FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Year-to-Date Real Estate Sales Up 23%, Median Price up 8.5% in Charleston Region
CHARLESTON, SC—(November 18, 2013) According to preliminary data released today by the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® (CTAR), 1,020 homes sold at a median price of $190,000 in October. Last October, 920 homes sold at a median price of $185,000 in the region.
Year-to-date 10,897 homes have sold at a median price of $203,947 in an average of 86 days. Compared to this point in 2012, sales have increased by 23% and median price has risen by 8.5%. Year-to-date figures in 2012 showed 8,842 sales at a median price of $187,894. Inventory rose very slightly, with 5,836 homes listed as ‘active’ for sale in the Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service (CTMLS).
“As we expected, we didn’t see much, if any impact from the government shutdown during October. Sales progressed at a normal pace and any transactions that were delayed by the temporary shutdown have likely closed. However, changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are impacting real estate in the Lowcountry, as rates adjusted for many residential and commercial property owners on October 1, who purchased or are purchasing pre-FIRM properties. This has affected the ability to buy and/or sell some properties classified as high risk, since the premiums on some properties increased significantly” said 2013 CTAR President, Owen Tyler.
CTAR continues to work with our state and national counterparts to ensure this issue is properly addressed by our legislators. NAR Past President Moe Veissi is scheduled to testify at a Congressional hearing sponsored by the House Financial Services Committee, Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, on Tuesday, November 19. His testimony will include several examples of high premiums and sales being delayed form the Charleston area. Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham and Congressman Mark Sanford have co-sponsored “Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act” H.R. 3370 and S. 1610, which would delay the flood insurance rate hikes until FEMA concludes its affordability study and can have time to propose and implement revisions to Biggert-Waters.
SEPTEMBER ADJUSTMENTPreliminary data reported for September 2013 indicated that 1,133 homes sold at a median price of $209,000. Adjusted figures now show 1,138 homes sold at a median price of $207,060.
BERKELEY COUNTY227 homes sold at a median price of $171,090 in Berkeley County in October. The most active area in the county was the area bordered by Jedburg Road, Highway 17A and College Park, with 60 sales at a median price of $160,915.
CHARLESTON COUNTYIn Charleston County in October, 566 homes sold at a median price of $288,147. West Ashley (outside I-526) was the most active area during the month with 80 sales at a median price of $197,219.
CHARLESTON COUNTYIn Charleston County in October, 566 homes sold at a median price of $288,147. West Ashley (outside I-526) was the most active area during the month with 80 sales at a median price of $197,219.
DORCHESTER COUNTY188 homes sold at a median price of $162,500 in October in Dorchester County. The most active area was Summerville/Ridgeville, where 80 homes sold at a median price of $163,750.
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With 3,700 members, CTAR’s mission is to promote the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, education and technology, and to ensure that its members are the primary source for real estate services in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Only those who are members of the Association of REALTORS® and its parent organizations are called REALTORS®.
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