Home prices, sales remain strong

Published 9:00 pm Monday, December 5, 2005

Bubble? What bubble?

While many areas of the country are reporting that their housing bubble is losing gas, that’s still not the case in Snohomish County.

If fact, the only negative number for the county’s housing market in November was the number of listings available to buyers, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Choices were down 10.54 percent, compared to November 2004.

Pending sales, those started but not completed, were up more than 9 percent last month, closed sales were up 13 percent and the combined median price for single-family homes and condos was up nearly 22 percent from a year ago.

Single-family houses alone posted a median price of $318,950, meaning half the homes sold for more and half sold for less. Last year at this time, the median single-family home price was $259,725.

For condos, the median was $185,000 compared to $169,950 in November 2004.

In Island County, prices soared even higher, climbing 30.39 percent to a median price of $222,000, according to the listing service.

There, listings rose by 2.4 percent in November, while sales dropped almost 19 percent higher.

Here’s an area-by-area look for Snohomish County:

Maltby and southeast Snohomish County: There were 171 homes sold here last month, 29 more than a year ago. Median price was $370,000, up 27.24 percent from one year ago.

Lynnwood, Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace: There were 268 homes sold for a median price of $311,975, a 13.45 percent increase.

Everett, Mill Creek: Homes sold numbered 268, up 21. The median price was $315,000, up 32 percent.

Snohomish Valley: There were 247 homes sold here last month, 16.5 percent than a year ago.

Lake Stevens, Granite Falls, Darrington: There were 127 homes sold here last month, five more than a year ago.

Stanwood, Marysville: There were 247 homes sold here, 16.5 percent more than a year ago.

Herald writer Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459 or benbow@heraldnet.com.