Key takeaways

  • First‑time buyers accounted for 34% of existing‑home purchases in February, the highest share since April 2025.
  • Existing‑home sales rose 1.7% in February from the previous month to an annual rate of 4.09 million, though overall activity remained sluggish.
  • The number of homes for sale increased to 1.29 million units, up 2.4% from January and 4.9% from a year earlier.

The share of first-timers who bought existing homes in February was at its highest level since April 2025, a possible sign of improved affordability.

 

But the overall market for previously owned single-family houses and condos remained sluggish last month, according to the National Association of Realtors, as sales increased a modest 1.7% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.09 million. Sales were down 1.4% year over year.

On the bright side, the NAR revised its report of January’s sales upward. It had reported sales fell 8.4% that month to 3.91 million but later put it at 4.02 million.

Three of the nation’s four major regions saw an uptick in sales last month compared to January:

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