Home sales declines started to flatten in May, with 53 metro areas across the U.S. reporting an average drop of 3.9% from the previous month, according to RE/MAX’s National Housing Report. 

Although the single-digit decline from the previous month is good news, home sales still lagged May of 2019 by 33.7%.

The median sales price was up 4.7% year-over-year to $272,000, but that’s down from the 5-year average increase of 5.4%.

Chicago was one of only three of the 53 metro areas analyzed that reported gains (1%) in inventory. The average year-over-year change in inventory for all metro areas was a decline of 25%, according to the report.

“Not surprisingly, May sales were historically muted alongside increasingly pinched inventory as the full brunt of the pandemic likely manifested itself during the month,” Adam Contos, CEO of RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., said in a press release. 

“We believe the spring selling season was largely deferred for several weeks. And, with home being the center of people’s lives this year, we could see the effect of pent-up demand play out in a significant way,” he added.

Sales dropped 37.1% in Chicago compared to last May.