Real estate news from the past year has been tough for most home sellers, according to market statistics.
But if you sold a home in Catonsville or Annapolis in 2006, you made out better than most in the Baltimore region, statistics indicate.
Statistics from the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems Inc.?s market trend indicator show the average selling price of a home in Catonsville in December rose 13.9 percent from the same period in 2005, to $327,247 from $287,310.
“The Catonsville area is seeing fallout from Howard County and the surrounding area of overpriced homes,” said Ed Palmer of Keller Williams Select Realtors in Columbia. “The high [priced] market leaves young professionals to go to the western side of Baltimore County to purchase homes that are more affordable.”
The market trend indicator also shows the average price of a Howard County home in December was $459,898, a 1.42 percent increase from December 2005?s $453,444.
DyAnn Moree, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Catonsville, attributed the area?s small-town atmosphere to the growth in real estate values.
“It?s a unique area,” Moree said. “It?s a nice stable neighborhood that is convenient. It?s close to Washington, close to downtown [Baltimore] and near [Interstate] 95. We have everything to offer people.”
She pointed to older homes that usually offer larger square footage, a reviving townhome sector, and a retirement community for older buyers.
Palmer also pointed to townhomes, saying younger buyers moving into row houses are driving a renovation market.
“It?s fabulous what?s going on,” he said. “They are doing the right things to get things in shape.”
Both Palmer and Moree said the coming months bode well for the housing market in Catonsville.
“I don?t see it bombing or going up totally like it has in the past couple of years,” Moree said. “It will stabilize.”
Palmer agreed that prices will level and homes will return to its typically selling cycle of 60 to 90 days. The average days on market in December were 71 days.
“But we?ve got to get rid of the huge inventory of homes,” he said. “Once that inventory decreased we will see prices level out.”
Metropolitan Regional Information Systems Inc. posts data on its Web site tracking the average selling prices of homes throughout the area. A look at some of the data from December 2005 to December 2006.
» Annapolis 21401: Average selling price December 2006, $615,638, up 15.59 percent from December 2005?s $532,591.
» Baltimore?s Guilford neighborhood, 21212: Average selling price December 2006, $249,080, down 22.04 percent from December 2005?s $319,498.
» Bel Air 21014: Average selling price December 2006, $250,830, down from December 2005?s $297,645.
» Catonsville 21228: Average selling price December 2006, $327,247, up from December 2005?s $287,310.
» Columbia 21044: Average selling price December 2006, $425,322, down from December 2005?s $454,892.
» Ellicott City 21042: Average selling price December 2006, $657,274, up from December 2005?s $563,024.
» Ellicott City 21043: Average selling price December 2006, $485,961, up from December 2005?s $433,444.
» Pasadena 21122: Average selling price December 2006, $361,762, up from December 2005?s $347,962.
» Parkville 21234: Average selling price December 2006, $214,608, down from December 2005?s $222,978.
» Sykesville 21784: Average selling price December 2006, $373,663, down from December 2005?s $421,390.
More detail
The average selling price of a home in December 2006 was $309,639, up 1.01 percent from December 2005?s $306,539. A look at each area shows:
» Anne Arundel: Average selling price December 2006, $412,385, down from December 2005?s $429,449.
» Baltimore: Average selling price December 2006, $290,224, up from December 2005?s $285,188.
» Baltimore City: Average selling price December 2006, $185,086, up from December 2005?s $174,394.
» Carroll: Average selling price December 2006, $344,375, down from December 2005?s $378,007.
» Harford: Average selling price December 2006, $284,494, down from December 2005?s $296,880.
» Howard: Average selling price December 2006, $459,898, up from December 2005?s $453,444.
? Kelly Carson
