Home-price growth remained in double digits for the 10th straight month in May as inventory lows pushed the median listing prices up 15.2% from last year.

Longer-commute areas continued to claim the largest market share in single-family home building, but the construction growth rate was strongest in places with shorter commuting times, the National Association of Home Builders said, citing its quarterly Home Building Geography Index.

Of the 99 million residential properties in the U.S., approximately 1.4 million (or 1.4%) are vacant this quarter, with “zombie” home rates increasing both quarterly (21%) and annually (5.6%).

Special questions added to the National Association of Home Builders’ monthly builder survey found 90% or more of respondents had experienced shortages of plywood, oriented strand board, framing lumber and appliances, with most other materials also hard to come by.

Year over year, however, pending home sales were up 57.1%, the NAR said, citing its monthly Pending Home Sales Index.

New, pending and off-market listings are all down, while the number of closings climbs as Houston’s housing market continues to struggle to keep up with demand.

First-time homebuyers found their long-term plans changed due to COVID.

“Demand is robust throughout the country, but homebuyers continue to be held back by the lack of homes for sale and rapidly increasing home prices.” — MBA Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting Joel Kan

The national year-over-year gain is the highest recorded since December 2005, Craig Lazzara, managing director and global head of index investment strategy at S&P Dow Jones Indexes, said in a press release.

With the eighth-lowest tax rate in the country, Texas attracts people from all over.

The limited inventory that has plagued the housing market continued, although at an abated pace.

An analysis of 10 years of home sales found the spring and summer months offer the most gains for sellers, particularly the month of May.

Whether they’re still weary of going to a gym full of people or just looking to work off those extra pandemic pounds in privacy, homebuyers are increasingly prioritizing home exercise rooms.

As Houston’s luxury home market stays red-hot, nine Houston buyer’s agents helped clients purchase the 10 most expensive homes in April priced up to $7,450,000.

Americans believe it’s a much better time to sell a home than to buy one, according to Fannie Mae’s latest survey of home purchase sentiment.

Houston saw an increase in single-family home sales, total property sales, total dollar volume sales, new listings, pending listings, closings and showings compared to April 2020.