Worcester had one of the highest rates of homebuyer competition in July

Homebuyers may catch a break this month as rates have come down nearly a point from the recent high on fears of a recession.

Boston’s average monthly rent is $4,878, a 17.4% increase from the previous year.

The national rental vacancy rate dropped to 5.6% in the second quarter of the year while the homeowner vacancy rate remained at 0.8%.

Home prices were up 10.9% in Boston on a year-over-year basis, compared to 18.3% nationwide, CoreLogic reported, citing its Home Price Index. 

“Contract signings to buy a home will keep tumbling down as long as mortgage rates keep climbing, as has happened this year to date.” — National Association of Realtors chief economist Lawrence Yun  

Livability’s annual ranking is based on reviews of more than 2,300 cities using more than 50 data points measuring economic stability, housing, amenities, infrastructure, demographics, social and civic capital and health care. 

“Housing data for May 2022 continued strong, as price gains decelerated slightly from very high levels,” Craig J. Lazzara, managing director at S&P DJI, said.

At the same time, the inventory of new homes for sale rose 10.7%, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported.

The pace of new multifamily construction, however, jumped, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  

Home prices in the Bay State break another record.

Inflation and high mortgage rates are impacting potential homebuyers which means fewer sales, more supply and a drop in home prices. 

A record number of homebuyers are relocating to more affordable areas as rising mortgage rates, high home prices, inflation and economic concerns are starting to make some areas of the country out of reach for buyers.

At the same time, the median existing-home price rose 13.4% year over year to $416,000. 

Nationwide, sales hit their highest level of the year, rising 4.7% from June but falling 17.6% on a year-over-year basis, RE/MAX said. 

July saw the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index post its second-largest monthly drop ever, as worries about housing affordability dampened builder sentiment.