The Milwaukee Post

MILWAUKEE — There was more good news for the Wisconsin home market in October with sales increas- ing 2.4 percent and prices rising 4.7 percent compared with the same period last year, according to data released by the Wisconsin Realtors Association on Monday. The statewide median price increased to $155,000, according to the WRA. "We've had good weather this fall and that's helped to maintain positive momen- tum in the state's housing market," said K.C. Maurer, WRA board chairman, in a statement. During the first 10 months of 2015, around 66,346 homes were sold, which is the strongest January-through-October sales pace since 2005 when 68,279 were sold, according to the WRA report. Urban areas saw strong growth during October with sales increasing 6.3 percent, while home sales only increased 4.2 percent in the southeast region of the state. The best-perform- ing area last month was the central region with an increase of 8.4 percent, according to the WRA. In contrast, sales fell 5.9 per- cent in the west and dropped 5.7 percent in the north in October relative to October 2014. "It's important to remem- ber that through the first 10 months of the year, all regions of the state are up by double-digit margins," Maurer said. "Comparing January-through-October sales this year to last year shows increases of between 11 percent and 12.6 percent in all regions of the state." Wisconsin's median home price went up 4.7 per- cent to $155,000 for homes sold in October, according to the report. "While prices have been rising, our housing remains very affordable," said WRA President and CEO Michael Theo in a statement. Theo said that home affordability will likely begin to fall in the next cal- endar year, explaining that a shrinking supply of homes on the market will lead to higher costs, as will the likely increase in mort- gage rates. www.wra.org — Conley News Service November 27, 2015 • Milwaukee County Post • 3 Wisconsin's home sales rose in October, prices increased 4.7 percent SALE ON NOW… HURRY! VENTA ahora HURRY, CUSTOM COLORS INCLUDED PAINT & STAIN from $ 6.74 GALLON 247329054 S T O R E W I D E EVERYTHING MUST BE SOLD! SAVE 50% OFF FIRST COME... FIRST SERVED • BULK HARDWARE • ELECTRICAL FITTINGS • SELECT PAINT • MANY ITEMS

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