Baltimore home prices drop in October, but remain historically high

The median sale price for homes in the Baltimore region dropped $10,100 from September to October and remained unchanged from a year ago.

October's median sales price of $259,900 marks the third month of dipping prices after a sustained rise that peaked in June at $285,000, according to data provided by MarketStats by ShowingTime based on listing activity from Bright MLS, the region's multiple listing service.

Baltimore
Colorful row houses on Howard Street, in Old Goucher, Baltimore, Maryland.

Nonetheless, prices remain historically high. Prices in the region remain well above the five-year average of $249,380 and the 10-year average of $240,555.

The rising prices had reflected a persistently tight inventory of homes. But that appears to have eased ever so slightly as the inventory in the metro area ticked up in October 0.5% over last year. It was the first time since September 2015 that there was an increase.

There were 10,669 active listings at the end of October.

Sales volume also was down 7.8% from last October, and new pending sales were down 7.6%.

Owners were still selling their homes for close to their asking prices with buyers paying on average 95.7% of a property's asking price.

Median sales prices this October, compared with last October, rose only in Baltimore County, to $242,000 from $226,500, and in Baltimore City, to $135,000 from $130,000, which remained the region's most affordable jurisdiction, according to the data.

Median prices dropped in Anne Arundel County, to $325,000 from $329,000; Carroll County to $315,750 from $320,000; Harford County, to $240,000 from $245,000; and in Howard County, to $375,000 from $404,990, which remained the most expensive county in the area.

Tribune Content Agency
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