Ohio home sales activity rises in February

Activity across the Ohio housing marketplace rose in February, as sales increased 2.7 percent from the level reached during the month a year ago, according to Ohio REALTORS.

Home sales in February 2019 reached 8,907, a 2.7 percent increase from the 8,676 sales recorded during the month a year ago. The average sales price across Ohio in February reached $184,480, a 10.5 percent increase from the $166,938 mark posted during the month in 2018.

"The Ohio housing marketplace was active in February, with positive pricing gains and an uptick in the pace of sales," said Ohio REALTORS President Anjanette "AJ" Frye. "REALTORS are upbeat on the market as we approach the start of the spring home buying season – with attractive interest rates, solid gains in average sales price, sellers realistic in their pricing expectations, and consumers understanding that long-term, owning a home is a tremendous investment."

Around the state, 11 of the 18 markets tracked experienced an increase in average sales price for the month compared to February 2018. Ten local markets showed an increase in sales activity compared to a year ago.

During the first two months of the year, home sales activity is a slight 1.2 percent behind the pace set in 2018. Year-to-date sales (January-February 2019) reached 17,088, just off the two-month pace of 17,298 a year ago. The average sales price during the period this year is $177,156, an 8.4 percent increase from the $163,393 mark set a year ago