The number of houses that were sold in April went down a little bit compared to March and last year. The price of the houses was higher than ever before for April. There were more houses for sale, but it still took some time to sell them all. Different parts of the country had different results. Some places had fewer sales, while others had more. People who bought houses usually already owned a home or were buying their first house. Many people paid with cash and some bought homes that needed help. The cost to borrow money for a long time was higher than last year but lower than a few weeks ago. Read from source...

1. The title of the article is misleading and exaggerated. A 1.9% decline in existing-home sales does not necessarily imply a retreat or a significant setback for the housing market. This could be a normal fluctuation or a temporary phenomenon that may reverse soon.
2. The article focuses too much on the regional variations and year-over-year changes, which can obscure the underlying trends and patterns in the current month's data. A more balanced and nuanced analysis would also consider the seasonal factors, the types of properties sold, and the characteristics of the buyers and sellers.
3. The article relies heavily on quotes from NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, who may have a vested interest in portraying the housing market as stable and resilient, given his affiliation with the realtor organization. His opinions should be taken with caution and corroborated by other sources of information and evidence.
4. The article does not address the impact of inflation, rising interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainties on the housing market demand and supply. These factors could have a significant bearing on the future direction and performance of the market, and should be considered in any comprehensive analysis.