At the same time, builder sales expectations for the next six months posted their second-largest drop since the sentiment index started in 1985. 

On a city basis, Chicago posted the highest annual increase among the country’s 20 largest metros, followed by Miami, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. 

The median existing-home price for all housing types in December rose 6% from its year-ago level.    

Nationally, home sales were up 13.3% year over year and 4.4% month over month, RE/MAX said. 

In its last reading before the end of the year, the National Association of REALTORS®  Pending Home Sales Index posted its fourth consecutive monthly increase in November. 

The median-sales price slid from $425,600 in October to $402,600 last month. 

The year-over-year increase of 6.1% is the greatest since June 2021, according to the association. 

On a monthly basis, however, sales were down 13.3%, RE/MAX said. 

More buyers are touring homes and applying for mortgages as the 2024 housing market enters its home stretch, according to a new Redfin report.

Despite the new record in September, the rate of increase continues to slow. 

The new findings come from real estate tech strategist Mike DelPrete.

The increase follows two months of declines, the National Association of REALTORS® said. 

Multifamily construction, meanwhile, rose on a monthly basis. 

Looking ahead, the CoreLogic Home Price Insights report predicts home prices will dip by 0.1% in October on a month-over-month basis.      

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index hit a new record in August, marking the 15th month in a row of new highs. 

The median price of a new home sold during the month was also up, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.