MONROE - March home sales fell statewide compared to last year, but area realtors are confident that sales will improve along with the weather.
The Wisconsin Realtors Association released its numbers for the first quarter of 2014, and home sales declined statewide for the month of March by 11.3 percent. Median housing prices decreased in Green County from about $146,000 in March 2013 to $130,000 in March 2014 and home sales dipped from 28 to 21.
Steve Lane, the association's board chairman, said in a news release that the dip could be attributed to an overly chilly winter that extended into March. Nate Lancaster, broker and owner of Century 21 Real Estate, echoed concerns about the winter, and said the typically high spring sales were pushed out about two months, thanks to the cold.
"Since we had such a bad winter, not a lot of people wanted to get out of their house and delayed the spring selling season," Lancaster said.
Home sales have seen slow progress following the 2008 housing bubble, but the numbers appear to show a trend towards growth. In Green County, 467 homes were sold in 2013 compared to 370 homes sold in 2007. The median price shrunk from about $139,000 for the average home in 2007 to $130,000 in 2013. Lancaster said he anticipates housing prices to rise throughout the year since there will be fewer homeowners looking to sell. He said his company has about 27 closing sales set for May.
"People are starting to get some consumer confidence back," Lancaster said, adding that their sales are up 15 percent this month compared to last year.
Lafayette County numbers are low as well, down from 10 home sales in March 2013 to eight for the same month this year. Home prices dropped from about $88,000 to $79,000 between March of last year and this year.
Joel Hedeman of Hedeman Real Estate Company said house sales in Lafayette County have always stayed pretty low, but land sales for dairy farms have risen dramatically in the past month.
"We didn't even really have people looking to sell in January and February since it was so cold, but now that milk prices are so high, everybody wants a dairy farm," he said.
Hedeman said he agrees the weather greatly determined sales in the area.
"The market is rebounding quickly after the cold, it's unusually busy, we are just swamped now," he said.
According to WRA, the first three months of the year are usually slow for sales, but as the second quarter rolls around, sales increase and comprise about 31 percent of the yearly total. April to June is typically the high point thanks in part to higher temperatures and lawns greening up.
"We are ecstatic as the market overall is really good," Lancaster said.
The Wisconsin Realtors Association released its numbers for the first quarter of 2014, and home sales declined statewide for the month of March by 11.3 percent. Median housing prices decreased in Green County from about $146,000 in March 2013 to $130,000 in March 2014 and home sales dipped from 28 to 21.
Steve Lane, the association's board chairman, said in a news release that the dip could be attributed to an overly chilly winter that extended into March. Nate Lancaster, broker and owner of Century 21 Real Estate, echoed concerns about the winter, and said the typically high spring sales were pushed out about two months, thanks to the cold.
"Since we had such a bad winter, not a lot of people wanted to get out of their house and delayed the spring selling season," Lancaster said.
Home sales have seen slow progress following the 2008 housing bubble, but the numbers appear to show a trend towards growth. In Green County, 467 homes were sold in 2013 compared to 370 homes sold in 2007. The median price shrunk from about $139,000 for the average home in 2007 to $130,000 in 2013. Lancaster said he anticipates housing prices to rise throughout the year since there will be fewer homeowners looking to sell. He said his company has about 27 closing sales set for May.
"People are starting to get some consumer confidence back," Lancaster said, adding that their sales are up 15 percent this month compared to last year.
Lafayette County numbers are low as well, down from 10 home sales in March 2013 to eight for the same month this year. Home prices dropped from about $88,000 to $79,000 between March of last year and this year.
Joel Hedeman of Hedeman Real Estate Company said house sales in Lafayette County have always stayed pretty low, but land sales for dairy farms have risen dramatically in the past month.
"We didn't even really have people looking to sell in January and February since it was so cold, but now that milk prices are so high, everybody wants a dairy farm," he said.
Hedeman said he agrees the weather greatly determined sales in the area.
"The market is rebounding quickly after the cold, it's unusually busy, we are just swamped now," he said.
According to WRA, the first three months of the year are usually slow for sales, but as the second quarter rolls around, sales increase and comprise about 31 percent of the yearly total. April to June is typically the high point thanks in part to higher temperatures and lawns greening up.
"We are ecstatic as the market overall is really good," Lancaster said.