WASHINGTON, USA

SALES of existing homes fell for a third straight month in February, pushing sales down to the lowest level since last July. There is concern the fragile housing rebound is faltering, making it harder for the overall US economy to recover.

The National Association of Realtors said yesterday that sales of previously occupied homes dropped 0.6 per cent in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.02 million.

The weakness in sales depressed prices with the median home price dropping almost two per cent from a year ago to US$165,100.

Sales activity varied across the country. In the Midwest, sales jumped almost three per cent, and were up more than two per cent in the Northeast. In the South, sales fell about one per cent, and were down almost 5 per cent in the West.

“A number of housing markets may be stabilising or starting to rebound, though we do not yet see, in many respects, a sustained nationwide recovery,” said Jeffrey Mezger, president and chief executive officer, of KB Home, which builds homes in 10 states. The company reported a US$55-million quarterly loss yesterday.

In fact, sales nationally have been declining since November, eroding gains made over the summer. The downward direction troubled economists because the government has taken unprecedented steps to support the housing sector.

To keep mortgage rates low, the Federal Reserve has spent almost US$1.25 trillion. In addition, Congress extended a deadline for homebuyers to qualify for tax credits. Both programmrs are set to end soon.

High unemployment and tough lending standards appear to be holding buyers back. That could derail housing as it tries to emerge from the worst downturn in decades and harm the overall economy.

“Until job growth resumes, housing demand will remain weak and susceptible to another lurch down when the homebuyer tax credit expires in April,” said Sal Guatieri, an economist at BMO Capital Markets. Last month, the inventory of unsold homes jumped by 312,000 to 3.59 million, an unusually large increase that pushed the supply of unsold homes to 8.6 months.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the Realtors, called that increase “discomforting” and said if it climbs above 10 month’s supply it could put significant downward pressure on prices.

There is a US$8,000 credit for first-time buyers and a US$6,500 credit for current homeowners who have lived in their property for the past

five years.

Buyers must sign sales contracts by the end of April and complete their purchases by the end of June to qualify for the tax credits. So far, however, there has been little indication that the tax credit extension is generating much activity.

“In recent months, sales have reversed the bulk of the increase driven by the first round of the tax credit,” said Paul Dales, an economist with Capital Economics.

——————————– AP