Longer-commute areas continued to claim the largest market share in single-family homebuilding, 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.

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.

Housing inventory also saw an increase from year-ago levels last month.

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.

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%).

More than half of home sales on the Cape closed above list price in April, while days on market decreased, according to the Cape Cod & Islands Association of Realtors.

“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 

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

City life is reawakening after a year marred by the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean the resurgent demand for homes in the neighboring suburbs is coming down any time soon.

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

Median home sales prices in Massachusetts continued to rise in April due to strong buyer demand and record-low inventory.

The median sales price of new homes sold in April was $372,400, up from $334,200 in March and $310,100 a year ago. 

The pace of housing-price gains in Boston quickened in March, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, which showed a 2.6% increase from February and a 14.9% increase from a year earlier, compared to a gain of 0.9% the previous month.

The pace of home sales has quickened this spring and it’s not just the highly sought-after entry-level home enjoying the brisk sales pace.

Housing records continue to be broken, but despite the strong numbers, data could indicate homebuyer demand is reaching a peak.

Higher income, backed up by lower mortgage rates, has expanded the reach of the average homebuyer, but an increased demand for homes has concurrently driven up prices, negating two of the three main factors in First American Financial Corp.’s Real House Price Index.