Home values up in Maine; sales ease slightly

Fri, 02/23/2024 - 10:00am

Single-family homes in Maine are still highly sought-after by a variety of buyers. According to Maine Listings, the median sales price (MSP) in January 2024 reached $353,000 – an increase of 8.62 percent from January 2023. The MSP indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less. While sales dipped 1.98 percent, 743 homes changed hands last month compared to 758 in January 2023.

“As we move into 2024, we’re experiencing some positive news for buyers regarding Maine’s real estate markets,” says Paul McKee, 2024 president of the Maine Association of REALTORS® and Broker affiliated with Keller Williams Realty in Portland. “While still historically low, for-sale inventory has been trending upward, mortgage interest rates have softened since their highs late last year, and year-over-year price appreciation has been in the single digits for three straight months.”

The National Association of Realtors reported that sales across the country in January 2024 decreased 1.4 percent compared to January 2023, while the national MSP hit $383,500—up 5.0 percent from a year ago. Regionally, the MSP for single-family homes sold in the Northeast during January 2024 was $434,300, 10.1 percent above January of last year. January 2024 sales eased 5.9 percent compared to January 2023.

“Maine is a large state, but real estate is local,” adds McKee. “Whether selling or buying, consult a REALTOR® early to learn about local market conditions in terms of for-sale inventory, home values, and negotiating strategies to result in a successful and satisfying home purchase.”

Below are two charts showing statistics for Maine and its 16 counties. The first chart lists statistics for the month of January, statewide. The second chart compares the number of existing, single-family homes sold (units) and volume (MSP) during the rolling quarter of November (2022/2023, December (2022/2023) and January (2023/2024).

Maine Real Estate Statistics – January 2024 Housing Report 2/22/24—Page 2 of 2

JANUARY ONLY CHART

January 1-31, 2023— January 1-31, 2024

 

                               Number of Units Sold

Median Sales Price

 

 

2023

2024

%Change

2023

2024

%Change

 

Statewide

758

743

-1.98%

$ 325,000

$ 353,000

8.62%

 

ROLLING QUARTER

November 1, 2022—January 31, 2023 and

November 1, 2023—January 31, 2024

 

                               Number of Units Sold

Median Sales Price

 

County

2022-23

2023-24

%Change

2022-23

2023-24

%Change

 

Statewide

3138

2985

-4.88%

$ 325,000

$ 354,000

8.92%

             
             
             

Androscoggin

244

224

-8.20%

$ 287,500

$ 300,000

4.35%

Aroostook

162

133

-17.90%

$ 140,500

$ 140,000

-0.36%

Cumberland

591

578

-2.20%

$ 450,000

$ 525,000

16.67%

Franklin

82

77

-6.10%

$ 241,000

$ 275,000

14.11%

Hancock

159

127

-20.13%

$ 349,000

$ 400,000

14.61%

Kennebec

264

286

8.33%

$ 260,000

$ 287,000

10.38%

Knox

117

86

-26.50%

$ 375,000

$ 415,000

10.67%

Lincoln

82

98

19.51%

$ 377,500

$ 440,000

16.56%

Oxford

175

148

-15.43%

$ 260,900

$ 300,000

14.99%

Penobscot

325

295

-9.23%

$ 214,900

$ 245,000

14.01%

Piscataquis

74

64

-13.51%

$ 168,700

$ 175,000

3.73%

Sagadahoc

71

79

11.27%

$ 365,000

$ 381,000

4.38%

Somerset

127

124

-2.36%

$ 170,000

$ 204,500

20.29%

Waldo

85

84

-1.18%

$ 264,900

$ 349,450

31.92%

Washington

83

87

4.82%

$ 220,000

$ 215,000

-2.27%

York

497

495

-0.40%

$ 440,000

$ 452,000

2.73%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. (d/b/a Maine Listings). Note: Maine Listings, a subsidiary of the Maine Association of REALTORS®, is a statewide Multiple Listing Service with over 6,200 licensees inputting active and sold property listing data.  Statistics reflect properties reported as sold in the system within the time periods indicated. Contacts: Maine Association of REALTORS® President Paul McKee (Keller Williams Realty, Portland) – 207-831-3929  pmckee@kw.com  or Maine Association of REALTORS® President Elect Jeff Harris (Harris Real Estate, Farmington) 207-491-6001. jeffharris@harrisrealestate.net  For additional contacts: suzanne@mainerealtors.com