New home sales ebbed in February, with 666,568 homes sold on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, according to a report from Zonda. It marks an 11.6% year-over-year decline and a 1.9% dip from January.
Despite the sales decline, Zonda’s market ranking index still classifies the housing market as “average.” Last month, the company downgraded the market from “slightly outperforming” to average.
“There are good days and bad days in today’s housing market,” Ali Wolf, Zonda’s chief economist, wrote in a statement. “Fluctuations in stock values, uncertainty about the labor market, and low housing affordability have consumers particularly concerned. For some, though, marriage and babies are a more powerful factor.”
Zonda notes that many sellers are offering concessions to help address affordability constraints from potential buyers.
In February, 56% of new home communities offered incentives, with 74% of quick move-in properties incentivized, according to the report. Quick move-ins, defined as homes that can likely be occupied within 90 days, were down 8.2% in February on a monthly basis, though they are up 17.5% compared to this time last year.