Existing-Home Sales Climb in May After Tepid Spring Start

Purchases exceeded expectations and matched the fastest pace since December 2025, even as prices rose, the National Association of Realtors said.

A "For Sale" sign posted outside a property in Pasadena, Calif., on April 7, 2026. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Sales of previously occupied homes in the United States rose more than expected in May, painting a more optimistic picture after a sluggish start to this year’s spring selling season.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said on June 9 that existing-home sales climbed to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million units. The figure topped economists’ expectations for about 4.07 million and improved from April’s slightly upwardly revised pace of 4.04 million.