Contracts to buy homes fall to a 7-month low
By DEREK KRAVITZ , 05.27.11, 10:38 AM EDT
WASHINGTON -- The number of people who signed contracts to buy homes fell sharply in April, hitting its lowest point since fall and renewing fears that a recovery in the housing market is far off.
An index of sales agreements for previously occupied homes sank 11.6 percent last month to a reading of 81.9, the National Association of Realtors said Friday. A reading of 100 would be considered healthy.
The last time the index reached at least 100 was in April 2010. That was the final month when people could qualify for a home-buying tax credit of up to $8,000.
Signings are still nearly 8 percent above June's reading of 75.9, the lowest figure since the housing bust.
Contract signings are considered a reliable indicator of the housing market's direction. That's because there's usually a one- to two-month lag between a sales contract and a completed deal.
But the Realtors group has noted a larger-than-usual number of contract cancellations in recent months. Some buyers have canceled purchases after appraisals showed that the homes were worth less than the buyers' initial bids. A sale isn't final until a mortgage is closed.
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