Spring chill: Maine housing sales down 28%

SOUTH PORTLAND – The Maine real estate market remained cool in March with home sales down 28 percent and prices down more than 3 percent.

According to the Maine Association of Realtors, 650 homes changed hands in March, down from 908 homes in March of 2007. The median sales price was $187,250, down from $193,750.

The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of single-family homes nationwide were down 18 percent in March with the median sales prices falling more than 8 percent.

Sharon Millett of Coldwell Banker Millett Realty in Auburn says now that winter is over, she is seeing an increase in the number of home buyers who are active in the market.

Median sales price data were listed in the report by county, including these in the Bangor Daily News circulation area:

. Aroostook County Realtors sold a total of 53 single-family existing homes in Maine during the first quarter of 2007. During the first quarter of 2008, 43 homes changed hands, a decrease of 18.9 percent. The median sales price for the first quarter of 2008 was $88,500, an increase of 10.8 percent from the first quarter of 2007’s median sales price of $79,900.

. Hancock County Realtors sold 106 single-family existing homes in Maine during the first quarter of 2007. During the first quarter of 2008, 65 homes changed hands, a decrease of 38.7 percent. The median sales price for the first quarter of 2008 was $214,701, a decrease of 4 percent from the first quarter of 2007’s median sales price of $223,750.

. Knox County Realtors sold 84 single-family existing homes in Maine during the first quarter of 2007. During the first quarter of 2008, 58 homes changed hands, a decrease of 31 percent. The median sales price for the first quarter of 2008 was $211,000, a decrease of 8.3 percent from the first quarter of 2007’s median sales price of $230,000.

. Penobscot County Realtors sold 232 single-family existing homes in Maine during the first quarter of 2007. During the first quarter of 2008, 202 homes changed hands, a decrease of 13 percent. The median sales price for the first quarter of 2008 was $134,403, a decrease of 2.4 percent from the first quarter of 2007’s median sales price of $137,650.

. Piscataquis County Realtors sold 40 single-family existing homes in Maine during the first quarter of 2007. During the first quarter of 2008, 20 homes changed hands, a decrease of 50 percent. The median sales price for the first quarter of 2008 was $124,000, an increase of 38.1 percent from the first quarter of 2007’s median sales price of $89,798.

. Somerset County Realtors sold 65 single-family existing homes in Maine during the first quarter of 2007. During the first quarter of 2008, 50 homes changed hands, a decrease of 23.1 percent. The median sales price for the first quarter of 2008 was $81,250, a decrease of 11.2 percent from the first quarter of 2007’s median sales price of $91,500.

. Waldo County Realtors sold 63 single-family existing homes in Maine during the first quarter of 2007. During the first quarter of 2008, 61 homes changed hands, a decrease of 3.2 percent. The median sales price for the first quarter of 2008 was $170,000, a decrease of 2.9 percent from the first quarter of 2007’s median sales price of $175,000.

. Washington County Realtors sold 16 single-family existing homes in Maine during the first quarter of 2007. During the first quarter of 2008, nine homes changed hands, a decrease of 43.8 percent. The median sales price for the first quarter of 2008 was $136,000, an increase of 16.2 percent from the first quarter of 2007’s median sales price of $117,000.

BDN staff writer Anne Ravana contributed to this report.