Local Market Update for York County, Maine

I'm happy to expand my typical rolling quarter statistics this month! Click here for a new page featuring interactive line graphs showing monthly statistics going back to January 2017. While there is still value in the rolling quarter statistics, I find it useful to view any trends in different formats. I will continue to do "The Goff Report" for the foreseeable future, but look for my stats page to improve over time and to include other counties in Maine.

Now, onto the quarterly update! I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but Median Sales Price increased yet again, this time up 10.36% compared to a year ago. While we can expect a seasonal slowdown in the coming months, nothing in the numbers seem to indicate the market as a whole is slowing down. 

Last month, I highlighted towns with the largest percentage increase in median sales price for the first time. Since some towns are smaller and have fewer sales, I limit this to towns with more than 30 sales during the previous 3 months. The winners for this quarter are:

1. Berwick - Median sales price increase of 30.43%!

2. Waterboro - Median sales price increase of 18.43%!

3. Saco- Median sales price increase of 18.25%!

Check out the graphic above and the numbers below for a snapshot of the real estate market in York County. 

Click here for monthly comparisons since 2017.

Rolling Quarter Update

York County, Maine

Number of Sales: The number of properties sold.

Median Sales Price: The midway final price of all properties sold. Half sold for more, half sold for less.

Median Days on the Market: The midway point of days between a listing going on the market and accepting an offer. Half were on the market longer; half were on the market for less time.

Number of New Listings New home listings during the month(s) specified.

Note: Sales were compiled on October 7, 2019, from Maine MLS data from sales of single family homes. 

Data based on information from the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. (d/b/a Maine Listings) for the period July 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018 and July 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019.

Local Market Update for Cumberland County, Maine

I'm happy to expand my typical rolling quarter statistics this month! Click here for a new page featuring interactive line graphs showing monthly statistics going back to January 2017. While there is still value in the rolling quarter statistics, I find it useful to view any trends in different formats. I will continue to do "The Goff Report" for the foreseeable future, but look for my stats page to improve over time and to include other counties in Maine.

Now, onto the quarterly update! Number of sales increased 5.58% year-over-year, an increase we haven't seen since I've started running rolling quarter updates back in 2017. What's odd is York County seemed to balance it out with a 7.02% decrease, though the difference was the exact number of sales (71 more in Cumberland County, 71 less in York County). I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but Median Sales Price increased yet again, this time up 6.45% compared to a year ago. While we can expect a seasonal slowdown in the coming months, nothing in the numbers seem to indicate the market as a whole is slowing down. 

Last month, I highlighted towns with the largest percentage increase in median sales price for the first time. Since some towns are smaller and have fewer sales, I limit this to towns with more than 30 sales during the previous 3 months. The winners for this quarter are:

1. Naples - Median sales price increase of 30.72%!

2. Bridgton - Median sales price increase of 27.12%!

3. Harpswell - Median sales price increase of 27.01%!

Check out the graphic above and the numbers below for a snapshot of the real estate market in Cumberland County. 

Click here for monthly comparisons since 2017.

Rolling Quarter Update

Cumberland County, Maine

Number of Sales: The number of properties sold.

Median Sales Price: The midway final price of all properties sold. Half sold for more, half sold for less.

Median Days on the Market: The midway point of days between a listing going on the market and accepting an offer. Half were on the market longer; half were on the market for less time.

Number of New Listings New home listings during the month(s) specified.

Note: Sales were compiled on October 7, 2019, from Maine MLS data from sales of single family homes. 

Data based on information from the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. (d/b/a Maine Listings) for the period July 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018 and July 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019.

Local Market Update for York County, Maine

The real estate market remains strong in York County despite widespread reporting of economic concern. Median Sales Price continues to rise (7.11% year-over-year increase!), new inventory available continues to decline, and homes are selling quicker than a year ago. The two statistics that may give some readers pause is the Number of New Listings and the Number of Sales, both of which continue to decline. This is causing sales prices to increase as there is more demand than supply, and it hasn't seemed to change much over the summer months. At some point one would assume there will be a tipping point, but it doesn't look like we've hit that point yet.

As a new feature, I'd like to highlight the towns with the largest percentage increase in median sales price. Since some towns are smaller and have fewer sales, I'll limit this to towns with more than 30 sales during the previous 3 months. The winners for this rolling quarter are:

1. Berwick- 38 sales with a median sales price increase of 31.49%!

2. Kittery- 38 sales with a median sales price increase of 22.43%!

3. Waterboro - 56 sales with a median sales price increase of 16.73%!

Check out the graphic above and the numbers below for a snapshot of the real estate market in York County. 

Rolling Quarter Update

York County, Maine

Number of Sales: The number of properties sold.

Median Sales Price: The midway final price of all properties sold. Half sold for more, half sold for less.

Median Days on the Market: The midway point of days between a listing going on the market and accepting an offer. Half were on the market longer; half were on the market for less time.

Number of New Listings New home listings during the month(s) specified.

Note: Sales were compiled on August 12, 2019, from Maine MLS data from sales of single family homes. 

Data based on information from the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. (d/b/a Maine Listings) for the period June  1, 2018 through August 31,  2018 and June 1, 2019 through August 31, 2019.

Local Market Update for Cumberland County, Maine

The real estate market remains strong in Cumberland County with no signs of slowing down, despite widespread reporting of economic concern. Median Sales Price continues to rise (7.14% year-over-year increase!), new inventory available continues to remain mostly flat, and homes are selling quicker than a year ago. 

As a new feature, I'd like to highlight the towns with the largest percentage increase in median sales price. Since some towns are smaller and have fewer sales, I'll limit this to towns with more than 30 sales during the previous 3 months. The winners for this rolling quarter are:

1. Bridgton - Median sales price increase of 35%!

2. Raymond - Median sales price increase of 22.31%!

3. Cumberland - Median sales price increase of 22.22%!

Check out the graphic above and the numbers below for a snapshot of the real estate market in Cumberland County. 

Rolling Quarter Update

Cumberland County, Maine

Number of Sales: The number of properties sold.

Median Sales Price: The midway final price of all properties sold. Half sold for more, half sold for less.

Median Days on the Market: The midway point of days between a listing going on the market and accepting an offer. Half were on the market longer; half were on the market for less time.

Number of New Listings New home listings during the month(s) specified.

Note: Sales were compiled on September 9, 2019, from Maine MLS data from sales of single family homes. 

Data based on information from the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. (d/b/a Maine Listings) for the period June 1, 2018 through August 31, 2018 and June 1, 2019 through August 31, 2019.

Local Market Update for York County, Maine

The Number of New Listings continue to decline in rolling quarter numbers compared to a year ago, contributing to the increase in Median Sales Price (7.15% increase!) in York County. Inventory remains low, and we haven't seen an increase in new listings since the December-February 2019 rolling quarter update. Sellers continue to be cautious about listing their homes because there are limited options to move. I don't see any indication of this changing in the near future as buyers entering into multiple offer situations is still common place at price points under $300,000. 

Check out the graphic above and the numbers below for a snapshot of the real estate market in York County. 

Rolling Quarter Update

York County, Maine

Number of Sales: The number of properties sold.

Median Sales Price: The midway final price of all properties sold. Half sold for more, half sold for less.

Median Days on the Market: The midway point of days between a listing going on the market and accepting an offer. Half were on the market longer; half were on the market for less time.

Number of New Listings New home listings during the month(s) specified.

Note: Sales were compiled on August 12, 2019, from Maine MLS data from sales of single family homes. 

Data based on information from the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. (d/b/a Maine Listings) for the period May  1, 2018 through July 31,  2018 and May 1, 2019 through July 31, 2019.

Local Market Update for Cumberland County, Maine

The Number of New Listings continue to decline in rolling quarter numbers compared to a year ago, contributing to the increase in Median Sales Price (7.16% increase!) in Cumberland County. Inventory remains low, and we haven't seen an increase in new listings since the January-March 2019 rolling quarter update. Sellers continue to be cautious about listing their homes because there are limited options to move. I don't see any indication of this changing in the near future as buyers entering into multiple offer situations is still common place at price points under $300,000. 

Check out the graphic above and the numbers below for a snapshot of the real estate market in Cumberland County. 

Rolling Quarter Update

Cumberland County, Maine

Number of Sales: The number of properties sold.

Median Sales Price: The midway final price of all properties sold. Half sold for more, half sold for less.

Median Days on the Market: The midway point of days between a listing going on the market and accepting an offer. Half were on the market longer; half were on the market for less time.

Number of New Listings New home listings during the month(s) specified.

Note: Sales were compiled on August 12, 2019, from Maine MLS data from sales of single family homes. 

Data based on information from the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. (d/b/a Maine Listings) for the period May  1, 2018 through July 31,  2018 and May 1, 2019 through July 31, 2019.

Local Market Update for York County, Maine

The first quarter of 2019 saw the median sales price dip 0.43% year-over-year, but the second quarter rebounded like Dennis Rodman on the '92 Pistons! Median sales price in York County saw an increase of 5.64% for the second quarter! Not a bad turnaround considering news outlets were screaming the sky was falling back in April. New listings and continue to decline, which is great for sellers, but it doesn't bode well for buyers still out there battling for homes.

Check out the graphic above and the numbers below for a snapshot of the real estate market in York County. 

Second Quarter Update

York County, Maine

Number of Sales: The number of properties sold.

Median Sales Price: The midway final price of all properties sold. Half sold for more, half sold for less.

Median Days on the Market: The midway point of days between a listing going on the market and accepting an offer. Half were on the market longer; half were on the market for less time.

Number of New Listings New home listings during the month(s) specified.

Note: Sales were compiled on June 7, 2019, from Maine MLS data from sales of single family homes. 

Data based on information from the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. (d/b/a Maine Listings) for the period April 1, 2018 through June 30, 2018 and April 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019.

Local Market Update for Cumberland County, Maine

The first quarter of 2019 saw the median sales price dip 2.34% year-over-year, and the second quarter rebounded like Dennis Rodman on the '92 Pistons (18.7 rebounds per game!)! Median sales price in Cumberland County saw an increase of 8.55% for the second quarter! Not a bad turnaround considering news outlets were screaming "the sky is falling" back in April. New listings and number of sales continue to drop, which is great for sellers, but it doesn't bode well for buyers still out there battling for homes.

Check out the graphic above and the numbers below for a snapshot of the real estate market in Cumberland County. 

Second Quarter Update

Cumberland County, Maine

Number of Sales: The number of properties sold.

Median Sales Price: The midway final price of all properties sold. Half sold for more, half sold for less.

Median Days on the Market: The midway point of days between a listing going on the market and accepting an offer. Half were on the market longer; half were on the market for less time.

Number of New Listings New home listings during the month(s) specified.

Note: Sales were compiled on June 7, 2019, from Maine MLS data from sales of single family homes. 

Data based on information from the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. (d/b/a Maine Listings) for the period April 1, 2018 through June 30, 2018 and April 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019.

8 Things Buyers Notice as Soon as they Walk In

Buyers notice everything – good and bad. From the moment they walk in the front door, they are trying to determine if this is the right home for them and their family. If you have your home listed for sale, paying attention to what the buyers notice can mean the difference between an offer and a missed opportunity. 

8 Things Buyers Notice as Soon as they Walk In

1.     Light – A bright home is inviting. Make sure you fill your home with lots of natural light or a soft evening glow. Even with vacant homes, I encourage my sellers to swing by (or I will) and turn the lights on prior to a showing. It makes a difference!

2.     Smell – Nothing is less inviting than a strong odor. Even candles and air fresheners can be overwhelming. Less is more and make sure nothing unpleasant is lingering. I recommend the Air Wick Scented Oil, Sugar Cookie scent if you need to keep a fresh smell in the home. Boiling cinnamon and wax warmers are usually a good option as well.

3.     Space – Remove any unneeded furniture and offer a spacious home which flows. Even better, get a staging consult prior to listing! Yes, you get one of those for free when you list with me!

4.     Ceilings – Of course you can’t make your ceilings higher, but make sure they are free from water stains because buyers will look up. Once you patch a water stain, be prepared to paint the whole ceiling as it's very difficult to match.

5.     Pictures and Personal Items – Remove personalization as much as possible so the buyers can imagine their family in the home. 

6.     Outdated Furnishings and Fixtures – If your home is filled with hand-me-downs, consider a professional stager. Replacing old wallpaper or outdated paint colors make a huge difference!  

7.     Dirty Rooms – Most important, clean everything thoroughly. Nothing is less appealing than a dirty home. 

7.     Ignored Maintenance – If you've let the trim rot, what else have you ignored? These are buyer's thoughts as they walk through your home.

Local Market Update for York County, Maine

Remember back in April when local news outlets told stories of a housing market slowdown and a whole collapse of Maine's economy was imminent? Things sure have calmed down on that front, and once again we're seeing an increase in median sales value, a decrease in days on the market, and less new listings than a year ago. Number of sales increased in York County too, by 8.84%. The seller's market continues for much of York County, though just a 1.4% increase in median sales price indicates that things might be leveling out a bit.

Check out the graphic above and the numbers below for a snapshot of the real estate market in York County. 

Rolling Quarter Update

York County, Maine

Number of Sales: The number of properties sold.

Median Sales Price: The midway final price of all properties sold. Half sold for more, half sold for less.

Median Days on the Market: The midway point of days between a listing going on the market and accepting an offer. Half were on the market longer; half were on the market for less time.

Number of New Listings New home listings during the month(s) specified.

Note: Sales were compiled on June 7, 2019, from Maine MLS data from sales of single family homes. 

Data based on information from the Maine Real Estate Information System, Inc. (d/b/a Maine Listings) for the period March  1, 2017 through May 31,  2018 and March 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019.