March home sales rise, but still down year over year

By Rolf Boone | The Olympian • Published April 07, 2009

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More homes sold in Thurston County in March than in the previous two months, although year-over-year sales still fell nearly 32 percent between March 2008 and March 2009, according to Northwest Multiple Listing Service data.

Last month, 214 single-family residences and condos were sold in the county. That�s much better than the 147 homes that sold in February and the 177 homes that sold in January, but still was lower than the 314 units that sold in March 2008, the data show.

Median prices also fell nearly 4 percent in the year-over-year March period to $240,000 from $249,000, although the price drop wasn�t nearly as steep as in some Western Washington counties. Year-over-year median prices fell nearly 18 percent in King County and more than 11 percent in Pierce County, according to the data.

The total number of houses for sale in the county also was lower in March. Year-over-year total active listings fell 21.53 percent to 1,615 units from 2,058 listings, the data show.

Year-over-year data for single-family residences show:

� Single-family residence sales fell 28 percent to 214 units from 298 units

� Single-family residence median prices fell 4.22 percent to $240,000 from $250,585

� Single-family residence listings fell 21.67 percent to 1,551 units from 1,980 units

For condos in the year-over-year period, the data show:

� Condo sales fell to zero from 16 units

� Condo median prices were unchanged at $186,000

� Condo listings fell 18 percent to 64 units from 78 units

For more on this story, see Wednesday�s Olympian.