Continued improvement in area home sales may show a strengthening economy and confidence among home buyers, according to the Warren Area board of Realtors.
There were 146 homes sold in Trumbull county in June compared to 139 sales during the same period in 2011. Median prices of homes increased from $63,600 in June 2011 to $76,500 in June.
Although there was a year-to-year increase in the total number of sales in June, the county saw a monthly decline in the number of home sales from 165 in May. The median price of the homes sold in May was $75,000.
Homes sold faster in 2012 than in 2011. In June, the median home was on sale for an average of 64 days compared to 124 days in June 2011.
In Mahoning County, there were 205 homes sold in June at a median price of $87,500, compared to 167 homes sold in June 2011 at a median of $75,000. The median home was on sale for 82 days in June compared to 67 in June 2011.
There were 65 units sold in Columbiana County in both June 2012 and 2011. The median selling price in June was $74,000 compared to $63,000 in June 2011. The total number of days the houses that sold was on sale was 73 days in June compared to 63 days in June 2011.
Evonne Smith, president of the Warren Area Board of Realtors, said people are beginning to make the jump into buying.
"The interest rates are so low and people are taking advantage of available programs," she said. "I know my company has gone through our inventory."
Smith believes the area is approaching a stable period where there will not be a large backlog of houses waiting to be sold and people ready to purchase.