For 1st Time in 3 Years, Inventory of Homes for Sale Increases

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–For the first time since June of 2019, the inventory of homes for sale has increased for the first time, which Realtor.com is calling a “major turning point in inventory.”

The national inventory of active listings increased by 8.0% over last year, while the total inventory of unsold homes, including pending listings, still declined by 3.9% due to a decline in pending inventory, Realtor.com stated.

“The inventory of active listings was down 48.5% compared to May 2020 in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In other words, there are still only half as many homes available,” Realtor.com reported. “

“Sellers are fueling this turnaround in inventory, with newly listed homes entering the market at a rate not seen since 2019,” the analysis continued. “However, moderating demand is also playing a role, with pending listings declining compared to last year. Nonetheless, homes are still spending less time on the market compared to last year and prices are still rising, partially driven by an increase in newly listed larger homes and slow adjustments to seller expectations.”

Nearly 40,000 More Homes

The 8% increase in inventoryamounted to 38,000 more homes actively for sale on a typical day in May compared to the previous year, Realtor.com stated.

“The lagged improvement in the total number of homes for sale is due to moderating buyer demand, spurred by rising interest rates and all-time high listing prices that have increased the cost of financing 80% of the typical home by 48% compared to a year ago.” Realtor.com reported. “The number of pending listings on a typical day (listings that are at various stages of the selling process that are not yet sold), has declined by 12.6% compared to last May, indicating that a moderation in demand is also softening the rate of turnover in inventory. This is a further deceleration from the 8.7% annual decline we reported for April. For homebuyers who are still actively searching for a home, lower competition and more seller activity will provide some relief.”

Additional Data Points

Additional data points released in the most recent report include:

The inventory of homes actively for sale in the 50 largest U.S. metros overall increased by 14.9% over last year in May. In the West, active listings grew most (by +33.6% year-over-year), followed by the South (+18.3%), Midwest (+5.8%), and Northeast (+1.1%). Large western metros saw new listings increase by an average of 7.2% compared to last year and in the South they grew by 6.6%. Northeastern (-1.1% year-over-year) and midwestern (-1.0% year-over-year) large metros were still seeing fewer newly listed homes compared to last year.
Inventory increased in 42 out of 50 of the largest metros compared to last year. Metros which saw the most inventory growth include Austin (+85.8%), Phoenix (+67.1%), and Sacramento (+54.6%). Inventory is still declining on a year-over-year basis in eight markets, with Miami (-32.1%), Virginia Beach (-19.3%), and Richmond (-15.3%) still seeing the largest declines.
Thirty metros also saw the number of newly listed homes increase compared to last year. The markets which saw the highest year-over-year growth in newly listed homes included southern and western metros such as Raleigh (+27.9%), Nashville (+22.4%) and Las Vegas (+20.7%). Markets which are still seeing a decline in newly listed homes compared to last year include Virginia Beach (-15.1%), Chicago (-10.0%), and Cleveland (-9.3%).
The median national home price for active listings grew to a new all-time high of $447,000 in May. This represents an annual growth rate of 17.6%, an acceleration from last month’s growth rate of 14.2%. The median listing price for a typical 2,000 square-foot single family home rose 19.3% compared to last year, also an acceleration from 17.3% last month, Realtor.com reported.

Comments

Why Decision Intelligence Will be What Really Defines the Future of Credit Union Growth

By Alisha Crafton For years, credit union marketing has been built around a familiar formula: understand your members, segment your audiences, develop targeted campaigns, and deliver the right message through the right channel to the right audience. Although that approach still matters, it is relationships that serve as the foundation of the credit union model. The challenge for every credit union is that member expectations, competitive pressures, and technological capabilities are changing rapidly. Members increasingly expect financial institutions to understand their needs, anticipate life events, and provide relevant guidance at the right moment. Meeting those expectations requires more than better campaigns. It requires better decision-making. The future of credit union growth will not be defined by who can create more content, launch more campaigns, or automate more emails. It will be defined by which institutions can interpret information more effectively, identify opportun...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Report Probes Just How Sophisticated and Pervasive Fraud Has Become

BOSTON–Fraud threats facing credit unions are becoming more sophisticated and pervasive as digital banking expands and artificial intelligence tools enable increasingly complex attacks, according to new research and analysis from PYMNTS Intelligence . The report said fraud has evolved from isolated incidents into a “persistent, systemwide threat” that affects every stage of the member journey, from onboarding and authentication to transactions and account servicing. According to the report, fraudsters are increasingly using coordinated, multichannel schemes that challenge traditional fraud detection and response systems. PYMNTS Intelligence said attackers are no longer exploiting single vulnerabilities but are instead orchestrating broader campaigns involving impersonation, credential theft and unauthorized transfers. The Findings Among the report’s findings, according to PYMNTS: One in 10 consumers encountered card fraud during the past year. Most fraud incidents occu...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

NCUA Board Nominee John Crews Moves to Full Senate

WASHINGTON–By a voice vote, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee has advanced to the Senate floor the nomination of John Crews to become the next chairman of NCUA. John Crews “Credit unions thank Chairman Scott and the members of the Senate Banking Committee for advancing John Crews nomination to the NCUA Board,” America’s Credit Unions Chief Advocacy Officer Kathleen Coulombe said in a statement. “We appreciate that the Committee recognizes a robust credit union industry requires a fully staffed NCUA Board and John Crews possesses the necessary experience and knowledge to efficiently lead the NCUA. We urge the Senate to quickly vote to confirm his nomination.” About John Crews Crews is the assistant secretary for financial institutions policy in the Treasury department. Crews was appointed to the position in mid-2025 and has a long history in Washington. Prior to joining the Treasury Department, he served as a policy advisor to Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scal...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Unemployment 101

Unemployment 101 For millions of Americans , the prospect of becoming unemployed is a persistent source of financial anxiety. The US unemployment rate, or the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but aren't currently employed, has long been considered an economic bellwether. Many economists agree that a rate between 4% and 5% is considered healthy. As of June 2026, the US unemployment rate was 4.2%. > Learn how the unemployment rate is calculated. ( More ) > The US Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly jobs report tracks the unemployment rate and more. ( More ) Americans who are unemployed for up to 26 weeks ...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

More Consumers Turning to Digital Wallets to Manage Finances

BOSTON — Consumers facing financial pressure are increasingly turning to digital wallets not only for convenience, but also as a way to better manage their household finances, according to a new report from PYMNTS Intelligence . The report, titled “ The New Checkout: Crimped Consumers Lean Into Online Retail and Digital Wallets, ” is based on a survey of 2,108 U.S. adults and found digital wallet adoption is growing fastest among younger consumers and those experiencing financial stress. According to PYMNTS Intelligence, digital wallets are evolving beyond simple payment tools by offering features such as buy now, pay later options, real-time balance information and spending management tools that help consumers monitor their finances. Source: PYMNTS Intelligence Among consumers experiencing high financial stress, 28% said they used a digital wallet for their most recent retail purchase, compared with 11% of consumers reporting low financial stress. For grocery purchases, 21% of financi...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

2026 Volunteer of the Year Award

www.ncofcu.org/voy ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: Advocacy Annual Conference First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Coffee Consumption Guidance

Most adults can safely drink up to five 8-ounce cups of black coffee per day, and regular consumption may improve cardiovascular health, the American Heart Association said yesterday. An analysis of recent studies suggests that consuming about 400 milligrams of caffeine daily may lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and heart failure. However, because most research is observational, scientists are still unsure why caffeine may benefit heart health. Some studies suggest antioxidants in coffee help reduce inflammation, indicating not all caffeine sources offer the same effects. Synthetic caffeine products, such as energy drinks, have been linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms. Coffee's benefits also diminish when sugar and high-fat creamers are added. Brewing methods may matter, too. Cardiovascular benefits have been linked most strongly to paper-filtered or instant coffee. Unfilter...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Sunday Reading - The Fab Four (Beatles)

The Fab Four The Beatles were a 20th-century British band credited with innovating the sound of popular music and, in the process, helping to legitimize rock 'n' roll as an art form. > How the Beatles became the most influential band on Earth. ( More , w/podcast) > Explore Abbey Road Studios, the site of the first ever stereo recordings and home to most of the Beatles' songs. ( More ) The intense fandom for the band, called Beatlemania, began in the United Kingdom in 1963 but did not initially translate into success in the United States. In fact, the band's American label rejected the band's first two singles. Eventually, the band gained tra...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

Without President’s Signature, ROAD to Housing Act Becomes Law; Includes CU Board Modernization Act

WASHINGTON — The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law Friday without President Donald Trump’s signature after the president allowed the measure to take effect while Congress remained in session, choosing not to sign it in protest over the Senate’s failure to advance separate voter identification legislation. The legislation includes the Credit Union Board Modernization Act, which reduces the frequency with which credit unions must meet and which had strong support from the credit union trade groups. Trump announced on social media that he would not sign the housing package because the Senate had not passed the SAVE America Act, a measure he has championed requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. Under the Constitution, a bill becomes law if the president neither signs nor vetoes it within 10 days, excluding Sundays, while Congress is in session. Scott Simpson ‘Steadfast in Commitment’ “America’s Credit Unions, our league partners, and cr...

Read Complete Article HERE>»

LA County firefighters help each other cope with toughest part of the job

This is an excellent program, and no matter what size your department is, you should be prepared. Scott Ross talks over issues with Firefighter Richard Conejo who was recently affected by the death of a fellow firefighter . They meet under the auspices of the LA County Fire Department's Peer Support Program. **** Read More ; LA County <b>firefighters</b> help each other cope with toughest part of the job :

Read Complete Article HERE>»

First-responder Credit Union Newsroom

Search This Blog