REAL ESTATE
By Jim Litten
January’s winter weather, though milder than expected, still kept Carmel buyers at home, with 20 fewer homes pended for sale in Carmel in January 2012, compared to January 2011 – a 23.5 percent decline, according to statisticscompiled by the F.C. Tucker Company. Overall, in Hamilton County, pended home sales slipped modestly by 5.3 percent. In January 2012, pended home sales totaled 269 homes, compared to 284 homes the year before.
• In central Indiana, more than 1,500 homes pended in January – up 13.4 percent over January 2011, or an increase of 181 homes sold in the nine counties F.C. Tucker tracks.
• In Hamilton County, inventory continues to shrink as the market stabilizes.
• Inventoryin Hamilton County decreased 13.4 percent in January 2012. The number of available homes for sale decreased to 2,178. In January 2011, the number of available homes was 2,516.
• In Carmel, available homes for sale decreased 13.7 percent. In January 2012, 618Carmel homes were on the market. In January 2011, 716 homes were on the market.
• Buyers in Carmel continue to benefit from conservative prices. In January 2012, sale prices averaged $273,172 – a 13.6 percent decline from the $316,019 figure posted in January 2011.
As we move deeper into the newyear, F.C. Tucker Company anticipateshome sales will increase for the first six months of the year. But it’s likely the market may slow a little toward the second half of the year, while consumers take a wait-and-see approach pending the outcome of the upcoming presidential election.
