Sales of previously owned homes in the United States increased in December 2025, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.35 million units. This figure marked a 5.1% rise from November and a 1.4% increase compared to December 2024. For the full year, existing home sales totaled 4.06 million units, matching the total reported for 2024. December's sales activity was noted as the strongest in nearly three years when adjusted for seasonal factors.
December Sales Performance
Existing home sales in December 2025 reached an annual rate of 4.35 million units, representing a 5.1% increase from the previous month. This performance surpassed analysts' projections, which anticipated a 2% gain. Sales were also 1.4% higher than in December 2024. All regions of the country experienced an increase in sales activity on a month-over-month basis.
The reported sales figures are based on closings, indicating that the associated contracts were likely signed in October and November. During this period, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was approximately 6.2% to 6.3%, a decrease from rates approaching 7% observed in the preceding spring and summer.
Annual Overview and Market Context
The total number of existing home sales for 2025 was 4.06 million, consistent with the total recorded in 2024. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, commented that 2025 was characterized by elevated home prices and lower sales volumes. He added that conditions began to show improvement in the fourth quarter, attributed to reduced mortgage rates and a deceleration in home price growth.
Key Market Statistics (December 2025)
- Total Existing-Home Sales: 4.35 million units (annual rate).
- 5.1% increase month-over-month.
- 1.4% increase year-over-year.
- Total Housing Inventory: 1.18 million units.
- 18.1% decrease from November.
- 3.5% increase from December 2024.
- Months' Supply of Inventory: 3.3 months, down from 4.2 months in November.
- Median Existing-Home Price: $405,400 for all housing types.
- 0.4% increase from December 2024.
- This marks the 30th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.
- Average 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage: 6.19% in December 2025.
- Down from 6.24% in November 2025.
- Down from 6.72% in December 2024.
Sales by Housing Type
- Single-Family Homes:
- Sales increased by 5.1% month-over-month to an annual rate of 3.95 million units.
- Sales were up 1.8% from December 2024.
- The median price was $409,500, a 0.2% increase year-over-year.
- Condominiums and Co-ops:
- Sales increased by 5.3% month-over-month to an annual rate of 400,000 units.
- Sales were down 2.4% from December 2024.
- The median price was $364,400, a 1.5% increase year-over-year.
Regional Performance (December 2025)
Month-over-month sales increased across all regions. Year-over-year trends varied by region.
- Northeast:
- Sales increased 2.0% month-over-month to an annual rate of 520,000 units.
- Sales decreased 1.9% year-over-year.
- Median price: $496,700, up 3.7% year-over-year.
- Midwest:
- Sales decreased 2.0% month-over-month to an annual rate of 1 million units.
- Sales remained unchanged year-over-year.
- Median price: $306,000, up 3.1% year-over-year.
- South:
- Sales increased 6.9% month-over-month to an annual rate of 2.02 million units.
- Sales increased 3.6% year-over-year.
- Median price: $360,200, down 0.3% year-over-year.
- West:
- Sales increased 6.6% month-over-month to an annual rate of 810,000 units.
- Sales remained unchanged year-over-year.
- Median price: $605,600, down 1.4% year-over-year.