The amount of sales dropped slightly, about 3%, over the same period last year. Here is the report.

The good news is that the average sales price jumped over 44% to $516,938 from $358,083. There were 17 new houses listed to bring the total to 73 currently on the market. Eight went under contract, and eight also settled.

Luckily the days on market dropped from the October Towson Home Sales Report from 292 days down to an average of 102, a huge difference in that month!

As we head into the end of the year, it will be interesting to see how these numbers flux again, and when the end of year report is ready, I look forward to sharing the results of the entire 2010!

Total sold dollar volume was down 40.91% and only four houses settled in the month, with seven settling last October. Though there were three fewer settlements, the prices on those four were up 3.4%, averaging $339,150 versus $327,986.

Twenty new homes came on the market, while ten went under contract, leaving 84 active listings for buyers to choose from. The time it is taking for houses to sell skyrocketed over last year, up 58.7% from 184 days a year ago, to 292 days now. This means it is taking, on average, the majority of a year to sell a house in 21204!

September 21204 home sale statistics were much better, which shows things are getting shakier as we head into the winter season. The October Timonium home sales report also showed a drop in number of homes sold, with prices rising a minimal amount as well.

For more details about your particular Towson neighborhood and your Towson house value, contact me!

Focusing specifically on the 21204 zip code, which includes Towson, Ruxton, West Towson, and the Riderwood area, the numbers are very positive, while the majority of Baltimore County home sales were down 25.7%.

Average sold price was up 13.38% from $357,496 last year to $405,325 last month. The one number heading into the negative category was the average days on market, dropping from 125 last year to 64 this September. Great news!

Homes on the market are averaging 89.35 % of their list price when they sell, showing that Towson houses for sale may have two different perceived values when it comes to buyers and sellers.

Contact me for more about Towson house values.

Email from Ruxton Graul's

The movie will be “Finding Nemo”, and will begin at 7 pm, and will be held at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 1401 Carrollton Avenue, Ruxton, MD 21204.

Graul’s is hosting the cookout featuring steak burgers, mac & cheese, watermelon, cupcake, bottle water, and their famous fresh squeezed lemonade.

Tickets for dinner are $5 each, and can be purchased at Graul’s Ruxton or at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Free popcorn during the movie!

$1 of each ticket goes toward the Towson YMCA Discovery Program.

So enjoy a nice night with your family and your Ruxton neighbors on Sunday!

The Mays Chapel Graul’s and Hereford Graul’s stores will be participating as well.

Festivities and fun will be held in the parking lot of the Ruxton Graul’s with children’s activities, balloon artists, live music and good times.

5% of all grocery sales on Saturday go to benefit the American Cancer Society.

The Ruxton Graul’s is located in the Ruxton Village Shops on Bellona Avenue in Towson.

21204 houses that settled had prices up $24,000. Under contract, however, was down around $106,500 (23%). I attribute much of that drop in February due to the two blizzards. Half as many new listings as last year came on the market (not surprising since they were buried under about 4 1/2 feet of snow), which the National Association of REALTORS® has found across the areas hit by these storms.

21204 Home Sale Statistics February 2009-February 2010

21204 home sales have remained strong, though, this year over last year, and have continued to be consistent over time. Though the amounts may rise some months, the graphs show a consistent level of sales and prices.

Here is the full report on median price on market dynamics for the Towson 21204 zip code.

21204 Home Sales Statistics 12/08-12/09

The good part for the owners of Towson homes in the $500,000 and higher range, is that finally these seem to be selling! 11 properties in December went under contract with a median price of $500,000. 14 properties settled in the same time period with that same median price.

The graph through the rest of 2009 has shown that houses have been consistently selling, but that the average sales price was under $400,000 (some months by a large amount).

Other good news is that sales and prices are up a tremendous amount over the same time period at the end of 2008, showing that Towson and 21204 seem to be in a recovery & stabilizing mode.

Click here for the full report.

I am excited to see how January’s numbers look, because I have been seeing quite a number of higher priced homes in 21204 going under contract since the beginning of a year. I will update you when those numbers come out!

There is always a sense of excitement — that a new year can mean great things.

What will happen in the Towson real estate market? Will it rise? Will it fall? Will it stay at its’ teetering stabilization point that it has been in? I think we will remain about where we are — I don’t foresee a jump, but I think our neighborhoods are strong and prices will remain strong.

What about the real estate market in general? A few economists, like the National Association of REALTORS (R) economist, think there will be about a 10% increase.

I tend to be cautious in my optimism, and think we still have a large number of short sales and foreclosures coming down the pike in 2010, which will drop values lower, or keep them at the lower prices we are seeing now. I truly don’t foresee a real true recovery until 2012.

What does this mean for Towson sellers? That your homes are still worth a great amount because our area has been stabilized. That being said, they are not worth what they were even two years ago, so you can’t think about those prices when considering selling your home.

What does this mean for Towson homebuyers? BUY! It is a GREAT time! Interest rates are still very low, and prices are much lower than they have been in years.

For a true value estimation of a Towson home as a homebuyer or seller, or to find if this is the right time for you to move, please contact me – I am happy to help!

Friday from 4-7 enjoy yummy appetizers that are easy to make! Saturday and Sunday, try some ”Over the Top” Holiday Favorites from 11-5.

Graul's Holiday Tasting Events E-mail Flyer

As the email they sent says, “Bring your family to join our family for a Taste of the Holiday Season”!

Graul’s continues to be a great cornerstone for both the Ruxton and Mays Chapel communities, offering good food both local and imported, and wine shops attached to complement your meals.

I love living near the Graul’s in Ruxton for both the convenience and these neat events they hold. We are there on a regular basis — and the staff really does make you feel like family!

So join their family this weekend and enjoy some delicious food while you are there. Another great reason to live in Towson or live in Mays Chapel!

What this shows is that the lower priced Towson homes are the ones that are selling best. The first week in June the median sales price was over $1M, but since then, it has been generally under $500,000.  West Towson house values are continuing to be strong, while the higher priced areas of the 21204 real estate market, such as Ruxton home sales, are not as solid.

Another interesting spike is the “under contract price” for the second and third weeks in August, but even more notable is the lack of corresponding “settled price” spikes, suggesting those homes did not go for their asking prices.

Consistently, there have been over 80 homes for sale in 21204, while on average only 2-3 of those homes are going under contract each month, and only 2-3 are settling each month.  There is definitely a large inventory for Towson homebuyers, with an average of only 3.75% of listed homes going under contract each month.

These 21204 home sale statistics show that pricing correctly, having the home in showplace condition, and good marketing are imperative in this Towson housing market.

Please note that these are statistics from the multiple list. The chart is an overview of the zip code and does not take into account the type (condo, townhouse, single family) or condition of the home. To have a true value understanding of your Towson home or neighborhood, these factors need to be taken into consideration. If you would like a Towson home price evaluation, please contact me today.