What Are New Home Sales in Real Estate?
New home sales refer to the number of newly built houses sold during a specific period—whether listed by builders, investors, or homeowners. In MLS listings, new home sales are often labeled as new construction or “to be built” properties.
How New Home Sales Are Tracked
In the U.S., new home sales are monitored by the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD as an economic indicator. They measure demand for housing and provide insight into market strength, construction activity, and mortgage trends.
- Reflects homes sold directly from builders before or after completion.
- Excludes resales of existing properties.
- Provides early insight into housing market shifts.
- Often used by economists to forecast buyer demand and construction growth.
New Home Sales and the MLS
On the MLS, new home listings are tagged by builders or listing brokers as “new construction.” These listings attract both buyer agents and individual buyers looking for modern designs and warranties.
FSBO sellers and small builders can use a Flat Fee MLS service to list new homes directly, maintaining control while gaining full exposure on Realtor.com, Zillow, and local MLS systems.
Why New Home Sales Matter
New home sales are a key indicator of market health. Rising sales suggest economic expansion and strong buyer demand; declining numbers may signal slower construction or tighter credit conditions.
For sellers, strong new home sales can increase neighborhood visibility. For buyers, they often mean more competition and less room for negotiation on builder listings.
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