Existing home sales up 4.3% in October, fifth monthly gain
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ Sales of existing homes rose for a fifth straight month in October, reaching a level not seen since before the housing bubble popped 14 years ago. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday existing homes sales rose 4.3% to an seasonally-adjusted rate of 6.85 million annualized units. The 6.85 million figure is the highest for that data since February 2006 โ the eve of when the housing market reached its apex and subsequently collapsed. Realtors and housing market experts have said the housing market is in a different and healthier place than it was the last time sales were at these levels. The inventory of unsold homes sits at 2.5 months' supply, down from 2.7 months' supply in September.