Consistent with reports we’ve shared in early 2010, the 1st quarter of 2010 has delivered significantly higher sales than the 1st quarter of 2009. Officially coming in at 13% higher, this past January, February and March demonstrated a busier and more active market that we have seen first hand in our office. While the numbers are not yet back to pre-recession highs, they do mark a noteworthy improvement for our local market.
Nationally, many areas saw increases in sales, particularly among 1st time homebuyers, who were wanting to take advantage of the tax credit. The home buyer tax credits officially came to a close April 30th (see Margie featured on the KBTX video discussing the end of the tax credit), but much of the business we have seen in our office has been among repeat buyers who were not buying because of the credit. This gives us reason to believe that this positive trend in sales is indicative of an improving economy here in BCS. We are fortunate enough to have weathered the national recession very well and we are hopeful that we will continue to see healthy activity in the Bryan-College Station housing market. Going into our peak season, we’ll keep you posted.
Here is the breakdown of homes sales for the 1st quarters of ’07-’10:
2007: 124 (Jan), 142 (Feb), 182 (Mar)
2008: 115 (Jan), 122 (Feb), 177 (Mar)
2009: 87 (Jan), 91 (Feb), 151 (Mar)
2010: 89 (Jan), 107 (Feb), 176 (Mar)