The Milwaukee Post

14 • Milwaukee Post • July 19, 2013 Regional home sales up 7.8% for June County sales up slightly over June 2012 By DWAYNE BUTLER Post Editor File photo "The cumulative level of sales through the second quarter reached a point not seen since early in the last decade," the GMAR said in a news release. Milwaukee County's average sale price through the first six months of 2013 was $96,457, a 13 percent increase over a year ago. Fourteen of the county's 19 municipalities saw price increases through the second quarter. The average number of days a Milwaukee County home was on the market through June 30 was 93 days, a 9.7 percent drop from the same period a year ago. "It still goes by price range," Ludwig said. "People 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE FREE AC CHECK Bay View St. Lukes Episcopal Church 3200 S. Herman St. 414-744-3736 Sunday Worship: 9 am Get Up To $1,000 in Cash Back with Tax Credits* On a NEW Carrier high efficiency heating and cooling system. 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Contact Dwayne Butler dbutler@conleynet.com 233447012 MILWAUKEE – Strong home sales in June helped drive the four-county Milwaukee metro area to a 7.8 percent increase compared with the same month a year ago, the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors reported last week. Milwaukee County was right on par with the same month last year with 977 units sold. A year ago, the county sold 969 units. Waukesha County posted an 18 percent increase, on 629 units sold versus 534 in June 2012. Washington County was up 17.4 percent, with 189 units sold versus 161 a year ago. Ozaukee County was up 7.4 percent, with 130 units sold versus 121 last year. All told, the 1,925 homes sold in June in the four-county region was significantly higher than the 1,785 mark in June 2012. "We can't keep them on the shelf any more," said Dan Ludwig, sales director for Shorewest Realtors' Lake Country office, speaking on the surge of homes sales. Milwaukee metro home sales through the second quarter of this year were 11 percent higher versus the same period in 2012. In the first six months of 2013, there were 8,839 sales versus 7,968 during the same span in 2012. Washington County led the way with a 28 percent increase, Ozaukee County was next at 12.1 percent, Waukesha County followed with 11.9 percent and Milwaukee County rose 7.7 percent. were waiting for the affordable time to come. And now with prices going up and (interest) rates up a percent in the last two months, people felt it was time to make their move." In a two-year comparison with 2011 unit sales, the GMAR reported that all four counties showed significant increases through the first six months. Washington County was up almost 82 percent versus this time in 2011, Waukesha County was next at 41 percent, Milwaukee County followed at 28 percent and Ozaukee County was up 19 percent. Combined, the four counties' totals rose nearly 36 percent. "While the June and second quarter sales figures are universally positive and show a robust market, an analysis of the second quarter of 2011 compared to 2013 shows how far the real estate market has come since climbing out of the depths of the Great Recession," the GMAR said in a release. Inventory levels also showed some optimistic signs during June, as well. There were 11,507 metro-area listings in June – a 12.2 percent increase over June 2012 – and an inventory level of 8.19 months, up slightly from May's 8.03 level. A year ago, the inventory level was at 11.88 months. The encouraging June levels helped boost the secondquarter listings 8.6 percent higher than during the same period in 2012. However, the GMAR reports that the number of listings for the first six months of 2013 is still behind 2.7 percent from a year ago because of a doubledigit decrease in homes on the market in the first quarter and small, single-digit increases in April and May. 233161097 Thermo-pane and Plate Glass Replacement, mirrors and Tabletops, Auto Glass and Windshield Repair, Glass Block, Shower Doors, Vinyl Replacement Windows. Free estimates, bonded and insured - Open Weekends!

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