Home Sales Data Suggests 2011 Will Edge 2010 Numbers
by January 19, 2012 1:35 pm 81 views
Ethan Nobles with First Arkansas News is dialed into the local real estate markets around the state.
On his web site, he captures activity from some of the bigger markets in Arkansas, which will dictate overall housing market performance when more market data is released from the Arkansas Realtors Association this month.
In central Arkansas, Nobles reports that despite 5 months of improving market conditions, December was a down month and, for the year, the capitol region saw home sales trail 2010’s numbers. For 2011, central Arkansas home sales finished 3.8% off the mark compared to 2010 and 11.3% below 2009’s numbers.
The average sales price last year was $165,666 in central Arkansas, down from $166,763 a year ago.
In northwest Arkansas, residence sales climbed 7.7% higher in 2011 from 2010. The average sales price for the year was $152,388 — down 4.3% from $159,261 in 2010.
The Fort Smith region posted a 2.4% gain in home sales during 2011, according to this report from The City Wire. The gain ended four consecutive years of home sales declines in Sebastian and Crawford counties.
And from the Jonesboro region, home sales in Craighead County and parts of northeast Arkansas improved. Sales were up 4% compared to a year ago. The average sales price in 2011 was $129,469, up 6.3% from $121,821 in 2010.
You can read more from Nobles’ reports here and here. All told, these markets suggest that home sales in Arkansas may eke out a small overall gain for the year. It doesn’t signal a big market recovery, but it’s better than the alternative.