The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Ohio home sales started year with gains

Local Focus: Cincinnati for May 25
New 4 min. ago 5/25/12
Local Focus: Warren County for May 25
New 5 min. ago 5/25/12
Local Focus: Butler County for May 25
New 5 min. ago 5/25/12
Male teachers are rare in elementaries
New 7 min. ago 5/25/12
Fewer taking time off work
New 12 min. ago 5/25/12
> More headlines

By Chelsey Levingston, Staff Writer Updated 7:16 AM Thursday, February 23, 2012

Ohio home sales jumped 12.9 percent in January from the same month last year, the largest year-over-year percent gain for January in the state in 10 years.

Sales of single family homes increased to 6,022 units statewide in January, according to Ohio Association of Realtors. Average sales prices remain flat from last year at 0.2 percent less than January 2011, an average about $115,000.

The state Realtors association released its first monthly report of sales for the year today.

“Hopefully it’s a signal we’re ready to return to a more traditional marketplace,” said Carl Horst, Ohio Association of Realtors spokesman. “Compared to where we’ve been, this is certainly a good start.”

Home sales were up in Dayton and Cincinnati, but average sales prices were less than a year ago.

A total 995 single home units were sold last month in the Cincinnati metro region, including Butler and Warren counties, an almost 11 percent increase from 897 units sold the same time last year, according to the state association. The average sales price in January in the Cincinnati area was $137,996.

The gains do not make up for the total sales decline during the housing crisis of recent years. Home sales peaked in January 2007 at 7,802 single family homes sold, also according to the state association.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or clevingston@coxohio.com.

Share this article