Kansas home sales fell by 3.3 percent in May 2014 compared to the same period last year, according to new figures released by the Kansas Association of REALTORS®. Sales totaled 3,682 units in May, down from 3,808 units in 2013. In comparison, sales on a national level fell by 4.9 percent for the month.
“Home sales were remarkably strong in May given the tight supply of active listings” said KAR president, Chris Rost with Coldwell Banker Antrim Piper Wenger, in Salina. “In particular, we are seeing a lack of homes for sale in popular price ranges.”
Across the state there were 14,347 active listings at the end of the month. Supply of new and existing homes on the market – which is determined by taking the number of active listings and dividing by the number of sales – represents 3.9 months.
The statewide average sale price last month was $177,500, compared to $174,802 in May 2013. This represents an increase of 1.5 percent. The statewide median sale price last month was $148,000, the same as in 2013. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, the median home price in the Midwest rose by 4.0 percent to $165,900. The national median existing home price was $213,400, which is 5.1 percent above last year’s figure. The median price is the value for which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less.
According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate on a 30-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage last week was 4.17 percent.
For more than 90 years, the Kansas Association of REALTORS® has been the “Voice for Real Estate” in Kansas. Working for Kansas property owners, the Association provides a facility for professional education, research and information exchange among its 8,500 member licensees, as well as to consumers, government and the media. REALTORS® agree to abide by a strict code of ethics, and are held to a high ethical standard by their peers through their association membership. The term REALTOR® is a federally-registered trademark owned by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, and denotes membership in the non-profit Association.
