January new home sales plunge to the slowest pace since 2022

Housing analysts had been expecting a much smaller decline.

Sales were also 11.3% lower than in January 2025, according to the U.S. Census, which is still delayed in its reporting due to last year’s government shutdown. December sales were also revised lower.

This count is based on signed contracts, so people who were out shopping when mortgage rates were lower than they are today. The average rate on the 30-year fixed loan hovered between 6% and 6.2% during January, according to Mortgage News Daily. It is currently at 6.36%.

As a result, the inventory of homes for sale rose to a 9.7-month supply, up from eight months in December, according to the U.S. Census. That is 7.8% higher than January 2025.

More supply and less demand led builders to drop prices. The median price of a home sold in January was $400,500, the agency said, a decline of 6.8% year over year. Prices for existing homes are still flat nationally, but builders report increasing incentives to get buyers in the door.

Data from March does not appear to be any better. An estimated 37% of builders cut prices in March, an increase from February’s 36%, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Sales were lower across the nation, but they dropped the most in the Northeast and Midwest, where rough winter weather could have had an impact. However, sales were down nearly 22% from December in the West, where weather would not have played a part.