Home sales cool and prices will soon follow

Both new and existing home sales dropped back in April and the May pending home sales index points to further declines in existing sales over the next couple of months. House price growth of over 13% y/y and a rise in mortgage rates since the start of the year have stretched affordability and alongside record low inventory that is weighing on housing market activity. But unlike the mid-2000s, we doubt an unsustainable boom in house prices is on the horizon. Credit conditions tightened last year, and we expect only a gradual easing over the coming months. Price growth will therefore soon follow the downturn in home sales. Rental demand is recovering swiftly as the economy has reopened and vacancy rates are now falling. We expect that trend will continue, pushing rental growth up to 2.0% y/y by the end of the year.