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Single-family home sales in Greene show slight increase

By Tom Wanamaker

ALBANY — Depending upon the county in question, area home sales in May were either up dramatically or markedly lower than sales recorded in April. Or else they remained constant.

“Sales gains were reported in 47 New York counties this month, with a collective sales increase of 11.8 percent compared to April,” said Duncan R. MacKenzie, the association's chief executive officer. “When compared to the national numbers, New York State's housing market is faring better, which is encouraging to see as we head into the summer months.”

In Columbia County, sales increased 38.7 percent in May with 43 homes changing hands, versus 31 in April. Thirty-eight homes were sold in May 2007, as were 43 in May 2006.

In Greene County, 24 existing single-family homes were sold in May, up slightly from the 20 sold in April, but behind the 27 in May 2007. This May's total represents a 52 percent decrease from the 50 homes sold in the county in May 2006.

Statewide, 6,623 homes changed hands in May. This represents both an 11.8-percent increase from April's 5,926 and a 26.4-percent decline from the 8,994 sold in May 2006.

Nationally, the association reported that existing home sales rose 1.6 percent in May over April, but dropped 14.5 percent compared to May 2007.

Median sale prices in the region were also a mixed bag.

Columbia County's median continued to fall, hitting $195,000 in May, down 23.5 percent from $255,000 in April. Columbia's median was $247,500 in May 2007 and $233,000 in May 2006.

Greene County's median sale price fell 10.4 percent, to $172,000, in May from $192,000 in April. This May's total also represents a 3.1-percent increase over the $166,775 median of May 2007. Greene's median for May 2006 was $179,335.

In Wyoming County, May's median was $84,500, up 12.7 percent from the $75,000 median in April. It is also a slight increase from $83,000 in May 2007 and from $82,330 in May 2006.

Statewide, the median sale price for an existing home was $210,000, identical to April's price, but down from $230,000 in May 2007 and from $235,000 in May 2006.

The realtors' association reported May's national median sale price to be $206,700, up 3.6 percent from April's median of $199,600, but down 6.8 percent from the $221,900 median in May 2007.

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