Midsummer home sale and listing activity appears to be down from a year ago in Lewis County, according to a report released Wednesday by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
The number of homes actively listed in Lewis County fell 10 percent, from 744 last July to 668 in July 2014; the number of new listings fell from 157 to 148 over the same time period.
Pending sales, described as agreed-to sales that have not yet been finalized, represented the only category in the NWMLS report to see a gain over the year. Pending sales rose from 101 last July to 112 this year, a gain of 11 percent.
Closed sales were also down, but only slightly, falling from 79 to 76 year over year. Median home price across the county dipped from $146,500 in July 2013 to $139,500 this year.
Comparing June 2014 to July 2014, new listings fell by 13 from 161 to 148; 25 more active listings were reported in July, up from 643 to 668; pending sales were slightly off from 116 to 112; and median price was down $5,500 from $145,000.
A news release from the Bellevue-based NWMLS indicated more people listed their homes across the state this July as compared to last year, but several brokers state inventory still remains at levels under what they consider to be a balanced housing market.
Better news came out of Grays Harbor County this month, as the median home price surged 19 percent from July 2013’s figure of $111,000 to last month’s $131,900. That jump corresponded with an increase in new listings from 177 to 197 over the same time period, and a 27 percent jump in closed sales from 66 to 84 year to year.
Thurston County had the best month of all local counties that report to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, with gains made in every category. Most notably, 16 percent more homes are listed now than last July, and pending sales jumped correspondingly from 425 to 481.
NWMLS reported a statewide median home price of $299,335, up nearly 7 percent from a year ago. Active listings were up 8 percent to 23,581, and pending sales rose 5 percent from 9,909 to 9,484.
