The official tally is in and the numbers are good, postive and here is some upbeat real estate news from Maine. Here's the latest press release hot off the press from the Maine Association Of Realtors.

(Teletype sound in the background)

SOUTH PORTLAND (July 23, 2009) - Maine real estate sales are on the rise. According to
the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc., Maine's Realtors sold 1,133 homes last
month -- a 13.76 percent increase from one year ago. Home prices eased 9.57 percent to a
median sales price (MSP) of $170,000. However, this is an increase over May 2009's MSP of
$160,000. The median sales price indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half
sold for less.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) today reports a 0.2 percent rise in single-family
existing home sales across the country. The national median existing home sales price
decreased 15 percent to $181,600 in June 2009 compared with June 2008. Regionally, sales
in the Northeast dipped 4.7 percent in the past 12 months. The regional median home sales
price was $249,400, down 5.9 percent from June 2008.
REALTOR Alan Peoples of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Portland says the
Cumberland County market area is "currently heading in the right direction. We're seeing
improvement, the total number of units sold is getting better and values are holding. Lately
we've seen many more people viewing an available property, which is a strong sign." Peoples
advises sellers to "get aggressive early and be realistic and competitive.

Many buyers have grant opportunities through the Maine State Housing Authority, along with the federal $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit."

Following are two charts showing statistics for Maine and its 16 counties. The first chart lists
statistics for the month of June only, statewide. The second chart compares the number of
existing, single-family homes sold (units) and volume (MSP) during the Second Quarter
(April, May, June) of 2008 and 2009.

Maine Real Estate Statistics - June 2009 Housing Report-7/23/09
JUNE ONLY CHART
June 1-30, 2008 - June 1-30, 2009
County # Units Sold # Units Sold % MSP MSP %
2008 2009 Change 2008 2009 Change
STATEWIDE 996 1133 13.76% $188,000 $170,000 -9.57%
ROLLING QUARTER CHART
From April 1, 2008 - June 30, 2008 and April 1, 2009 - June 30, 2009
County # Units Sold # Units Sold % MSP MSP %
2008 2009 Change 2008 2009 Change
STATEWIDE 2673 2620 -1.98% $184,000 $164,900 -10.38%
Androscoggin 208 195 -6.25% $155,000 $135,000 -12.90%
Aroostook 81 70 -13.58% $94,000 $87,250 -7.18%
Cumberland 695 647 -6.91% $236,000 $220,000 -6.78%
Franklin 48 44 -8.33% $119,250 $110,000 -7.76%
Hancock 110 88 -20.00% $179,000 $171,200 -4.36%
Kennebec 224 247 10.27% $140,000 $130,000 -7.14%
Knox 114 78 -31.58% $186,000 $182,250 -2.02%
Lincoln 71 67 -5.63% $197,500 $185,000 -6.33%
Oxford 107 124 15.89% $145,000 $133,000 -8.28%
Penobscot 312 335 7.37% $138,000 $137,000 -0.72%
Piscataquis 35 48 37.14% $75,000 $79,500 6.00%
Sagadahoc 81 64 -20.99% $195,000 $181,000 -7.18%
Somerset 80 71 -11.25% $103,015 $89,000 -13.60%
Waldo 73 76 4.11% $160,000 $140,500 -12.19%
Washington 14 15 7.14% $137,000 $95,000 -30.66%
York 420 451 7.38% $226,500 $194,000 -14.35%
Source: Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. Note: MREIS, a subsidiary of the Maine Association of REALTORS, is a statewide Multiple Listing Service with over 4,600 licensees inputting active and sold property listing data. Statistics reflect properties reported as sold in the System within the time periods indicated.

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Maine, The Place To Be If You Can Just Make Time To Get Here.