The sales volume of homes for sale in the United States has increased for two consecutive months, relieving inventory pressure from high interest rates.

The U.S. real estate market has shown some resilience in a high interest rate environment. The latest data shows that the sales of pending homes in the U.S. rose for the second consecutive month in March, and the increase in inventory has partially offset the pressure from rising financing costs. According to data released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) on Tuesday, the index measuring pending home sales rose 1.5% month-on-month to 73.7, reaching a four-month high and significantly exceeding expectations. NAR's chief economist Lawrence Yun said, "Despite the increase in mortgage rates, the signing activity in March increased, indicating that there is suppressed demand in the market. With the increase in inventory, this demand is expected to gradually actual transactions." Data shows that by the end of March, the average 30-year mortgage rate had risen to above 6.5%, reaching the highest level since August last year. Analysts believe that the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, which has pushed up energy prices and intensified inflation expectations, is a key reason for the rise in interest rates. Meanwhile, a survey by the University of Michigan shows that the housing environment deteriorated slightly in February after reaching a nearly two-year high, reflecting an increase in consumer sensitivity to high financing costs. Market observers point out that, as the traditional peak season for spring sales approaches, the higher mortgage rates may limit further release of housing demand. In contrast, before the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war, with rates falling to around 6%, the outlook for the real estate market was more optimistic. In terms of regions, the sales of pending homes in the largest real estate market in the southern region of the U.S. rose by 3.9% month-on-month, while in the Northeast, it increased by 4.4%. However, there was a decline in the Midwest and Western regions, showing differences in the pace of market recovery. Since homes typically complete transactions 1 to 2 months after signing, pending home sales are usually seen as an important indicator of actual transactions. NAR is expected to release existing home sales data for April on May 11, which will further reflect current market trends.