43
Housing sales stay positive in October
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
Mahoning Valley housing sales continued to thrive through October.
Mahoning County saw an increase in pending and closed sales. Closed sales were up 3.9 percent year over year in the county, and pending sales increased 22.5 percent.
Columbiana County saw a 12.9 percent increase in closed sales for the month and an 8.5 percent increase in pending sales, the Youngstown/Columbiana Association of Realtors reported Tuesday.
The positive data keeps real-estate agents such as Michael D. Klacik, broker at Klacik Realty in Poland, optimistic. Klacik Realty’s business is mostly in Mahoning County with some business in Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
“There’s a sense of stability,” Klacik said about the housing market. “That’s something that we didn’t have in years past. We have more stability and optimism for growth.”
New listings in Mahoning County increased 3.4 percent, according to data released by the real-estate association.
The average sales price in the county increased 12.3 percent year over year. Inventory of homes increased by 0.5 percent in October.
For the year, closed sales in Mahoning are up about 16 percent compared with last year’s figures through October. Pending sales are up 21.2 percent so far this year, and new listings are up 11 percent.
New listings in Columbiana increased 8.7 percent. The average sales price increased 4.4 percent in Columbiana. The inventory of homes for sales decreased by 3.7 percent.
For the year, Columbiana’s closed sales are up 2.5 percent; pending sales are up 8.6 percent for the year; and new listings are up 3 percent.
New listings in Trumbull were down 8 percent year over year, however, according to the Warren Area Board of Realtors.
Trumbull had an increase in pending sales, but not closed sales during the month. Pending sales were up 3.6 percent in the county and closed sales were down 4.4 percent.
The average sales price increased by 2.6 percent in Trumbull, but the inventory of homes decreased by 7.5 percent.
For the year, the county’s closed sales are up 9.4 percent; pending sales are up 13 percent; and new listings are up 0.3 percent.
Klacik said overall, 2015 has been a good year, “and I think most agencies would say that.”