Home sales up in Jefferson and Lewis counties, down slightly in St. Lawrence

CANTON - The number of single-family home sales in both Jefferson and Lewis counties increased slightly in 2011 compared to 2010 while sales decreased a bit in St. Lawrence County, end-of-year statistics show.

Among the three counties, Jefferson was the only to see a median price that was higher than the prior year, according to data released by the state Board of Realtors.

The median price of a home in Jefferson County jumped from $139,000 in 2010 to $146,900 last year, a 5.68 percent increase.

The number of single-family home sales went from 874 to 878, a .46 percent increase.

Home sales in Lewis County went from 133 to 135 while the median price fell from $114,000 to $108,000.

In St. Lawrence County, home sales decreased from 658 in 2010 to 644 in 2011. The 14 fewer sales represents a 2.13 percent decrease.

The median price fell from $80,000 to $78,500, a 1.88 percent decline.

However, the 2011 median price was higher than two years ago when a $74,000 median price was recorded for 2009.

Jennifer Stevenson, president of St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors, said sales were strong in late December, but some of those properties didn’t close until January so they didn’t get included in the 2011 data.

So far this year, the market is getting off to a promising start, she said.

“January has been brisk. It’s been very active, said Mrs. Stevenson, owner of Blue Heron Realty, Ogdensburg. “We’re not seeing huge yearly changes. We’re back to our stable markets with little hills.”

She described the existing real estate situation as a “neutral market,” rather than pegging it either a buyer’s or seller’s market.

“It’s a careful market. Properties have to be priced appropriately for them to sell,” Mrs. Stevenson said.

A demand for housing for military families stationed at Fort Drum Army base continues to fuel sales in Watertown and other Jefferson County communities, said Lance M. Evans, executive officer for Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors.

“It’s not all military, but obviously the military and its spin-offs are helping the area,” Mr. Evans said.

Besides military troops, the base employs civilian workers who seek housing and consumer goods that help boost the area’s economy, he said.

About 32 percent of last year’s 878 home sales in Jefferson County involved buyers receiving Veterans Administration mortgage loans which are available to active and retired military personnel.

“About one third of the homes involved V.A. loans,” Mr. Evans said. “A lot were for people retiring from the military.”

That demand is expected to grow this year when thousands of soldiers from Fort Drum brigades return home from deployments to the Middle East.

“I’m hearing from realtors that their phones are ringing off the hook. They can’t believe how busy they are,” Mr. Evans said.

Although the real estate projections for St. Lawrence and Lewis counties is less promising, Mr. Evans said the two counties did better than New York state as a whole in 2011.

Statewide, home sales dropped from 74,970 in 2010 to 72,058 last year, a 3.88 percent decrease. The median sale price decreased from $214,000 to $212,500.

“We aren’t insulated, but we aren’t subject as much to the ups and downs,” Mr. Evans said. “At the same time the state as a whole may start to see a jump and our increase may be slower.”