Seekonk Home Sales Down, Swansea Sales Up

Seekonk and Swansea's real estate market are split, with Seekonk sales down and Swansea's outpacing the numbers from 2012.

Seekonk saw 12 home sales in August this year compared to 14 a year ago. Year-to-date, Seekonk has seen 74 homes sales, which is down from 91 from a year ago, according to The Warren Group, which released August home sales data on Tuesday.

Swansea's numbers went the opposite way. The town saw 17 home sales in August, up from 14 a year ago. Year-to-date, Swansea has seen 97 homes sales, which is up from 88 from a year ago.

The August median house price in Seekonk was $312,500, which is down from $235,000 from a year ago. In 2013, Seekonk's median sale price has been $250,000 – compared to $200,000 last year. In Swansea, the August median house price was $209,000, which is down from $220,193 a year ago. So far this year, the median sale price is $220,000 with last year's price at $200,000.

Bristol County numbers

Bristol County saw a 13.58% increase in home sales in August compared to a year ago – 393 this year compared to 346 last year.

Year-to-date, Bristol County has seen 2,268 home sales, which is compared to 1,993 sales last year.

The August median sale price increased from $230,000 to $251,000 this year. Year-to-date, the median price has been $245,000, which is an increase from $225,000 through this time last year. 

Concerns about Massachusetts market

Massachusetts surpassed 5,000 home sales in August for the third time this year.

There were 5,925 home sales in August this year compared to 5,205 last year. Year-to-date, 33,523 homes sold in August, which is an increase from 31,851 last year.

"Due to the seasonal nature of the real estate market, this is probably the last month this year we'll see such high volume. The busy summer selling season is coming to an end, but probably the year-to-year comparisons will stay strong for a while longer. This is further evidence of a strong market, and another great recovery year in real estate," said The Warren Group CEO Timothy M. Warren Jr. "It will be interesting to see if the Federal Reserve's decision to keep stimulating the economy will reverse the rise in interest rates and keep the real estate market rising."

The median sale prices increased by 10.6% to $340,000 in August compared to a year ago. August was the 11th straight month of median price increases.

For the year, median prices have increased by 12% to $325,000.

Though the numbers are positive, real estate experts remain concerned that the inventory of available homes may soon not meet demand.

“Buyer demand is steady, but folks are going to find it increasingly difficult to find a home if inventory doesn’t improve,” said 2013 MAR President Kimberly Allard-Moccia, broker-owner of Century 21 Professionals in Braintree.

There is also concern about the median home sale price increases in Massachusetts.

"I remain concerned with the steady price increases across the state," Warren said. "However, it seems the high prices aren't shutting buyers out of the market - just yet. The market is benefitting from pent-up demand."