Barnstable County home sales rose in February—unlike the commonwealth— which saw a drop in sales for the first time since December 2011, according to a recent report by The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman.
Barnstable County saw 182 home sales in February, which was an increase from 163 home sales in February 2012, a nearly 12 percent increase. However, because of a week January, home sales are down nearly 4 percent overall in Barnstable County this year compared to a year ago, according to The Warren Group.
Median sale price in Barnstable County saw a 24 percent increase in February 2013 compared to February 2012 while the overall 2013 median sale price was up by 8 percent.
Over the entire state, home sales dropped 5 percent in February compared to a year ago. It was the first drop since December 2011.
"Two factors caused this modest drop in February: low inventory and a comparison with a strong previous year of sales," said Timothy M. Warren Jr., CEO of The Warren Group. "Even so, I'm still hopeful for a strong spring market. As more sellers list their homes in the spring, activity will pick back up."
Median sale prices are up across Massachusetts, which Warren connected to low inventory.
"With such low inventory, we're seeing bidding wars - homes selling above the asking price," Warren said. "As prices rise, more sellers will begin to list their property which in turn pumps up sales volume."
Massachustts single-family home sales by county
| Feb. 2012 | Feb. 2013 | % change | |
| Barnstable | |||
| Feb. sales | 163 | 182 | 11.66% |
| YTD sales | 416 | 401 | -3.61% |
| Feb median sale price | $265,000 | $328,000 | 23.77% |
| YTD median sale price | $297,500 | $320,000 | 7.56% |
| Bristol | |||
| Feb. sales | 156 | 177 | 13.46% |
| YTD sales | 336 | 361 | 7.44% |
| Feb. median sale price | $216,250 | $209,700 | -3.03% |
| YTD median sale price | $210,000 | $220,000 | 4.76% |
| Dukes | |||
| Feb. sales | 26 | 11 | -57.69% |
| YTD sales | 48 | 22 | -54.17% |
| Feb. median sale price | $556,345 | $555,000 | -1.14% |
| YTD median sale price | $551,250 | $558,500 | 1.32% |
| Essex | |||
| Feb. sales | 273 | 254 | -6.96% |
| YTD sales | 493 | 517 | 4.87% |
| Feb. median sale price | $270,000 | $300,000 | 11.11% |
| YTD median sale price | $283,000 | $293,000 | 3.53% |
| Middlesex | |||
| Feb. sales | 481 | 487 | 1.25% |
| YTD sales | 971 | 1,025 | 5.56% |
| Feb. median sale price | $330,000 | $360,000 | 9.09% |
| YTD median sale price | $349,500 | $370,000 | 5.87% |
| Nantucket | |||
| Feb. sales | 12 | 19 | -25% |
| YTD sales | 19 | 11 | -42.11% |
| Feb. median sale price | $737,007 | $766,500 | 4% |
| YTD median sale price | $765,000 | $766,500 | .20% |
| Norfolk | |||
| Feb. sales | 285 | 237 | -16.84% |
| YTD sales | 571 | 584 | 2.28% |
| Feb. median sale price | $325,000 | $326,000 | .31% |
| YTD median sale price | $325,000 | $355,000 | 9.23% |
| Plymouth | |||
| Feb. sales | 266 | 232 | -12.78% |
| YTD sales | 495 | 490 | -1.01% |
| Feb. median sale price | $224,450 | $271,000 | 20.74% |
| YTD median sale price | $230,000 | $260,000 | 13.04% |
| Suffolk | |||
| Feb. sales | 75 | 80 | 6.67% |
| YTD sales | 151 | 166 | 9.93% |
| Feb. median sale price | $238,700 | $333,000 | 39.51% |
| YTD median sale price | $245,000 | $333,000 | 37.96% |
| Worcester | |||
| Feb. sales | 323 | 298 | -7.74% |
| YTD sales | 677 | 670 | -1.03% |
| Feb. median sale price | $174,000 | $200,000 | 14.94% |
| YTD median sale price | $180,000 | $198,250 | 10.14% |
| MASSACHUSETTS | |||
| Feb. sales | 2,366 | 2,246 | -5.07% |
| YTD sales | 4,802 | 4,833 | .65% |
| Feb. median sale price | $245,000 | $275,000 | 12.24% |
| YTD median sale price | $250,750 | $279,900 | 11.63% |
Source: The Warren Group