SEACOAST INVENTORY HITS RECORD NUMBERS
 

PORTSMOUTH - Seacoast sellers listed their homes in record numbers last month, according to the Seacoast Board of REALTORS. Buyers enjoyed the largest inventory of homes for April since at least 2006 and the most listings since last September. The 522 homes listed for sale was 13% more than last month.

            The spike in product did not induce more sales, however, as the 41 transactions in the nine sample seacoast towns precisely matched March totals. Still that was 37% better than last year and one sale ahead of both April 2007 and April 2008. It was also the best April for homes priced between $400,000 and $700,000. The 18 transactions were the most since December 2009 and the best mark for April since at least 2006.

            Condominium inventory experienced a modest 4.7% gain and closings exceeded last month by one sale with 23 transactions. Like the residential side, those 23 sales represent a huge 43.7% gain from last year.

            Condominiums also enjoyed a solid 24% increase in pending sales from last month. The 31 under-agreement contracts were the best since September, though five behind April last year. 

            "Sellers are confidently putting their houses on the market heading into the summer, which has always been the "busy" season for us,? said Seacoast Board of REALTORS President Joanna Rousseau. ?And while a large number of buyers have taken advantage of the tax credit many are stating it was not the reason they bought. I see all this as a real sign of encouragement and am looking forward to a great summer season."

2010 Seacoast Single-family sales statistics
(Nine sample Seacoast towns - These statistics exclusively compiled by John Rice)

Single-family residences
                                            Jan   Feb  Mar  Apr  May  June  July  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov Dec

Active                                 406  427   462  522

Pending                                25    24     39    37

Solds                                    18    24     41    41

    Less than $400,000            8    15     27    20

       $400-$700,000               6      7       8    18

       $700,000-$1m                4      1       3      2

       $1m+                              0      1       3      1

2009 Solds                            16   16     23    30    49     52     48     41    39     43    48    47

Condominium sales statistics
Active                                278  274   302   316

Pending                               16    24     25     31

Solds                                   13    10     22     23

   Less than $300,000            8      8     16     18

   $300-$600,000                   5      1       3      4

   $600-$1m                           0      0       3      1

   $1M+                                  0      1       0      0

2009 Solds                             3     12    18    16     20    28     35     17    18    29    23    17