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(NASDAQ: RDFN) —The median U.S. home-sale price rose 5.1% during the four weeks ending January 21, the biggest increase since October 2022, according to a new from Redfin (), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Asking prices rose 6.5% which is also the biggest increase since October 2022.

Prices are rising for a few reasons. One, inventory is still quite low. The total number of homes for sale is down 4% year over year. And while new listings are up 2%, that’s the smallest annual increase in two months. Additionally, sellers can command higher prices because buyers have more purchasing power; mortgage rates are holding steady in the mid-to-high 6% range, down from 8% in October.

This week’s sales data shows sluggish activity as severe winter weather kept buyers and sellers on the sidelines in much of the country: Pending home sales are down 8% year over year, the biggest decline in four months. The big annual drop in pending sales can also be explained in part by a base effect from last January: Pending sales were improving at this time last year as mortgage rates fell.

While Redfin agents in places that are facing harsh weather report that would-be buyers are staying home (for now), mortgage-purchase applications are rising, and agents in warmer places say demand is picking up:

• “Real estate is usually slow in the Midwest in the winter, but this year it’s even slower than usual because the weather has been so extreme," said Grand Rapids, MI Redfin agent . “Casual house hunters are staying home to avoid the roads—but inventory is low enough that serious buyers are finding a way to see desirable homes. I also believe we’ll get busier as we approach spring. People are used to higher mortgage rates, and they know prices are likely to go up more if they wait.”
• “At the end of 2023, a lot of my clients said, ‘I’ll call you in January.’ And they did. This month has been nonstop,” said , a Redfin agent in Las Vegas. “I wouldn’t say buyers are happy about 6.5% rates, but they’ll accept it because they’ll feel vindicated if rates rise back to 8%, and they can always refinance and avoid future bidding wars if rates drop further. And sellers are coming out of the woodwork, noticing the interest from buyers.”

Leading indicators

Key housing-market data

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About Redfin

Redfin () 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 also run the country's #1 real estate brokerage site. Our home-buying customers see homes first with same day tours, and our lending and title services help them close quickly. Customers selling a home in certain markets can have our renovations crew fix up their home to sell for top dollar. Our rentals business empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Customers who buy and sell with Redfin pay a 1% listing fee, subject to minimums, less than half of what brokerages commonly charge. Since launching in 2006, we've saved customers more than $1.5 billion in commissions. We serve more than 100 markets across the U.S. and Canada and employ over 4,000 people.

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

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