Belmont Brings it Home (in May at least)

Brokers have not been doing "mother's hours", in Belmont at least. With about a week left in the flower month, 21 deals have been put into the books. 16 singles sold after 55 days on the market, compared to 11 for the ENTIRE MONTH OF MAY, 2010. In that 2010 May, 11 homes sold for an average of $754k. This year, the average price is a whopping $866 according to MLS.

Condo sales are down (3 so far vs 9 for last year's entire May) but average price is up (thanks to an 830K sale in Governor Romney's neighborhood.

Multis?...well, 1 on 2010, 2 in 2011 -- not much of a trend there unless you are looking at the trend of turning 2 Fams into mini Condo Associations.

So what's the mood in little Belmont? Well, as of today there are 107 props being offered for sale. Of the 58 singles in that group, 12 are currently entertaining offers (per flagging in MLS). Average days on market for those 58 singles for sale comes out to 81 days (note -- the ones that sold did it in an average of 55.
days).

And average price on those props still on the inventory shelf?...$1,148,178 -- nearly $300,000 MORE than the sold properties.

Looks like things are selling, but if you want to sell it, "ya" better price it where people can afford it.

May Fall Ours in Arlington (MA)

Get it? May fall ours...May Flowers?...Oh well.

A look at last year in Arlington shows up 64 sales in the residential world. This year, with a week or so to go, we've got 19 -- that's quite a fall. Unless there is a big change in the weather in the next week (and there "may" be -- 64 props are under agreement ready to close), we are gonna see a fall in sales.

Not that the folks who popped off those sales are complaining (well, maybe they are). Average sales for singles are up -- 527k vs 495 for last year. Condos ditto: up about 4k from last year. Fewer days on market meant that agents had more time to shuffle around the aisles of the new MarketBasket just up the road (maybe they shouldn't be doing that...there's 160 properties for sale in town!)

We are used to propes popping off the shelves in Arlington. Looking at the singles on market, we see the AVERAGE home is now on market for 71 days and counting; the counting won't stop until the dotted lines are signed. The homes that have already sold did so in 48 days on average (my listing business banged out in 30, but that is just me...note to self -- big pat on the back is due).

So where do we stand in all this? Maybe we are standing at the peak, or most likely a very long plateau...one thing is certain -- the grass is going to need cutting no matter.