Grant County home sales up in 2014

MOSES LAKE - More homes were sold in Grant County last year than in 2013 - the second year in a row that home sales exceeded the previous years' levels.

Area realtors recorded 768 closed sales of single-family homes and condominium units last year, according to data recently released by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. In 2013, 691 homes and condo units were sold.

Home sales also increased between 2012 and 2013 (by about 22 percent) as realtors recorded 566 closed sales in 2012, according to a previous Columbia Basin Herald report.

The Northwest MLS is a Kirkland-based organization serving 23 counties in the state. Its Grant County membership includes close to 150 real estate brokers from 28 different companies.

According to the most recent MLS figures, the median price of all units sold in the county in December was $152,040. In December 2013, the median price was $158,500.

However, the median price of units sold during the entire year last year was $157,500, up from the 2013 median price of $156,000.

The median price of a single-family home in the county in 2012 was $154,950.

Median price means that half of the homes sold for more than that amount, while half sold for less.

In neighboring Kittitas County, the median price of homes sold this past December was $224,990. Realtors there reported 55 closed sales and 47 pending sales (mutually accepted offers) that month.

In Grant County, there were 59 closed sales and 49 pending sales in December, according to the Northwest MLS. The pending sales had a median list price of $162,000.

Across the state, Northwest MLS members reported 6,284 closed sales in December, and a median price for those units of $290,000.

Members also reported 5,794 pending sales that month, which represents an 11 percent increase from pending sales in December 2013.

"December was one of the best Decembers on record," said J. Lennox Scott, CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate, in a recent statement.

Northwest MLS officials credited low down payment loan programs and mortgage rates as a boost to activity.

"In December, our brokers experienced high open house traffic and strong demand from buyers as listing inventory declined," Northwest MLS Director John Deely said. "Buyers are determined to take advantage of the continued low interest rates and to make their move sooner than later."

George Moorhead, another member of the MLS board of directors, said if the current level of activity continues, "we will see yet another sellers' market as inventory drops."

According to the data, there were 4,367 new listings added to inventories across the state in December, which was about the same as new listings added last year. However, there were only 17,659 homes and condos for sale statewide at the end of last month - down about 8.1 percent from last year's 19,214 active listings.

In Grant County, realtors had 421 active listings at the end of December, compared to 418 in December 2013.

To see more housing market data, visit www.northwestmls.com.