Sales of previously occupied US homes were essentially flat in April, another lacklustre showing for the housing market during what is traditionally its busiest time of the year.

Existing home sales edged up 0.2 per cent last month from March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million units, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said on Monday. Sales were unchanged compared to April last year.

The latest sales figure fell short of the roughly 4.12-million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.