Maine Real Estate Market Condition Report
Over the last year sales have definitely slowed, but Maine has been fortunate to avoid the plummeting prices experienced in some areas of the country and so widely reported in the News Media. Buyers in Maine can definitely find value, but we are not seeing "give away" opportunities. For sellers, the overall news is good as well. In most counties of Maine, the median sales price has increased over the past year, but certainly not as much as in previous years. With fewer buyers, sellers need to make sure that the pricing and condition of their home makes it stand out above the fray, and that they utilize a Real Estate professional who can agressively market their home. Below is the annual report released by MREIS (Maine Real Estate Information System) detailing the market conditions recorded over the past year. Be sure to check out the county by county chart.
Please feel free to call or email our team if you would like to discuss how this may impact your buying or selling plans. We are here for you. 207-689-9880 mailto:info@TanyaB.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BUCKING NATIONAL TREND, MAINE HOME PRICES
CONTINUED TO RISE IN 2007
SOUTH PORTLAND (Jan. 24, 2008) -- The median sales price for a single-family home in
Maine increased slightly in 2007, according to the Maine Real Estate Information System,
Inc. Maine Realtors reported a sales decrease of just over 10 percent from 2006, with a total
of 12,014 homes changing hands, just slightly below the 10-year average of 12,900 annual
home sales.
The statewide median sales price in Maine reached $194,000 in 2007, up 0.77 percent. The
median sales price indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less.
During the month of December only, statewide median sales prices decreased 4.62 percent
and sales were down 23.27 percent.
Nationally, single-family home sales declined 21.6 percent and sales prices dipped 6.5 percent
in the month of December. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) also reported that for
all of 2007, sales fell 13 percent and the single-family median sales price decreased 1.8
percent to $217,800.
In the Northeastern United States, sales were 22.4 percent lower than last December. The
regional median sales price decreased 8.9 percent to $258,600.
Roger Belanger of Allied Realty in Skowhegan reported that his market area has been quite
active lately. "Prices seem stable for us. We have plenty of buyers. They tend to look at more
homes before they make a decision. Buyers are now, more than ever, looking at what the
home is going to cost to heat."
Joan Chrane, Broker of RE/MAX Riverside in Topsham, said, "The recent interest rate cut
will help buyers make a decision. With lower prices and interest rates, if this isn´t the right
time to buy, when will it be?" Chrane keeps clients informed and encourages them "to be
flexible with buyers. It is all about strategy in this market."
Below are two charts showing statistics for Maine and its 16 counties. The first chart lists
statistics for the month of December only, statewide. The second chart compares the number
of existing, single-family homes sold (units) and volume (MSP) during the 12 months of the
years 2006 and 2007.
DECEMBER ONLY CHART
From Dec. 1-31, 2006 and Dec. 1-31, 2007
County # Units Sold # Units Sold % MSP MSP % Chng
2006 2007 Chng 2006 2007
STATEWIDE 971 745 -23.27% $195,000 $186,000 -4.62%
FULL YEAR CHART
From Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2006 and Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2007
County # Units Sold # Units Sold % MSP MSP % Chng
2006 2007 Chng 2006 2007
STATEWIDE 13359 12014 -10.07% $192,519 $194,000 0.77%
Androscoggin 1034 859 -16.92% $161,950 $160,000 -1.20%
Aroostook 399 366 -8.27% $80,000 $85,000 6.25%
Cumberland 3181 2949 -7.29% $250,000 $251,000 0.40%
Franklin 358 291 -18.72% $130,000 $138,000 6.15%
Hancock 573 518 -9.60% $203,000 $205,000 0.99%
Kennebec 1251 1070 -14.47% $149,900 $150,000 0.07%
Knox 446 462 3.59% $215,000 $218,100 1.44%
Lincoln 388 370 -4.64% $236,250 $225,000 -4.76%
Oxford 631 561 -11.09% $150,000 $149,900 -0.07%
Penobscot 1475 1336 -9.42% $143,000 $140,000 -2.10%
Piscataquis 242 201 -16.94% $110,000 $116,000 5.45%
Sagadahoc 404 346 -14.36% $199,000 $200,000 0.50%
Somerset 401 340 -15.21% $108,500 $110,000 1.38%
Waldo 386 356 -7.77% $158,500 $175,000 10.41%
Washington 58 55 -5.17% $103,163 $110,000 6.63%
York 2132 1934 -9.29% $239,900 $235,000 -2.04%
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 5,800 licensees inputting active and sold property listing data. Statistics reflect properties reported as sold in the System within the time periods indicated.
Click Here to request a current market analysis of your home.
The Tanya Busch Team
Keller Williams Realty Mid Maine
207-689-9880
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