Existing-home sales fall for second consecutive month as house prices surge to record levels

Existing-home sales declined in March, reflecting the challenges buyers continue to face in the competitive real-estate market. Existing home-sales fell 3.7% to a seasonally-adjusted, annual rate of 6.01 million in March, the National Association of Realtors reported. Compared with a year ago, home sales were up more than 12%. Home prices hit a high of $329,100, reflecting a record pace of price growth at 17.2% from last year.