Home Sale Numbers Nationwide Dip Slightly
New protections by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) kicked in the first of October, but their effects were not felt until November when delayed closings affected home sales numbers nationwide. The plunge in new home sales was expected because of the delays that the new system incurred coming out the gate.
The new system for closing new home loans and home loans included a drastic overhaul of the traditional HUD 
(Settlement Statement), and this new document, called the CD (Closing Disclosure) had multiple checks and balances throughout the Good Faith Estimate all the way to closing to ensure that home buyers know what every aspect of their home buying process is about.
Despite the expected slowdown in home sales in November, the National Association of Realtors said that solid gains in real estate have been seen throughout the entire year of 2015.
Another factor contributing to an adjustment in home sales numbers is the fact that home values are increasing a rate that is double that of typical wages. Year-over-year, home values have increased 6.3% in November to $220,300. The good news is that wages exist with an improving job market and still historically low 
interest rates are encouraging buyers and refinancers to get their loans done before there is a significant increase in the interest rate.
Still, builders will have to get busy in 2016 because the real estate market is still showing a gap between availability and inventory for new home buyers. New home builders can fill this gap with newly constructed homes which will help balance out home prices.
