Press release

Home values and sales up in December and for 2019

Thu, 01/30/2020 - 7:15am

Sales of single-family existing homes in Maine jumped by double digits last month. According to Maine Listings, 1,497 homes changed hands in December—up 23.21 percent from December of 2018. Prices were also up 7.83 percent, reaching a median sales price (MSP) of $234,000 comparing December 2019 to December 2018. The MSP indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less.

Statistics for the entire 2019 sales year indicate a statewide 1.55 percent increase, compared to 2018. The yearly MSP rose 4.65 percent to $225,000.

After an up-and-down year, 2019 ends as a record-breaker,” says Tom Cole, 2020 President of the Maine Association of REALTORS and Managing Broker of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group in Brunswick.

Year-end statistics indicate the highest statewide sales volume and median sales price ever for Maine, reflective of high buyer demand, tight for-sale inventory, and strong pricing.”

Comparing December 2019 to December 2018, the National Association of Realtors reported a 10.6 percent national sales jump. Prices also rose 8.0 percent over that time period, to $276,900. Regionally, sales in the Northeast were up 8.8 percent, and the regional MSP of $304,400 represents a 7.4 percent increase comparing December 2019 to December 2018.

Home ownership continues to be a great investment, building equity and wealth over time,” added Cole.

Below are two charts showing statistics for Maine and its 16 counties. The first chart lists statistics for the month of December 2019 and 2018 only, statewide. The second chart compares the number of existing, single-family homes sold (units) and volume (MSP) during the entire sales years of 2019 and 2018.


DECEMBER ONLY CHART

December 1-31, 2018 – December 1-31, 2019

 

 

NUMBER OF UNITS

MEDIAN SALES PRICE

 

2018

2019

%Change

2018

2019

%Change

STATEWIDE

1215

1497

23.21%

$217,000

   $234,000

          7.83%

 

FULL CALENDAR YEAR CHART

From January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018 and

January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019

 

 

NUMBER OF UNITS

MEDIAN SALES PRICE

 

2018

2019

%Change

2018

2019

%Change

STATEWIDE

17864

18140

1.55%

$215,000

$225,000

4.65%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Androscoggin

1179

1171

-0.68%

$165,000

$175,000

6.06%

Aroostook

627

621

-0.96%

$90,000

$95,000

5.56%

Cumberland

4073

4086

0.32%

$307,000

$325,000

5.86%

Franklin

448

507

13.17%

$145,000

$145,000

0.00%

Hancock

778

855

9.90%

$210,000

$227,500

8.33%

Kennebec

1562

1599

2.37%

$162,500

$170,000

4.62%

Knox

617

562

-8.91%

$245,000

$236,125

-3.62%

Lincoln

559

594

6.26%

$228,000

$228,250

0.11%

Oxford

848

858

1.18%

$156,750

$165,950

5.87%

Penobscot

1728

1873

8.39%

$144,900

$154,600

6.69%

Piscataquis

350

344

-1.71%

$106,250

   $122,750

        15.53%

Sagadahoc

497

471

-5.23%

$229,000

$245,000

6.99%

Somerset

599

591

-1.34%

$115,000

$125,000

8.70%

Waldo

476

492

     3.36%

$180,000

$181,500

0.83%

Washington

370

396

7.03%

$119,500

$129,000

          7.95%

York

3153

3120

-1.05%

$279,900

$295,000

5.39%

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 5,400 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 Tom Cole  (Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group, Brunswick)  207-721-1000   tomcolerealtor@gmail.com  - President Elect Aaron Bolster (Allied Realty, Skowhegan) – (207) 474-9553 abolster@alliedrealty.net    For additional names: suzanne@mainerealtors.com