Interest rates near 8% in late October / early November most likely had an impact on contracts signed for December. Sales for 2023 were at the slowest pace since 1995 according to the National Assoc. of Realtors. However, the west experienced a month-over-month increase in sales of 7.8% from November 2023 to December 2023 despite rates in the low-to-mid-7’s.