The Numbers For "Vacationland" Are Out. Here's The Newsletter From the Maine Association Of Realtors.

MAINE HOME SALES DECLINE 17.58 PERCENT IN JANUARY SOUTH PORTLAND (February 25, 2009)-According to the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc., Realtors sold 87 fewer homes last month than in January 2008, a 17.58 percent decline from January 2007. The statewide median sales price for an existing, single family home was $152,250 in January, a decrease of 17.7 percent from one year ago. The median sales price indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less. The National Association of Realtors recorded a 7.1 percent nationwide sales decline last month. The national median price for a single-family existing home declined 13.8 percent to $169,900. In the regional Northeast, sales were down 23.8 percent while the regional median home price slid 14.7 percent to $228,200. Gail Caruso, Broker with Swan Agency in Bar Harbor, says the time is right for many to enter the market. "For qualified buyers, the rates are historically low and there is a diversified selection of homes for sale, with motivated sellers." Rita Yarnold, President of the Maine Association of REALTORS continues, "The combination of low interest rates and the new $8,000 tax credit recently passed by Congress, affords first-time homebuyers the unique opportunity to take advantage of a diversified selection of homes for sale." Here is a quick snapshot of Maine's 16 counties. Overall, house sales in Maine are off 19.05% and the median housing price is down from $185,500 a year ago to $164,900 representing a -11.11% drop. Here are the individual county numbers. Sales last January compared with this one and the drop in median home price in that county is below. You will note Washington County saw no decline from this January compared to last.

Androscoggin 149 132 -11.41% $152,000 $125,500 -17.43%

Aroostook 88 47 -46.59% $87,750 $80,000 -8.83%

Cumberland 476 399 -16.18% $242,250 $220,000 -9.18%

Franklin 46 42 -8.70% $131,450 $108,500 -17.46%

Hancock 105 92 -12.38% $205,000 $177,950 -13.20%

Kennebec 186 150 -19.35% $140,900 $136,000 -3.48%

Knox 70 62 -11.43% $249,000 $151,000 -39.36%

Lincoln 60 51 -15.00% $232,500 $184,500 -20.65%

Oxford 108 87 -19.44% $171,250 $118,000 -31.09%

Penobscot 269 191 -29.00% $134,305 $124,000 -7.67%

Piscataquis 31 30 -3.23% $79,900 $78,250 -2.07%

Sagadahoc 54 43 -20.37% $191,500 $161,700 -15.56%

Somerset 65 48 -26.15% $108,000 $81,250 -24.77%

Waldo 81 43 -46.91% $165,000 $160,000 -3.03%

Washington 10 10 0.00% $178,000 $51,250 -71.21%

York 333 298 -10.51% $231,600 $200,500 -13.43%

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 Real Estate Sale Figures For January 2009