Home Depot CFO issues chilling alarm over ‘frozen’ US housing market — crucial metric plunges to historic low

Home Depot's CFO, Richard McPhail, has issued a warning about the current state of the US housing market, describing it as "frozen." This alarming condition is primarily due to the housing turnover falling to an all-time low. McPhail, speaking on Home Depot's earnings call, emphasized that housing turnover has never been lower as a percentage of the housing stock, remaining stagnant at 3% for the past four years.

This prolonged freeze has far-reaching implications, affecting not just home sales, but also renovations, construction, and the overall financial health of homeowners. The freeze has led to high prices and borrowing costs for both buyers and homeowners looking to sell, as well as businesses connected to housing. The consequences of this freeze could be significant, leaving homeowners with substantial net worth tied up in properties they cannot sell or sell on favorable terms.

This situation could expose individuals to greater financial risk, especially those relying on a robust housing market for their retirement.