That marks a sharp slowdown from the double-digit increases reported last year. Analysts surveyed by Reuters say they expect prices to slow in the coming months due to tight lending standards, slow wage growth, and a lack of first-time buyers.
"Growth would be more robust if we saw more first-time homebuyers in the market," says David Nice, economist at Mesirow Financial. "That would put the housing market on a sustainable growth trajectory."
Analysts surveyed expect existing home sales to reach a 4.75 million annual rate in the second quarter of this year and rise to 5.10 million in the first quarter of 2015.
"We are seeing a state of equilibrium," says Mark Goldman, a real estate expert at San Diego State University in California. "I don't see any symptoms that would cause housing prices to go up or down significantly." Source: “U.S. House Price Gains Seen Moderating Over Next Few Years: Poll,” Reuters (May 30, 2014)
