Home prices continued to rise in September

IMAGE VIA NAHB

National home prices continued to increase in September, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Despite rising mortgage rates, limited inventory and solid, but weakened, demand provided support for home prices. National home prices are now 69% higher than their last peak during the housing boom in March 2006.

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index rose at a seasonally adjusted annual growth rate of 8.1% in September, slightly slower than a 9.8% increase in August. It is the eighth consecutive annual gain since February 2023.

On a year-over-year basis, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index posted a 3.9% annual gain in September, following a 2.5% increase in August.

Meanwhile, the Home Price Index, released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), rose at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 7.6% in September, following an 8.8% increase in August. On a year-over-year basis, the FHFA Home Price NSA Index rose by 6% in September, up from 5.8% in the previous month.

In addition to tracking national home price changes, S&P CoreLogic reported home price indexes across 20 metro areas in September. All 20 metro areas had positive home price appreciation. Their annual growth rates ranged from 1.9% to 18.9%.

Among all 20 metro areas, 14 metro areas exceeded the national average of 8.1%. Las Vegas led the way with an 18.9% increase, followed by Detroit with a 17.1% increase and Phoenix with a 14.7% increase.