About Sumter County, SC

Home Sales Data, July 1-15, 2009 Sumter, SC

For the period July 1-15, 2009 there were 71 new listings posted. These were all residences; I did not include land or commercial properties. I looked only at Sumter and the surrounding area.

Lowest list price is $18,000 for a 69-year-old privately-owned home that the fellow paid $13,000 for two years ago and for which he has decided he now wants $5,000 more. I've been in this house; a fellow called and wanted me to go take a look for him and tell him what I thought. I took my husband with me -- it's not an area I'm comfortable being alone in. It's quite the specimen -- the first floor slants in two different directions. The windows are covered with plywood, even though some of them still have glass in them. I have no idea if any of the plumbing works; there were indications it might not. There appear to have been no efforts whatsoever made in improving or repairing the structure. And yet -- the fellow bought it for $13,000 two years ago, turned around six months later and tried to sell it for $27,000, then raised the price to $27,900, then changed agents and lowered the price to $22,000, then changed agents again and lowered the price to its present asking price of $18,000. He's an optimist, I'll give him that much.

Highest list price for homes that went on the market during this period is $669,900 for an executive home in an upscale neighborhood which the sellers purchased a little over a year and a half ago for $555,000. The price increase would reflect an uptick in market value of almost 21% in that time. Would that that were an accurate reflection of conditions (or maybe not -- that's part of what got us all in such trouble in the first place). A friend of mine lives near there and says in her opinion some "rich doctor" will buy the thing. Well, maybe. As long as he's paying cash (wouldn't it be nice, to be able to do that?) he should be okay. Assuming as he doesn't try to sell it again anytime soon.

Twenty of the 71 new listings were listed below $100,000, 41 were listed for above $100,000 and below $200,000, 5 were listed for above $200,000 and below $300,000, 3 were listed for above $300,000 and below $400,000, one was listed for above $400,000 and below $500,000, and one was listed for above $600,000 and below $700,000. Nine of the new listings are new construction, one of which is under contract and one which sold (closed) the same day it was listed (both are pre-solds). One new listing is a duplex, six have already gone pending (one after one day, two after three days, one after five days, one after 12 days and one new construction after 13 days), and two are listed as short sales.

Fifty-five properties sold (closed) during the period July 1-15, 2009. Lowest list price was $34,999 for a 12-year-old bank-owned mobile home that sold for $20,000 after being on the market for 54 days. Highest list price was $379,000 for a seven-year-old tri-level custom home on 6 acres, with a 2-acre pond, a stable, a sunroom and lots of other wonderful things; it sold for $365,000 after being on the market for 90 days.

Thirteen of the properties sold were listed at or below $100,000. Average days on market was 189 (ranged from 27 to 525). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 93.26% (ranged from 57.14% to 109.59%).

Thirty-three of the properties sold were listed above $100,000 and below $200,000. Average days on market was 199 (ranged from 2 to 684). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 97.12% (ranged from 84.97% to 103.43%).

Six of the properties sold were listed above $200,000 and below $300,000. Average days on market was 206 (ranged from 51 to 394). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 100.24% (ranged from 95.54% to 111%).

The three remaining properties sold were listed above $300,000 and below $400,000. Average days on market was 93 (ranged from 68 to 120). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 96.02% (ranged from 95.46% to 96.31%).

In contrast, for the same period a year ago (July 1-15, 2008), 81 properties were new listings. Lowest list price was $15,900 for an at the time 108-year-old bungalow which expired after being on the market for 367 days and has not been listed in the MLS since. Highest list price was $599,000 for an at the time four-year-old executive home in an upscale subdivision which is still available, having been on the market for 375 days so far and undergoing two price reductions to its present listing price of $524,900. Make them an offer, they might take less. Seven of the new listings have expired (including the one I mentioned earlier), 26 have been withdrawn, seven are still active and one is pending. Seventeen of the new listings were new construction, there were no condos, townhouses or duplexes. Three were listed as short sales.

During July 1-15, 2008 thirty-nine properties sold (closed). Lowest list price was $24,500 for an at the time 60-year-old privately owned bungalow that sold for $18,000 cash after being on the market 17 days. Highest list price was $284,900 for a new construction in a golf-course community which was on its second (at least) real estate agent and had been offered up for rent as well. It sold after (including every listing it had) 401 days for $275,000.

Nine of the 39 properties sold during that period were listed for below $100,000. Average days on market was 69 (ranged from 2 to 159). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 92.67% (ranged from 58.85% to 105.72%).

Twenty-three were listed above $100,000 and below $200,000. Average days on market was 173 (ranged from 1 to 332). Average list-to-sales price was 98% (ranged from 91.89% to 105.03%).

The seven remaining listings were listed above $200,000 and below $300,000. Average days on market was 122 (ranged from 58 to 205). Average list-to-sales price was 98.68% (ranged from 96.53% to 100.88%).

I hope your summer is going well. Try to stay cool!



(Based on information from the Sumter Board of Realtors®/MLS, July 20, 2009)

Sales Data for Sumter, SC 16-30 June 2009

This information is for residences only; I did not include land or commercial properties. I looked only at Sumter and the surrounding area.

From June 16-30, 2009, 82 residences came on the market. Lowest list price was $18,000 for a fifty-year-old A-frame house, privately owned and being sold as-is. Highest list price was $444,900 for a two-year-old waterfront executive home, 3,266 square feet with ceramic tile and hardwood floors, a security system, and custom upgrades including a brick fence. This house, by the way, is the same as a new listing I mentioned in the last report as being "astoundingly overpriced" and that it was withdrawn from the market after 5 days. It was listed then at $499,999. So they lowered the price a bit more than $55,000 and are trying again, with a different real estate company (and Realtor®). One of the new listings was posted and closed on the same day (listed for $51,000 and sold for that price); it was bank-owned and pre-sold. Another was listed and sold on the same day for $108,857, a pre-sold new construction that went so fast it never even got its own photo in the MLS. One was listed and withdrawn after two weeks on the market and a price drop of $10,000 (I checked the history - the owners have been trying to sell it for almost a year, they've gone through three agents and it seems they've decided to rent it out instead). Three of the new listings have gone pending. Eleven are new construction, and two are duplexes (one being only one side of the duplex, although the other side is available for the right price).

Thirty-eight properties sold (closed) between June 16-30, 2009.

Eleven of them were listed at or below $100,000. Average days on market was 113 (ranged from 28 to 291). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 95.88% (ranged from 78.95% to 105.67%).

Twenty were listed above $100,000 up to $200,000. Average days on market was 153 (ranged from 2 to 774 - if we eliminate those extremes the average days on market was 126). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 98.76% (ranged from 86.79% to 108.62%).

The remaining 7 listings were listed above $200,000 and below $300,000. Average days on market was 184 (ranged from 32 to 448). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 98.8% (ranged from 93.65% to 107.17%).

In contrast, for the same period a year ago 95 properties came onto the market. The lowest list price was $24,900 for a then-58-year-old which sold for $23,000 after being on the market for 47 days. The highest list price was $698,000 for a new construction in an upscale subdivision which was withdrawn after being on the market for 126 days, then immediately put back on the market the same day for the same price with the same Realtor®. It's still available, having been on the market to date for a total of 377 days. Of the 95 properties that went on the market a year ago 5 are still active, 31 were withdrawn, 8 expired, 5 are pending now, 3 were deleted, and 18 were new construction.

For the same period a year ago (June 16-30, 2008), 62 properties sold (closed). The lowest list price was $15,900 for a bank-owned property that sold for $14,000 after being on the market for 160 days. The highest list price was $395,000 for a then ten-year-old executive home in an upscale subdivision which sold for $375,000 after being on the market for 62 days.

I will note here that when I started doing the comparisons, it came to light that two homes that sold had been entered into the MLS incorrectly at some point regarding the date they went on the market, or the date sold. This became glaringly obvious when one popped up saying it had been on the market for minus-782 days and the other had been on the market for minus-26 days. I have no way of deciphering the reality behind this buffoonery, so I threw them out. Just so you know.

Eleven of the 60 homes remaining were listed for at or below $100,000. Average days on market was 107 (ranged from 48 to 199). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 85.67% (ranged from 47.74% to 100%).

Thirty-seven of the homes that sold were listed at above $100,000 and below $200,000. Average days on market was 174 (ranged from 2 to 489). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 98.58% (ranged from 86.72% to 103.92%).

Nine of the homes that sold were listed above $200,000 and below $300,000. Average days on market was 122 (ranged from 22 to 274). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 99.28% (ranged from 96.93% to 100%).

The remaining three homes were listed above $300,000 and below $400,000. Average days on market was 119 (ranged from 62 to 162). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 95.83% (ranged from 91.55% to 101.02%).

I hope you had a great Fourth of July. Here's hoping the summer brings more ready, willing and able buyers.

(Based on information from the Sumter Board of Realtors®/MLS, July 6, 2009)

Sales Data for Sumter, SC 1-15 June 2009:

This information was for residences only; I did not include land or commercial properties. I looked only at Sumter and the surrounding area.

From June 1-15, 2009 there were 77 properties that went on the market. Lowest list price was $21,300 for a 32-year-old 3BR/2.5BA house being sold as-is/where-is; it's not bank-owned. Highest list price was $499,999 for an (in my opinion) astoundingly overpriced home which, while it was a custom-built home (the sellers paid $395,900 for it a year and a half ago), is worth nowhere near the list price they were asking, which might explain why it was withdrawn from the market after 5 days and remains off the market now. Twelve of the new listings are new construction, one of those was withdrawn after 2 days on the market and two were pre-solds. One new listing went under contract the same day as it was listed (it's bank-owned), one went pending the same day but is not bank-owned, and one went pending after two days on the market. One new listing was withdrawn after being on the market for one day; the sellers bought it a little over a year ago and paid $140,000 (it was listed then for $199,900), and they listed it for $319,000. I have no idea what they did to it that would make it worth over twice what they paid, apparently it's been "completely renovated" and includes ten acres but the listing details don't say anything about gold-plated fixtures or a household staff being included in the sale. Yes, that's snippy you're hearing. In any case, it's no longer on the market. None of the new listings were condos or townhouses.

Thirty-nine properties sold (closed) between June 1st and the 15th.

Twelve of them were listed at or below $100,000. Average days on market was 153 (ranged from 1 to 263). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 92.25% (ranged from 72.86% to 100%).

Twenty-two were listed above $100,000 and below $200,000. Average days on market was 143 (ranged from 36 to 477). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 99.11% (ranged from 94.62% to 105.27%).

One was listed above $200,000 and below $300,000. It was on the market 40 days and the list-to-sales price percentage was 97.23%.

The remaining four were listed above $300,000 and below $400,000. Average days on market was 345 (ranged from 114 to 527). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 98.62% (ranged from 94.31% to 103.25%).

In contrast, for the same period a year ago (June 1-15, 2008), 76 properties went on the market (one less than this year - turnaround? Maybe, but there's not enough data to say one way or the other). Lowest list price was $16,900 for a then 38-year-old house that sold for $17,550 as is (termite damage and all) after being on the market for 42 days. The highest list price was $399,000 for a then 14-year-old waterfront home in a highly desirable subdivision, which was withdrawn from the market after 177 days (and a price reduction of $20,000). Just FYI - after being withdrawn, it was listed again with a different agency, where it remained on the market for 139 days. It's on the market now, with yet a third agency, and the price has been reduced another $29,100 to $349,900. They bought it in 2006 (ouch) for $309,900 and made significant upgrades. It could be they've upgraded it right out of the local market; it might be the only home in Sumter County with a reverse osmosis water filtration system. I have no idea why they decided they needed one; a lack of potable water isn't one of our problems. It also has a Brazilian walnut wood deck.

People frequently baffle me.

To continue.

Of the 76 that went on the market a year ago, twelve of them have expired, twenty-four were withdrawn, five are still active, one was deleted and one is presently under contract. Eleven of the new listings were new construction and two were condos/townhouses.

Fifty-one properties sold (closed) between June 1st and 15th last year. Lowest list price was $24,900 for a bank-owned property that sold for $22,900 cash after being on the market for 225 days. The highest list price was $925,000 for a two-story colonial built in 2000; it sold for $800,000 after being on the market for 334 days.

Sixteen of the listings that sold were listed for at or below $100,000. Average days on market was 97 (ranged from 3 to 228). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 97.32% (ranged from 81.71% to 102.36%).

Twenty-two of the listings that sold were listed for above $100,000 and below $200,000. Average days on market was 130 (ranged from 18 to 491). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 97.88% (ranged from 91.76% to 102.71%).

Ten listings that sold were listed for above $200,000 and below $300,000. Average days on market was 199 (ranged from 17 to 543). Average list-to-sales price was 94.83% (ranged from 72.54% to 100%).

One listing was priced above $300,000 and below $400,000. It was on the market for 96 days and the list-to-sales price percentage was 97.79%.

One listing was priced above $400,000 and below $500,000. It was on the market for 120 days and the list-to-sales price percentage was 95.67%.

The remaining listing was the highest priced one, listed at $925,000. It was on the market for 334 days and the list-to-sales price percentage was 86.49%.

That's it for now.

(Based on information from the Sumter Board of Realtors®/MLS, June 19, 2009)

For the period May 16-31, 2009, there were 59 new listings posted. These were all residences; I did not include land or commercial properties. I looked only at Sumter and the surrounding area.

The lowest list price was $19,900 for a 79-year-old, bank-owned house that needs "some work," with detached 2-car garage which judging from the photograph lacks doors but has more than sufficient exterior water damage. Highest list price was $495,000 for a seven-year-old custom-built home with over 3,500 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and listed as having a "Southern Living" floor plan.

Of the new listings, five were listed and closed (or pended) on the same day or a few days later, probably pre-solds. Four more started out as For Sale By Owners and ended up being quick-sales (one was agent-owned). One went pending after being on the market 5 days, four were new construction (including two of the pre-solds), and one was withdrawn after being on the market seven days; the sellers bought it in 2005 and were asking less than they paid for it then. Perhaps they decided to wait a bit longer -- a good idea, if they can.

There were no condos, townhouses or duplexes newly listed.

Fifteen of the new listings are listed at or below $100,000, 32 are listed above $100,000 and below $200,000, 10 are listed above $200,000 and below $300,000, one is above $300,000 and below $400,000 and one is above $400,000 and below $500,000.

Forty-two properties sold (closed) during May 16-31, 2009. Lowest list price was $56,900 for a bank-owned mobile home that sold for $47,000 after being on the market for 75 days. Highest was $272,500 for one of the pre-solds that closed after being on the market for 6 days and went for full price.

Eleven of the homes sold were listed at or below $100,000. Average days on market was 213 (ranged from 46 to 601; if we eliminate the one on the market for 601 days the average was 174). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 94.37% (ranged from 82.6% to 101.87%).

Twenty-two of the homes sold were listed above $100,001 and below $200,000. Average days on market was 133 (ranged from 5 to 379). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 98.32% (ranged from 84.97% to 104.4%).

The remaining 9 listings were listed above $200,001 and below $300,000. Average days on market was 238 (ranged from 5 to 562 -- if we eliminate the two extremes the average is 224). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 97.94% (ranged from 94.62% to 100%).

In contrast, a year ago during the same period (May 16-31, 2008) 73 new listings came on the market. Two were condos/townhouses, one of which is still on the market after 378 days and the price has not changed. Lowest list price was $35,900 for a bank-owned mobile home that was withdrawn after being on the market for 276 days, even after the list price was lowered to $12,950. The highest list price was $629,000 for a custom home on a waterfront lot in an upscale subdivision, which remains on the market even now and the price was been lowered to $499,000. Make an offer!

Seventeen of the new listings were new construction. Eight of the new listings expired, 25 of them were withdrawn, and five are still active. Most of the ones still active have had price reductions, some drastic, and yet they are still on the market. Perhaps if they'd been priced more competitively to start with....

Fifty-two properties sold (closed) during May 16-31, 2008. Lowest list price was $33,100 for bank-owned 57-year-old house on which the price was lowered to $24,000; it eventually sold for $13,000 after being on the market for 88 days. Highest list price was $369,990 for a two-story new construction that sold for $360,000 after being on the market for 53 days.

Ten of the listings that sold were listed at or below $100,000. Average days on the market was 87 (ranged from 37 to 159). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 85.15% (ranged from 54.17% to 100%).

Thirty-one were listed above $100,001 and below $200,000. Average days on the market was 149 (ranged from 23 to 795; if we remove the lowest and highest the average was 131). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 99.13% (ranged from 95.16% to 104.72%).

Eight were listed above $200,001 and below $300,000. Average days on the market was 111 (ranged from 3 to 205). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 98.44% (ranged from 94.8% to 100.1%).

The remaining 3 listings were listed above $300,001 and below $400,000. Average days on the market was 384 (ranged from 53 to 599 -- the 599-day one was a new construction that listed for $349,000 and sold for $313,000). Average list-to-sales price percentage was 97.35% (ranged from 89.68% to 105.07%).

See you on the InterTubes!

(Based on information from the Sumter Board of Realtors®/MLS, June 3, 2009)