Builders offer incentives to boost sales amidst challenging housing market

  • New home sales rose 4% in 2023
  • Builders offered incentives to buyers
  • Sales of previously owned homes fell 19%
  • Sales of new homes expanded by 4.2%
  • 62% of builders offered sales incentives

New home sales in 2023 saw a 4% increase, despite high mortgage rates and low supply affecting the broader housing market. Sales of previously owned homes, on the other hand, fell by 19%, reaching the lowest annual total in nearly 30 years. However, sales of new homes expanded by 4.2%, with builders offering incentives such as mortgage rate buydowns to attract buyers. In fact, 62% of builders surveyed in January offered sales incentives. Looking ahead, Fannie Mae predicts a brighter outlook for the housing market in 2024, with mortgage rates expected to fall below 6% by the end of the year.

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Factuality Level: 7
Justification: The article provides data from Census and FactSet to support its claims about new home sales in 2023. It also mentions the lower sales of previously owned homes and the reasons behind it. However, the article lacks specific details about the incentives offered by builders and the source of Fannie Mae’s forecast about mortgage rates in 2024.

Noise Level: 3
Justification: The article provides relevant information about new home sales in 2023 and the factors that influenced the housing market. However, it lacks in-depth analysis, evidence, and actionable insights. The article also includes filler content about text-to-speech technology and soliciting feedback.

Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Housing market, mortgage rates

Presence of Extreme Event: No
Nature of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating of the Extreme Event: No
Justification: The article discusses the rise in new home sales in 2023 despite high mortgage rates and low supply in the housing market. It also mentions the offering of sales incentives by builders. While there is no extreme event mentioned, the information is relevant to the financial markets and companies in the housing industry.

Reported publicly: www.marketwatch.com