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New Homes Now Cheaper Than Existing Ones: First Time in 54 Years Signals Market Distortion

MarketDash Editorial Team
10 days ago
The U.S. housing market just flipped upside down. For the first time since the 1970s, new homes are selling for less than existing ones, a reversal that's raising serious questions about what's broken beneath the surface.

Something weird is happening in the housing market, and it's the kind of weird that makes analysts reach for phrases like "seriously wrong."

The Great Housing Price Flip

For the past year, newly built single-family homes have been selling for less than existing homes. That might not sound earth-shattering until you realize this hasn't happened in 54 years. It's a complete reversal of how housing markets normally work.

The Kobeissi Letter flagged the anomaly in a post on Thursday, declaring bluntly that "the US housing market is broken." Drawing on data from Apollo's Chief Economist, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Association of Realtors, the analysis shows new home prices falling below existing home prices "for the first time since 2005."

Historically, new construction has always commanded a premium. You're getting modern builds, updated features, and that fresh-off-the-lot appeal. But that logic has apparently been thrown out the window.

The swing becomes even more striking when you look at recent history. Just three years ago, new homes were 10% more expensive than existing ones, measured by the 12-month moving average. Go back to 2012, following the financial crisis, and that premium was as high as 40%. Now it's negative.

Sellers Won't Budge, Buyers Can't Afford It

This pricing inversion isn't happening in isolation. The housing market is showing other signs of stress that suggest deeper problems.

Home delistings hit a record high of 85,000 in September, marking a 28% jump from the previous year. According to Redfin's analysis, this stems from homeowners who simply won't accept lower offers despite weak buyer demand.

"Many homeowners who bought during the pandemic demand frenzy still expect sky-high prices. They remember a seller's market, so they're hesitant to yield to buyers who want to negotiate the price down and/or ask for concessions," explained Asad Khan, senior economist at Redfin.

Meanwhile, first-time homebuyers have essentially disappeared from the market. They now represent just 21% of purchases, down from a long-term average of 38%. The average age of a first-time buyer has climbed to a record 40 years old.

Record prices and limited supply across major markets continue locking out new entrants, creating a housing market that's increasingly accessible only to those already in the game. When the fundamentals flip this dramatically after half a century, it's worth asking what broke and whether it can be fixed.

Back to News

New Homes Now Cheaper Than Existing Ones: First Time in 54 Years Signals Market Distortion

MarketDash Editorial Team
10 days ago
The U.S. housing market just flipped upside down. For the first time since the 1970s, new homes are selling for less than existing ones, a reversal that's raising serious questions about what's broken beneath the surface.

Something weird is happening in the housing market, and it's the kind of weird that makes analysts reach for phrases like "seriously wrong."

The Great Housing Price Flip

For the past year, newly built single-family homes have been selling for less than existing homes. That might not sound earth-shattering until you realize this hasn't happened in 54 years. It's a complete reversal of how housing markets normally work.

The Kobeissi Letter flagged the anomaly in a post on Thursday, declaring bluntly that "the US housing market is broken." Drawing on data from Apollo's Chief Economist, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Association of Realtors, the analysis shows new home prices falling below existing home prices "for the first time since 2005."

Historically, new construction has always commanded a premium. You're getting modern builds, updated features, and that fresh-off-the-lot appeal. But that logic has apparently been thrown out the window.

The swing becomes even more striking when you look at recent history. Just three years ago, new homes were 10% more expensive than existing ones, measured by the 12-month moving average. Go back to 2012, following the financial crisis, and that premium was as high as 40%. Now it's negative.

Sellers Won't Budge, Buyers Can't Afford It

This pricing inversion isn't happening in isolation. The housing market is showing other signs of stress that suggest deeper problems.

Home delistings hit a record high of 85,000 in September, marking a 28% jump from the previous year. According to Redfin's analysis, this stems from homeowners who simply won't accept lower offers despite weak buyer demand.

"Many homeowners who bought during the pandemic demand frenzy still expect sky-high prices. They remember a seller's market, so they're hesitant to yield to buyers who want to negotiate the price down and/or ask for concessions," explained Asad Khan, senior economist at Redfin.

Meanwhile, first-time homebuyers have essentially disappeared from the market. They now represent just 21% of purchases, down from a long-term average of 38%. The average age of a first-time buyer has climbed to a record 40 years old.

Record prices and limited supply across major markets continue locking out new entrants, creating a housing market that's increasingly accessible only to those already in the game. When the fundamentals flip this dramatically after half a century, it's worth asking what broke and whether it can be fixed.