Uptick in Rockingham County Housing

Rockingham County saw some of the biggest gains in the state in terms of residential units sold so far in 2012.

Condo sales from October 2011 to October 2012 saw a 36 percent increase, to 811 units, according to the New Hampshire Association of Realtors. The statewide increase was 18 percent.

The median sales price for residential units grew to $260,000, a 2.4 percent increase. The median price in two other large New Hampshire counties, Hillsborough and Merrimack, decreased slightly.

The October numbers reflected the largest single-month median price increase in nearly five years, the NHAR reported Nov. 15.

In a press release, NHAR President John Rice spoke of the positive indicators thus far:

“This is now clearly a trend. We anticipated that increased numbers of sales would eventually lead to upward pressure on prices, and that’s what we’re seeing now. It’s not our business to predict the future, but on the other hand, it wouldn’t surprise me if we look back in two years and this was the turning point on median price.”

The median sales price of single-family residences sold in October was $212,000, an 11.6 percent increase from October 2011.

Five of New Hampshire's 10 counties saw median price increases last month, including a 19 percent increase in Rockingham County.

NHAR YTD sales and residential charts are attached here.