April housing sales in the Valley, Ohio

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Home sales in April increased by 3.8 percent from March. However, sales activity decreased by 4.2 percent from last April, according to the Ohio Association of Realtors.

April housing sales reached a seasonally adjusted rate of 119,227. Compared with last year’s rate of 124,501, that is a 4.2 percent decrease.

April’s average home price of $144,734 in Ohio does show a 7.4 percent increase from the average price of $134,775 last April. There also was a 3.8 percent increase in sales from March’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of $114,915.

Some 14 out of 20 markets tracked reported declines around the state in sales activity, but all except three local markets showed an increase in the average home sale price.

“The Ohio housing marketplace began to shake off the lingering winter doldrums in April, as activity levels rose during the month to provide a solid start to the traditional home-buying season,” OAR President Chris Hall said in a statement. “We remain confident about the Ohio market — as interest rates remain favorable, prices continue to trend upward and consumers understand that long-term, homeownership is a tremendous investment.”

In Columbiana County, the average sale price for a home in April was $112,708, compared with $76,180 last April, according to the Youngstown/Columbiana County Association of Realtors.

A total of 59 sales were closed in April, compared with 63 last April.

In Mahoning County, 198 home sales were closed, compared with last April’s 208.

The average sale price was $94,405, compared with last year’s $89,072.

In Trumbull County, 151 homes were sold, compared with 132 last year. The average sale price was $85,504, compared with last year’s $79,312.SClB