David F Joslin, Jr

The September housing market statistics for Delaware County...

• The number of units listed for sale INCREASED a whopping 21.6% over the number of units listed in August '09 and is DOWN 6.1% over the number of homes listed in September ‘08.

• The Average list price is UP 2% over August 2009 list price and is DOWN 16% over September 2008 average list price.

• The Average SOLD price is DOWN 10% over August 2009 which is the second consecutive decline. The year over year increase in the SOLD price, this year, September 2009 compared to September 2008: the SOLD Price is down 9.8%.

• The Average Days on Market DECREASED to 73 days, a 5.5% DECREASE over last month's 77 days on market average.

• September showed 421 homes sold in Delaware County compared to the 510 homes sold in August 2009, a decrease of 17.5%.

Read these stats as you wish, because listening to the national media will only confuse us in this local market place. The number of homes for sale increased as did the average list price while the days on market decreased, which are all positive for home sellers but the buyers are still getting some good deals out there as the actual sold prices have declined for a second straight month and are still lower than last year. Although the national association of Realtors® reported that existing home sales jumped up nationally the local residential sales in Delaware County tell a different story.

I do believe that the October and November sales numbers may be uncharacteristically strong since the first time home buyers credit is coming to a close and all of those home sales need to be completed by December 1, 2009. So when the numbers seem to jump, please stay in your seat, it does not mean we are out of this slump, yet.

Life happens and so real estate, whether high or low, will continue to sell. It's all just part of how you look at it.

- DJ

*statistics derived from TrendMLS provider of multiple listing services to the real estate community of Delaware County and many other surrounding counties. This is a residential home sales report for single family homes valued between $1 and $9,999,000

The housing market in Delaware County...

• The number of units listed for sale decreased 8.8% over the number of units listed in July '09 and is down 3.7% over the number of homes listed in August ‘08.

• The Average list price is DOWN 2.3% over July 2009 list price and is down just a smidge 0.8% over August 2008 average list price.

• The Average SOLDprice is down 7.5% over July 2009 which is the first decrease in 4 months. The year over year increase in the SOLD price, this year, August 2009 compared to August 2008: the SOLD Price is down 8.8%.

• The Average Days on Market decreased to 77 days, a 12.5% decrease over last month's 88 days on market average.

• August showed 501 homes sold in Delaware County over the 554 homes sold in July 2009, a decrease of 9.6%.

School's back in session and that typically means that the housing stats fall off a little. The national news has been a little better and Delaware County as a whole is still a good market with less than double digit losses (and/or gains) in most of the important categories. I am still standing behind my feelings that we will continue to see a rise in the homes sold in Delaware County simply because of the first time home buyers tax credit. But note, in my opinion, this infusion into to the housing market may be giving off some false hope to a total housing rebound.

Don't forget... You must identify and settle on your new home BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2009 to be eligible. And since the home buying process does not happen overnight you better be in the game NOW to have a shot with this program. This means we are approaching the time for first time home buyers to step up and buy their first home or lose that precious tax credit!

Life happens and so real estate, whether high or low, will continue to sell. It's all just part of how you look at it. - DJ

*statistics derived from TrendMLS provider of multiple listing services to the real estate community of Delaware County and many other surrounding counties

The housing market in Delaware County...

• The number of units listed for sale increased 7.7% over the number of units listed in June '09 and is down 16% over the number of homes listed in July ‘08.

• The Average list price is DOWN 3.8% over June 2009 list price and is down 2.7% over July 2008 average list price.

• The Average SOLD price is up 7.2% over June 2009 which is the third consecutive increase. The year over year increase in the SOLD price, this year, July 2009 compared to July 2008: the SOLD Price is down 5.7%.

• The Average Days on Market increased to 88 days, an 8% increase over last month's 81 days on market average.

• July showed 550 homes sold in Delaware County over the 563 homes sold in June 2009, a decrease of 2%.

Don't go thinking we are out of the housing slump yet! Much like the Cash for Clunkers program is giving the auto industry a false sense of hope, the first time home buyers program has helped stimulate sales but has not corrected the whole fiasco. I am still standing behind my feelings that we will continue to see a rise in the homes sold in Delaware county as we near the critical "first time home buyers tax credit" deadline but that this infusion into to the housing market may be giving off some false hope to a rebound.

NOTE: You must identify and settle on your new home BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2009 to be eligible. And since the home buying process does not happen overnight you better be in the game NOW to have a shot with this program. This means we are approaching the time for first time home buyers to step up and buy their first home or lose that precious tax credit!

Life happens and so real estate, whether high or low, will continue to sell. It's all just part of how you look at it.

- DJ

*statistics derived from TrendMLS provider of multiple listing services to the real estate community of Delaware County and many other surrounding counties

The housing market in Delaware County...

• The number of units listed for sale dropped 12% over the number of units listed in May '09 and is down 27% over the number of homes listed in June ‘08.

• The Average list price is DOWN 15% over May 2009 list price and is up 2% over June 2008 average list price.

• The Average SOLD price is up 7.77% (had to go for the lucky 7's) over May 2009. The year over year increase in the SOLD price, this year, June 2009 compared to June 2008: the SOLD Price is down 10% a little bit of a hit to the mid section.

• The Average Days on Market decreased to 82 days, a 12% decrease over last month's 93 days on market average.

• June showed 560 homes sold in Delaware County over the 396 homes sold in May 2009.

SO what do I think about the market? Listings are down and days on the market are down which means people are choosing to stay put in our area. A little bit less to choose from on the buyers side, at a lower price with less time to think about the purchase as homes are selling a bit faster. Adjustment to this crazy market is a tough thing for the buyers, just when they thought they had more time, poof the home is gone. I predict that we will continue to see a rise in the homes sold in Delaware county as we near the critical "first time home buyers tax credit" deadline.

Don't forget about that. You must identify and settle on your new home BEFROE DECEMBER 1, 2009 to be eligible. And since the home buying process does not happen overnight you better be in the game at least 60 to 90 days before December 1 to even have a shot. This means we are approaching the time for first time home buyers to step up and buy their first home or lose that precious tax credit!

Life happens and so real estate, whether high or low, will continue to sell. It's all just part of how you look at it.

- DJ

*statistics derived from TrendMLS provider of multiple listing services to the real estate community of Delaware County and many other surrounding counties

The housing market in Delaware County...

• The number of units listed for sale dropped 15% over the number of units listed in April '09 and is down 20% over the number of homes listed in May ‘08.

• The Average list price is up .008% over April 2009 list price and is up 11% over May 2008 average list price.

• The Average SOLD price is up 7% over April 2009. The year over year increase in the SOLD price, this year, May 2009 compared to May 2008: the SOLD Price is down 5%.

• The Average Days on Market decreased to 93 days, a 7% decrease over last month's 99 days on market average.

• May showed 391 homes sold in Delaware County over the 355 homes sold in April 2009.

SO what do I think about the market? Listings are down and days on the market are down which means a little bit less to choose from on the buyers side, which also may account for the slight increase in sold prices. So it is a classic case of supply and demand, as the inventory reduces the pricing increases. Don't get too crazy on me though, this is in no way a turning point in the market, it is going to be like this for a few more months as we teeter back and forth adjusting to the public perception of the economic state we are in.

Life happens and so real estate, whether high or low, will continue to sell. Its all just part of how you look at it.

- DJ

*statistics derived from TrendMLS provider of multiple listing services to the real estate community of Delaware County and many other surrounding counties