Housing sales rise, prices decline

By Don Shilling

LOCAL Home sales

Some statistics for April home sales:

The housing market had been hurt by local plant closings and layoffs, real estate agents say.

VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR

Mahoning and Trumbull counties saw big jumps in housing sales last month, while Columbiana County posted a large decline.

Average sale prices in all three counties were down.

Real estate agents in the Mahoning Valley have been saying for more than a year that the housing market has been hurt by local plant closings and layoffs. Plus, General Motors Delphi Packard Electric has cut thousands of jobs in recent years with buyouts.

Home sales numbers improved in Mahoning and Trumbull counties in April, however.

Mahoning County recorded 162 sales, which was up 26 percent from April 2007. The average sale price last month was $80,029, which was down 17 percent.

Trumbull County had 132 sales last month, which was up 14 percent from April 2007. The average sale price last month was $80,844, which was down 5 percent.

Columbiana County recorded fewer home sales in April. It posted 76 sales, which was down 25 percent from April 2007. The average selling price last month was $80,402, which was down 14 percent.

Real estate agents have said average prices could be down because prices are falling or because more lower-priced homes are being sold.

The figures were released by the Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors.