The July 2010 Housing Market Report from the Long Island Multiple Listing Service has some mixed news.

Between January and July of this year the total number of closed sales on Long Island has significantly exceeded closed transactions reported during the same time period in 2009.   That is a result of the tax credit which was very effective in stimulating the housing market. However, as expected, now that the tax credit has expired, Long Island contracted sales have posted a 17.3 percent decrease from July 2009.  There were 2,386 purchase agreements signed in July 2010 compared to 2,886 last July.  This could be explained by the many would-be summer time buyers accelerating their purchases to take advantage of the tax credit.

In July, contracted home prices on Long Island were up and down amongst the three counties.  Contracted home prices is a forward-looking indicator since it represents what deals have been recently written, not what deals have been closed.   The July 2010 contracted median home price in Nassau County was $410,000 which represented a 2.5% increase over last July.  In Suffolk County, the July 2010 contracted median home price slipped to $325,000, compared to $335,000 a year ago.  Queens reported a contracted median home price of $350,000 which is 2.8 percent less than a year ago.

Industry experts predict that home sales in the short term are expected to slow before picking up later in the year providing the job market improves.  Joseph E. Mottola, MLSLI CEO says, “To sum up the local housing market, would be to say that it is really trying to hold its ground until the job situation improves. Only after the employment picture begins to brighten will a stronger demand for housing be restored.”

For more information about the market in your area – or to request a Free Market Value Report for your home please Contact Cheryl Grossman.  To view all homes on the LI Multiple Listing Service go to Cheryl’s Web Site.

The Dix Hills, Melville, Half Hollow Hills School District 2010, January-June, Bi-Annual Housing Market Report looks at the data from several perspectives.  What is happening now in the local housing market, how that data compares to past market activity and what those indicators actually mean when evaluating future market trends.

In their May Housing Market Report, the MLS of Long Island overall showed a 31% decline in the number of contracted sales during May from one year ago.  Housing inventory increased nearly 15% and the closed median sales price stabilized at around $350,000—about 4% less than a year ago. The drop off in pending sales was anticipated after the expiration of the federal tax credit which expired April 30.

Our local stats tell a different story. That’s why it is so important to know what is happening in the neighborhood.  I hope that you will find this report helpful.  It certainly is to me.  When someone asks me “How’s the market?”  I know exactly what the answer is.  The 3-page Report is available as a pdf file.

Mortgage rates are at historically low levels.  Keep in mind that an increase of 1 point in an interest rate translates to an increase of about 10% more for the cost of a mortgage .  Buyers should consider not only the price of a home – but also the cost of that home.  The big drops in housing prices seem to have stopped.  We may bounce along for awhile—meanwhile mortgage rates will not stay in the 4%-6% range much longer.  These low rates are an anomaly.  Once they normalize the home you want—at the price you want—may cost too much when you arrange for financing.

For more information or with any questions about this report, please contact Cheryl Grossman at 631-493-0542 or cheryl@liagent.com.  Live weekly market updates for Dix Hills, Melville and other areas within Huntington Township are available for download from Altos Research Reports by clicking on the widget – upper right sidebar.

Long Island MLS now produces a monthly video that gives a quick overview of the housing market and current real estate conditions.

For more information or to request a Free Market Value Report prepared especially for your home, please call Cheryl Grossman at 631-493-0542 or by email at cheryl@liagent.com.

I’m frequently asked, “How’s the Market?”  The chart below gives the best answer to that question.  Altos Research provides a unique market statistic,  ‘Market Action Index” (MAI) which illustrates the balance between supply and demand – based on the current rate of sales versus inventory.   Their market reports contain this statistic and you can Request a Free Market Report from Altos Research for any zipcode (and some areas) on Long Island.  Just fill out the quick form for a free market report on the Left Sidebar.  Altos Reports will email one to you.  If you would like a personal consultation for a Market Value Report for your home, please call me at 631-223-8549 or email:  cheryl@liagent.com.

These charts are based on Quartile Statistics, Last 90 days.  They are “Live” – so the stats will change each week.

In both Dix Hills and Melville, during the week of February 10, 2010, the Top Quarter and the Bottom Quarter of the Market are performing the best.

The January, 2010 Dix Hills, Melville Half Hollow Hills School District Housing Market Report shows inventory levels about the same as last month.  Considering that during January there were 45 new listings in the Dix Hills market (vs. 12 new listings in December) and 16 in Melville (vs. 7 in December) the total numbers for both areas were surprisingly sustained – nudging up only slightly.  You can view the full report by clicking on Dix Hills, Melville SD#5 Housing Market Report, January 21010.

The  2-page Report below lists all the  Homes Entered Under Contract and Closed in January, 2010 for Dix Hills, Melville School District #5.   The report also includes market stats for each area.

If you have any questions about these reports or want more infomration please contact Cheryl Grossman at cheryl@liagent.com.

The Dix Hills, Melville Half Hollow Hills 2009 Housing Market Report shows that sales numbers improved as the year went on.  The Median Selling Price in 2009 dropped about 12% from the year before.  However the Quartile Chart on page 3 (Chart 5) shows the preponderance of sales numbers below $600,000 – a change from 2008 – which affects the median price as well.  Although prices certainly have dropped, the drop across the board is less than 12% from the year before.   The “First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit”  had a positive impact on the housing market.  That tax credit is expires April 30 for homes to be in contract.  They must close by June 30.  Click on 2009 Housing Market Report for the full report in a pdf format.

Chart 1 -  The number of homes entered Under Contract in 2009 is a little less than in 2008.  The Median Listing Prices and Selling Prices are lower in 2009.

Chart 2 – Comparison of number of Homes Entered Under Contract in 2009 and 2008.

Chart 3 – Comparison of 2009 and 2008 Homes Sold.

Sales numbers were higher for 2008 than 2009,  Selling Prices were lower in 2009.

Chart 4 – Comparison of Number of Homes Sold by Month for both 2009 and 2008.

Chart 5 – 2009 Market Stats for Dix Hills, Melville SD#5.  The data for Homes Under Contract, Sold and Available are broken down by Price Range. 

Read the full report: Dix Hills, Melville SD#5 2009 Housing Market Report.

Comparison of Quarterly Stats of Sold Homes and the Median Original Listing Prices, Median Listing Prices at time of Contract and the Median Selling Prices at Closing.

Any questions or for more information please contact Cheryl Grossman at cheryl@liagent.com or 631-549-1993.  If you want to know the value of your home in today’s market, please call me for a personal consultation – no charge, of course!

The Dix Hills, Melville Half Hollow Hills School District 4th Quarter, 2009 Housing Market Report show an improvement each month—both in sales numbers and sales prices – after a drop from the 3rd Quarter stats.  September and October are lower than those in the same period in 2008, but the selling prices for December, 2009 are higher than December, 2008.  The 4th Quarter, 2008, Dix Hills, Melville, SD#5 MLS stats indicate that the Median Selling Price was $695,000 vs. $590,000 in 2009 (or down about 9.6% from last year).  The number of houses sold is about the same as last year—a little higher. 52 homes closed during the 4th quarter of 2008 vs. 55 homes closed in 2009 for the same period.   Click to view the entire Report.

You can refer back to the 1st Quarter, 2009, Dix Hills, Melville, SD#5 Housing Market Report, 2nd Quarter, 2009, Dix Hills, Melville SD# Housing Market Report and the 3rd Quarter, 2009, Dix Hills, Melville SD# Housing Market Report.

 Any questions or for more information, please contact Cheryl Grossman at cheryl@liagent.com.

The December, 2009 Dix Hills, Melville Half Hollow Hills SD#5 Housing Market Report continues the November trend of higher sales numbers in the mid-price range.  The $700,000 to $799,999 price range is doing very well.  In December, the Dix Hills median listing price for homes entered under contract remained around the same as November:  $749,000.   In Melville, the median listing price of homes entered under contract remained at $749,000 also.    To see the full report click on the image or Dix Hills, Melville SD#5 Housing Market Report, December, 2009. 

A 2-page Report listing all homes Entered Under Contract and Closed in December, 2009 for Dix Hills, Melville School District #5 also includes market stats for each area.

If you have any questions about these reports or want more infomration please contact Cheryl Grossman at cheryl@liagent.com.

The November, 2009 Dix Hills, Melville Half Hollow Hills SD#5 Housing Market Report shows an increase in the number of mid-level home sales.  The Dix Hills median listing price for homes entered under contract increased to $759,000 in November from $659,000.  In Melville, the median listing price of homes entered under contract went down some.  The numbers are more reflective of the price ranges of homes sold than changes in market value.  To see the full report click on the image or Dix Hills, Melville Market Report

A 2-page Report listing all homes Entered Under Contract and Closed in November, 2009 for Dix Hills, Melville, Half Hollow Hills School District also includes market stats for each area. 

If you have any questions about these reports or want more information please contact Cheryl Grossman at Cheryl@LIagent.com.

The latest market report data for Dix Hills, Melville for the week of November 30, 2009 from Altos Research Reports reflects an improving housing market.  The first chart shows the absorption rate for available homes broken down into quartiles for Dix Hills.

 This chart shows price lines for each quartile in Dix Hills for the past 180 days. 

The Market Action Index shows the absortion rate of available homes broken down in quartiles for Melville.

 This chart shows price lines for each quartile in Melville for the past 180 days. 

You can find reports for every area in the Town of Huntington by clicking on the Market Reports widget above in the right sidebar.  If you want a market report from another area, please let me know.  I’ll provide one for you.  Cheryl@LIagent.com .  www.LIagent.com