Real Estate

Reading Housing Market Continues Positive Trend

The latest numbers show that the number of homes sold in Reading in July compared to a year ago was almost a 50 percent increase.

Written by Patch Editor Les Masterson

The Reading real estate market continues to rebound.

July saw more an almost 50 percent increase in the number of home sales in Reading compared to a year ago that month.

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Home sales in Reading jumped from 30 in July 2012 to 42 in July 2013. Year-to-date, Reading has seen 152 home sales – compared to 131 a year ago, according to The Warren Group.

The median sale price is also on the rise. In July 2012, the median sale price in Reading was $412,500. This year, it was $479,000. Year-to-date, the median sale price is $465,200, which is an increase from $420,000 a year ago.

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"Many recent real estate reports have signaled a strong real estate recovery, and our numbers speak to that rebound," said David Harris, editorial director of The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman. "While consumer confidence and strong employment numbers continue to bolster the market, there's concern that higher mortgage rates and increasing home prices could dampen the revitalized market."

Middlesex County has also seen an increase in home sales this year (6,455 compared to 5,945 a year ago) and saw a better July than last year (1,524 this year compared to 1,246 last year).

The median sale price in Middlesex County in July was $454,500, which is an increase from $424,500 a year ago. So far this year, the median sale price has been $422,500 in Middlesex County – compared to $395,000 in 2012.

“The combination of buyers wanting to close and move in before the start of the school year and their concern over increasing interest rates resulted in another positive month in July,” said 2013 Massachusetts Association of REALTORS President Kimberly Allard-Moccia, broker-owner of Century 21 Professionals in Braintree. “Hopefully the activity of the past few months will encourage homeowners who are thinking about selling to put their homes on the market. Buyer demand is there, but the shortage of inventory often prices buyers out of the market.”

Home sales are also on the rise statewide.

“A total of 5,941 single-family homes statewide sold in July, up from 5,014 during the same month last year. This is the best month for sales volume since June 2006, when there were 6,152 sales. It's also the best July since 2005 when 6,672 sales were recorded. So far this year, 27,600 homes have sold in Massachusetts, up 3.5 percent from 26,647 during the same period in 2012,” according to The Warren Group.


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