### Existing Home Sales Show Modest Recovery Amidst Market Challenges In November 2025, total existing home sales in the U.S. experienced a slight increase of 0.5%, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million units. This marks the highest sales level since February of the same year. However, despite this uptick, sales remain 1% lower compared to the same month in 2024, indicating ongoing challenges in the housing market. The increase in sales is attributed to lower mortgage rates, which have provided some relief to buyers after a prolonged period of weak sales during the spring and summer months [https://lbmjournal.com/existing-home-sales-edge-higher, https://www.nahb.org/blog/2025/12/existing-home-sales-up-in-november]. ### Breakdown of Current Market Dynamics 1. **Sales Trends**: - Existing home sales rose for the third consecutive month, reflecting a modest recovery in the market [https://nypost.com/2025/12/21/real-estate/home-sales-experience-slight-boost-in-november-from-lower-mortgage-rates]. - Despite the monthly increase, year-over-year comparisons show a decline, with November sales down 1% from 2024 [https://mortgageorb.com/nar-existing-home-sales-up-slightly-november]. 2. **Regional Variations**: - Sales increased in the Northeast and South regions, while the West saw no change, and sales fell in other areas [https://mortgageorb.com/nar-existing-home-sales-up-slightly-november]. - The overall market remains uneven, with some regions performing better than others [https://www.dailypress.net/news/business-news/2025/12/november-us-homes-sales-rose-from-previous-month]. 3. **Market Challenges**: - High home prices and persistent mortgage rates continue to hinder potential buyers, contributing to a supply shortage in the market [https://newyorkweeklytimes.com/2025/12/19/november-home-sales-struggle-as-supply-stalls]. - Economists warn that unless sales improve in December, 2025 could end as a notably low year for home sales, potentially the lowest since 1995 [https://indexbox.io/blog/home-sales-rise-for-third-straight-month-in-november-2025]. ### Supporting Data and Insights - **Sales Figures**: - November 2025 existing home sales: **4.13 million** (seasonally adjusted annual rate) [https://getfea.com/end-use/us-existing-home-sales-edge-higher-in-november]. - Monthly increase: **0.5%** from October 2025 [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/home-sales-ticked-up-for-third-straight-month-but-the-market-is-still-stuck-in-a-deep-slump-151304238.html]. - Year-over-year decrease: **1%** compared to November 2024 [https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/home-sales-rise-november-previous-36431800]. - **Market Conditions**: - The market is characterized by high prices and a significant inventory shortage, which has led to affordability issues for many buyers [https://yournews.com/2025/12/19/5457809/existing-home-sales-rise-slightly-in-november-but-inventory-shortage-and]. ### Conclusion: A Mixed Outlook for Home Sales In summary, while existing home sales in November 2025 showed a **modest increase**, the overall market remains under pressure from high prices and limited inventory. The slight recovery is encouraging, but the year-over-year decline raises concerns about the sustainability of this trend. Key findings include: 1. **Sales Recovery**: A 0.5% increase in sales indicates a potential recovery, but the market is still struggling compared to last year. 2. **Regional Disparities**: Variations in sales performance across different regions highlight the uneven nature of the recovery. 3. **Ongoing Challenges**: High prices and mortgage rates continue to pose significant barriers for buyers, suggesting that the market may face further difficulties ahead. As the year closes, the housing market's trajectory will depend heavily on economic conditions and buyer sentiment in December [https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/19/november-home-sales.html].