Press Room

The Housing Market in Southwestern Michigan - September 2010

After the surge of homes sold during the first quarter, thanks to the Stimulus Tax Credit, we have seen a steady drop in the number of houses sold each month, compared to the same month in 2009, to the point that our year-to-date number has dipped 3 percent below where we were at in September 2009.? The good news for sellers is that we have continued to see the average and median selling prices steadily increase each month.? At the end of the third quarter, average and median selling prices were up 9 percent over selling prices at this time in 2009.? The higher selling prices have kept the year-to-date total dollar volume up 6 percent over last year.

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November SWMI Home Sales Decline ? Prices Remain Up

ST. JOSEPH, MI ? "Since July we have seen monthly housing sales bounce up and down with no particular pattern. For example July, normally a peak-selling month, had only 170 houses sold and closed when August had 232. Then September had 192, October 212 andNovember had 168. As people get ready for the holidays, November typically has a decline in sales. However thanks to the tax incentive, year-to-date we have stayed ahead of last year until September for the number of house sold and by the end of November we fell 5 percent behind last year. At this point in the year, our year-to-date average selling prices are still up for the year, but the monthly trend appears to be a downward trend from a high earlier in the year," stated Gary Walter, EVP, of the Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS?, Inc.

Read more: November SWMI Home Sales Decline ? Prices Remain Up

SWMI Home Sales Increase - Prices Stay Up

ST. JOSEPH, MI ? ?After the number of closed homes slumped in September, October bounced back by 14 percent. We dropped 12 percent behind October 2009.? Year-to-date we have slipped 4 percent behind or 80 houses short of last year.? The dollar volume for closed transactions in October fell 19 percent below that in October 2009.? However, year-to-date total dollar volume remains up 2 percent for this year. As we entered into the fall months it is going to be interesting to see if the huge benefit of the Stimulus Tax Credit and current closed sales will keep us on par with last year,? stated Gary Walter, EVP, of the Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS^?, Inc.

Read more: SWMI Home Sales Increase - Prices Stay Up

SWMI Home Sales Down Average Prices Up ? April 2011

??SWMI Home Sales Down Average Prices Up

ST. JOSEPH, MI ? "The housing market last year in April was fairly strong because buyers were taking advantage of the tax credit program. Sales this year in April dropped 19 percent from last year. The very cold and rainy weather may have put some buyers off. With the housing market heading into the peak selling season, activity should begin to escalate. We have good conditions in our market now. The average selling prices are up, but still very affordable, interest rates in April were lower than rates were just a year ago and we have a very good selection of homes," stated Gary Walter, EVP, of the Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS^?, Inc.

Read more: SWMI Home Sales Down Average Prices Up ? April 2011