Medford home, condo sales showing strength

By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent

The housing market is back in Medford, with sales in June and through the first half of the year eclipsing last year's figures.

While only 20 homes went under agreement in June 2011, last month 41 were sold, according to the Warren Group, which tracks real estate trends throughout Massachusetts.

In the first half of the year, sales surged too, with 49 more homes sold, for a total of 153 so far in 2012.

Median home prices remained stable at $340,000, the statistics show.

Condominium sales saw a boost, too, with 10 more units sold in the first six months of the year, for a total 78 placed under agreement.

The median price for those condos was stable, too, at $281,000, up from $274,250 at this time last year.

For town-by-town single-family stats, click here; for condos, click here.

The local sales remain in line with statewide numbers that show June was another banner month, the fifth straight this year for double-digit home sales increases.

Timothy Warren Jr., CEO of the Warren Group, said the indicators are pointing to a return of the housing market in the state.

"It's common to see strong sales volume once the spring selling market begins, but these numbers nearly parallel sales from two years ago when a government tax credit was being given to buyers," said The Warren Group CEO Timothy M. Warren Jr. "The local consumer confidence combined with low mortgage rates are evidently helping the market a great deal."

Overall sales in Massachusetts in 2012 are up 24 percent, with 21,567 single-family units sold, up from 17,397 in the first six months of last year.