A lot of houses were sold in January, but not as many as before. People are buying more houses because it is cheaper to borrow money now than it was last year. The price of most houses went up a little bit compared to last year. There are still some houses that people can buy for cheap if they want them quickly. Read from source...

- The title "Existing-Home Sales Rose 3.1% in January" is misleading because it implies a positive trend when the actual year-over-year change is negative (down 1.7%). A more accurate title would be "Existing-Home Sales Declined by 1.7% YoY in January".
- The article uses vague terms like "modestly higher" and "sizably lower" to describe the changes in housing inventory and sales without providing any concrete numbers or percentages. This makes it hard for readers to grasp the actual magnitude of the changes.
- The article quotes NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun without providing any context or background information about him or his credentials. This creates a bias impression that he is an authority on the subject matter when in fact he may have ulterior motives or conflicts of interest.
- The article relies heavily on data from Freddie Mac and NAR, both of which are industry associations with vested interests in promoting positive sentiments about the housing market. This creates a potential for conflict of interest and exaggerated claims.

Based on the article, one possible recommendation is to buy shares of companies that benefit from higher housing demand and lower mortgage rates, such as home builders, mortgage lenders, or real estate agents. Some examples are DHI (Dream Home Investments), TOL (Toll Brothers), and RLGY (Realogy Holdings). These stocks have been performing well recently and could continue to gain if the housing market remains strong.

Another possible recommendation is to invest in REITs (real estate investment trusts) that own or finance income-producing properties, such as apartments, offices, hotels, or shopping centers. Some examples are VNO (Vornado Realty Trust), DDR (Democratic Retail Properties), and CCI (Digital Realty Trust). These stocks also pay dividends to shareholders and could benefit from higher rental income and lower cap rates due to the low interest rate environment.

However, there are also risks involved in these investment strategies. One risk is that mortgage rates could rise again if inflation or economic growth increases, which would make housing more expensive and reduce demand. Another risk is that the pandemic could worsen or last longer than expected, which would affect consumer confidence and spending. A third risk is that the housing market could cool off if there is a supply glut, a demand shock, or a correction in prices. Therefore, investors should monitor these factors carefully and adjust their portfolios accordingly.