Wrentham's Home Sales Slightly Up from May 2011

Wrentham saw 10 home sales in May, an increase from the eight sold in May 2011, a new housing report from the Warren Group says.

In addition, year-to-date sales are up. So far 39 homes sold in 2012 from 25 in 2011, The Warren Group reported.

Overall, home sales in Massachusetts were up nearly 35 percent in May, the largest jump since June 2010, according to the firm, which publishes Banker & Tradesman.

A total of 4,510 single-family homes sold in May, up from 3,350 the same month a year ago. This is the highest number of transactions recorded since June 2010 when there were 5,662 sales. May marks the fifth consecutive month that sales volume increased year-over-year in Massachusetts. Year-to-date sales are up more than 23 percent. A total of 16,045 homes have sold so far this year, up from 13,029 during the same period last year.

"The spring market has been especially strong in Massachusetts," said Cory S. Hopkins, editorial director of The Warren Group. "We're expecting home sales to continue to soar this summer, thanks to low mortgage rates and affordable prices luring buyers into the market."

The median price for single-family homes sold in May dropped more than 3 percent to $289,950 from $300,000 a year ago. This is the highest median sale prices recorded so far this year. Year-to-date, the median sale price of a single-family home in Massachusetts is $270,000, which is 1.8 percent lower than the $275,000 median price recorded during the same period in 2011.

"Prices are continuing to drop indicating buyers are in the driver's seat, and making good deals," Hopkins added. "For the second month in a row, the price of a single-family home is less than a condominium, a reflection of low inventory in the condo market and a number of less expensive single-family homes coming on the market in recent months."

The median sale price of a condominium in Massachusetts was $290,000 in May, a less than 1 percent incline from $288,250 in May 2011. The year-to-date median condo price rose 4.5 percent to $267,000 from $255,500 during the same period last year.

For the fourth straight month, condo sales also increased. Sales rose more than 50 percent to 1,881 from 1,247 in May 2011. A total of 6,326 condo sale transactions were recorded in the first five months of the year, a 21 percent jump from 5,227 the prior year.

Other local towns saw the following trends:

Canton:

• Home sales: 14 in 2012, up from 12.
• Year-to-date sales: 55 in 2012, up from 47.

Dedham:

• Home sales: 24 in 2012, up from 15.
• Year-to-date sales: 78 in 2012, up from 64.

Dover:

• Home sales: 7 in 2012, up from 4.
• Year-to-date sales: 21 in 2012, up from 13.

Easton:

• Home sales: 10 in 2012, up from 6.
• Year-to-date sales: 49 in 2012, up from 39.

Foxborough:

• Home sales: 11 in 2012, down from 13.
• Year-to-date sales: 45 in 2012, up from 42 in 2011.

Mansfield:

• Home sales: 11 in 2012, up from 7.
• Year-to-date sales: 48 in 2012, up from 35.

Medfield:

• Home sales: 19 in 2012, up from 10.
• Year-to-date sales: 56 in 2012, up from 35.

Needham:

• Home sales: 38 in 2012, down from 48.
• Year-to-date sales: 119 in 2012, up from 124.

Norfolk:

• Home sales: 6 in 2012, down from 9.
• Year-to-date sales: 28 in 2012, up from 26.

Norton:

• Home sales: 13 in 2012, up from 10.
• Year-to-date sales: 46 in 2012, up from 33.

Norwood:

• Home sales: 16 in 2012, up from 13.
• Year-to-date sales: 61 in 2012, up from 49.

Plainville:

• Home sales: 7 in 2012, up from 2.
• Year-to-date sales: 24 in 2012, up from 15.

Sharon:

• Home sales: 21 in 2012, up from 15.
• Year-to-date sales: 69 in 2012, up from 51.

Sherborn:

• Home sales: 6 in 2012, up from 3.
• Year-to-date sales: 23 in 2012, up from 13.

Stoughton:

• Home sales: 16 in 2012, up from 9.
• Year-to-date sales: 63 in 2012, up from 53.

Walpole:

• Home sales: 21 in 2012, up from 14.
• Year-to-date sales: 73 in 2012, up from 48.

Westwood:

• Home sales: 18 in 2012, up from 12.
• Year-to-date sales: 57 in 2012, up from 34.