Following historic seasonal trends, October home sales edged 2.8% lower than September, but still pushed 2.2% higher than sales in October 2012. Median home prices were 11.9% above prices seen last October.  October becomes the 21^st month to experience year-over-year increases in both sales and prices. The Median Price of all homes sold in October was $179,950.  Inventories of homes for sale were 12.2% lower than the levels in October last year. For the last 29 months in a row, inventories have declined at a slower rate. The October inventory drop is half of the annual loss seen as recently as June. At the current rate of sales, the number of months required to sell the entire inventory of homes on the market was 4.9. A 6-month supply is recognized as a balanced market with an equal number of buyers and sellers.

"What we're seeing now are predictable seasonal cycles, which is just another sign that the housing recovery is bringing us back to a more normal market," said Margaret Kelly, RE/MAX CEO. "Home sales are expected to slow down during the holidays and winter months before returning to the next growth cycle in the spring." 

Transactions – Year-Over-Year Change
The October RE/MAX National Housing Report found a 2.8% monthly decrease in sales, but also found a 2.2% increase from sales in October last year. October becomes the 28^th consecutive month reporting higher sales than the same month in the previous year. For the most part, normal seasonal trends are responsible for slowing month-to-month changes in home sales. Of the 52 metro areas surveyed in October, 35 reported higher sales than in October 2012, with 19 reporting double-digit gains, including: New York, NY +32.6%, Trenton, NJ +32.5%, Anchorage, AK +24.2%, Philadelphia, PA +18.2%, Wilmington, DE+18.1%, and Manchester, NH +17.1%. 

Median Sales Price 
In October, the Median Price of all homes sold was $179,950. This price is a 2.7% drop from the Median Price in September, but an 11.9% increase from the price seen in October last year. For 21 consecutive months the Median Price of a home has been greater than in the same month of the previous year. Home price increases can be tied directly to a low inventory and strong buyer demand. Of the 52 metro areas surveyed in October, 45 experienced higher sales prices than one year ago.  Of those, 19 metro areas reported double-digit increases, including: Detroit, MI +45.2%, Atlanta, GA +37.1%, Las Vegas, NV +31.8%,Orlando, FL +26.5%, San Francisco, CA +23.8% and Phoenix, AZ +23.3%.

Days on Market – Average of 52 Metro Areas
In the month of October, the average number of Days on Market for all homes sold in the 52 surveyed markets was 66. This is one day higher than the average seen in September, but is 16 days lower than the average seen in October 2012. October marks the 17^th consecutive month with an average Days on Market below 90. A low Days on Market average, like 66 seen in October, is the direct result of continued high demand and a reduced inventory of homes for sale. Days on Market is the number of days between when a home is first listed in an MLS and when a sales contract is signed. 

Months Supply of Inventory – Average of 52 Metro Areas
The housing market has been plagued by a low inventory environment, but for 7 consecutive months, inventory has declined at a slower rate than during the same month of the previous year. While not yet adding inventory, the situation is improving. In October, there were 5.1% fewer homes for sale than in September, and 12.2% fewer than in October 2012. At the rate of home sales in October, the Months Supply of inventory was 4.9. Extremely low Months Supply remains in some key markets such as:San Francisco, CA 1.4, Denver, CO 2.3, Los Angeles, CA 2.4, Orlando, FL 2.7, Honolulu, HI 2.8, and San Diego, CA 2.8.