February a mixed month for local home sales

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Home sales in the Mahoning Valley saw mixed results in February, with closings in Columbiana and Trumbull counties dropping compared with the same time in 2012, as the market in Mahoning County hit new heights.

The median sale price in both Columbiana and Mahoning counties continued its upward trend, whereas Trumbull County saw a slight decrease, according to figures compiled by the Youngstown-Columbiana Association of Realtors.

Closed sales in Mahoning County skyrocketed, increasing 40 percent, with 150 homes sold last month, compared with 107 in February 2012. The median sale price there fared the same, jumping 28 percent to $82,950, from $64,675 a year earlier. In Columbiana County, the median sale price increased by nearly 19 percent to $72,500, up from $61,000 in February 2012. Closed sales in the county dropped 19 percent to 46 homes sold last month, compared with 57 last year.

Closings in Trumbull County also decreased by about 8 percent, when 105 homes were sold last month versus 114 at the same time in 2012. The median sale price took a hit as well, dropping 4.7 percent to $62,450, down from $65,500.

The winter months traditionally are slow for the real-estate market. Across Ohio, however, home sales increased by 10 percent in February, marking the 20th consecutive months of gains, according to the Ohio Association of Realtors.

Statewide, the average sales price was $122,748 in February, an increase of 6.1 percent from last year.