Real Estate Information Archive

Congress recently extended the home buyer tax credit closing date to September 30. The measure would give more time to thousands of qualified home purchasers, who through no fault of their own are unable to meet the current closing deadline of June 30; however the measure would not extend the deadline for home buyers to qualify for the tax credit. The deadline extension applies only to homebuyers who have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, but could not close before June 30.

The April 30 deadline created a surge of home sales in April. Let’s take a look at the local Chester County real estate market for June.

Downingtown Area School District saw a 8% increase in sold listings in June 2010, compared to June 2009.  Pending listings have decreased by  36% and active listings have decreased by 29%.  There was a 2% increase in average sales price to $339,082, while market times decreased by 8 days.

In the West Chester Area School District, there was an increase in Sold listings  of 27% when compared to June 2009.  While pending sales decreased by 31% in June 2010 when compared to June 2009.  Average sales price increased by 4% to $375,664 and active listings decreased by 9% from June 2009.  Market times have decreased by 7 days.

Sold listing have increased by 11% in the Coatesville Area School District in June 2010 when compared to June 2009.  The average sales price increased by 2% to $233,785 and active listings decreased by 15%.  The number of pending home sales decreased by 60% when compared to June 2009, while homes were on the market on average 23 days more than in June 2009.

A word of caution...markets within a school district can be very different from neighborhood to neighborhood. For the latest Chester County PA real estate market conditions in your neighborhood, please call me at 610-564-SCOT or visit ChesterCountyHomeSource.com.

Pending home sales have risen for three consecutive months, reflecting the broad impact of the home buyer tax credit and favorable housing affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

The Pending Home Sales Index rose 6.0 percent to 110.9 based on sales contracts signed in April. This figure is up from 104.6 in March, and is 22.4 percent higher than April 2009 when it was 90.6 and reflects increases of 7.1 percent in March and 8.3 percent in February.

Pending home sales are at the highest level since last October when the index reached 112.4 and first-time buyers were rushing to beat the initial deadline for the tax credit. The data reflects sales contracts and not closings, which usually occur with a lag time of one or two months.

Let's look at May real estate sales to see how the local Chester County market is faring.

Downingtown Area School District saw a 14% increase in sold listings in May 2010, compared to May 2009.  Pending listings have decreased by  56% and active listings have decreased by 45%.  There was a 13% decreased in average sales price to $292,054, while market times decreased by 34 days.

In the West Chester Area School District, there was an increase in Sold listings  of 29% when compared to May 2009.  While pending sales decreased by 32% in May 2010 when compared to May 2009.  Average sales price increased by 6% to $342,317 and active listings decreased by 8% from May 2009.  Market times have decreased by 31 days.

Sold listing have increased by 28% in the Coatesville Area School District in May 2010 when compared to May 2009.  The average sales price increased by 8% to $235,468 and active listings decreased by 7%.  The number of pending home sales decreased by 33% when compared to May 2009, while homes were on the market on average 6 days more than in May 2009.

A word of caution...markets within a school district can be very different from neighborhood to neighborhood. For the latest Chester County PA real estate market conditions in your neighborhood, please call me at 610-564-SCOT or visit ChesterCountyHomeSource.com.