New Home Sales in U.S. Reach Post 2008 Housing Crash High

---

According to new data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau, sales of newly built, single-family homes in the U.S. rose 16.6 percent in April 2016 from an upwardly revised March reading to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 619,000 units. This is the highest sales pace since January 2008.

"Builders remain optimistic about the housing market, and this month's jump in new home sales is a positive sign that growing demand will keep the housing sector on an upward trajectory through the spring buying season," said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady, a home builder and developer from Bloomington, Ill.

"Rising home sales combined with tight inventory will translate into increased housing production as we move onward in 2016, especially as job creation continues and mortgage rates remain low," said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz.

The inventory of new homes for sale was 243,000 in April, which is a 4.7-month supply at the current sales pace. The median sales price of new houses sold in April was $321,100.

Regionally, new home sales rose by 52.8 percent in the Northeast, 18.8 percent in the West and 15.8 percent in the South. Sales fell by 4.8 percent in the Midwest.