to contact a local Redfin real estate agent, visit www.redfin.com. To learn about housing market trends and download data, visit the Redfin Data Center. To be added to Redfin's press release distribution list, email press@redfin.com. To view Redfin's press center, click here.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240520303209/en/

Redfin Journalist Services:

Ally Braun, 206-588-6863

press@redfin.com

Source: Redfin

FAQ

What percentage of homes for sale are newly built according to Redfin?

33.4% of single-family homes for sale in the first quarter were newly built.

How does the current percentage of newly built homes for sale compare to pre-pandemic levels?

The current percentage is nearly double pre-pandemic levels.

What was the record high percentage of newly built homes for sale?

The record high was 34.5% two years ago.

Why are newly built homes taking up a larger portion of the inventory?

High homebuilding rates during the pandemic and a drop in the supply of existing homes for sale are key reasons.

What incentives are builders offering to attract buyers?

Builders are offering mortgage-rate buydowns and other concessions to attract buyers.

How has the supply of newly built homes changed recently?

The supply has slightly declined from its peak, but remains significant compared to historical levels.