THE GOOD
Sales numbers for our Topeka Area REALTORS Association’s transactions for the first three quarters of 2009 have been published and there is cause for celebration if you are a homeowner in our area! The great news for our area is that our home prices have remained stable, if not increased compared to prior years. In fact, the median price of homes selling so far this year ($111,550) is about 3% over last year and about 4.5% over the top sales year of 2006. Now that great news will never be on the TODAY show, but that should be the headlines in our local news shows.
THE BAD
The number of homes sold in our area for the first three quarters of the year (1912) is almost 14% less than last year and 31% less than the magical year of 2006. Well frankly, that’s worse news for REALTORS than for home owners. REALTORS want to see more transactions because that means we earn more. But for homeowners, the decline in sales in our area is more due to a decline in supply and demand. Fewer buyers; fewer sellers; lower inventories of homes for sale: makes for a balanced market stabilizing home prices that has also been lacking the areas of the country reported on by our media. Even the Bad News isn’t that bad for homeowners.
THE UGLY
It is too cold too early! Don’t forget to unhook your garden hoses from the outdoor faucets. One night a freeze is going to sneak up on us and we sure want to avoid that call to the plumber!
Bryon R. Schlosser, CEO
