SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
Best November in six years for local home sales
Dec 5, 2012, 1:42 PM | Updated: Mar 4, 2016, 5:53 am
A November falloff is typically expected by Northwest real estate brokers, but last month's slowdown was not as severe as expected. (AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
A November falloff is typically expected by Northwest real estate brokers, but last month’s slowdown was not as severe as expected.
In fact, members of Northwest Multiple Listing Service reported 6,522 pending sales last month, the highest total for November in six years.
New figures from the MLS show November pending sales rose 6.9 percent compared to a year ago.
As expected, the volume dropped from October’s total of 8,312 pending sales.
Closed sales and selling prices both rose during November versus a year ago, while the selection continued to shrink.
“There continues to be extremely low inventory levels and high buyer demand which is causing multiple offers in many local areas,” said OB Jacobi, president of Windermere Real Estate. He also there was a “definite uptick” in the number of cash buyers, “many of which are investors.”
Area-wide, the median sales price on last month’s closed sales of single family homes and condominiums was $258,500. Last month’s price gains on these closings were led by Jefferson County (up 26.2 percent), Grant County (up 23.5 percent) and King County (up 21.8 percent).
Single family homes sold last month for a median price of $269,000, while condos fetched $185,000.
In King County, single family homes that closed during November commanded the highest price at $385,000 (up 19.7 percent), edging out San Juan County’s median selling price of $375,000.
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