Mahoning Valley home sales steady in July

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning Valley home sales were steady in July, as sales in Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties continued to nearly match or exceed those made last year when the market recovered at a robust pace.

Data from the Youngs-town Columbiana Association of Realtors show that closed sales in the Valley increased by 2.2 percent last month compared with the same time a year before. In all, 448 homes were sold in July.

In Trumbull County, year-over-year sales were up by 17.5 percent, going from 143 sold in July 2012 to 168 sold last month. It was the second-consecutive month that the market in Trumbull County made gains, but the median sales price slid 2.1 percent to $82,000 from $83,750 a year before.

Closed sales dropped in Mahoning County to 204 in July from 222 in 2012. The median sales price, however, increased to $90,000, up 5.9 percent from $85,000.

In Columbiana County, the median sales price continued to climb, reaching $98,400, up 42 percent for the third month of increases in sales price, according to YCAR’s data. Closed sales in the county were up 4.1 percent, where 76 homes sold in July, compared with 73 at this time last year.

The housing market across Ohio last month showed no signs of slowing as the state posted its 25th-consecutive month of increased sales.

There were 13,354 homes sold in July, up from 10,619 a year before. It was the best sales figure for July in Ohio since 2005, according to the Ohio Association of Realtors.

Across the country, though, the market for new homes seemed to temper with sales dropping 13.4 percent, according to figures from the U.S. Commerce Department, raising concerns that slightly higher mortgage rates could slow the real-estate recovery.