Hollister
– San Benito County saw an increase in the price and number of
homes sold at the end of 2006.
Hollister – San Benito County saw an increase in the price and number of homes sold at the end of 2006.
According to REInfoLink data, the median price of homes that closed escrow in December was $582,000, up from $539,000 in November. December also saw a month-over-month increase in the number of homes sold, from 14 to 41.
“I don’t think the market’s changed much in the last few months,” said Dee Brown, a broker associate with ReMax Platinum Properties in Hollister. “It’s in a stable position right now.”
Brown said that’s a big change from the end of 2005, when the housing market “was like a frenzy.”
In December of 2005, 58 homes were sold at a median price of $650,000. Homes also spent less time on the market in 2005. The median time on the market before a sale increased from 30 days in December of 2005 to 72 days last month.
There were also 89 homes withdrawn from the market in December.
“It’s been a little quiet,” said Marilyn Ferreira, a broker with Intero Real Estate Services. However, she said, her office started to receive more phone calls after Christmas, and she expects sales to pick up.
“I’m always an optimist,” she said.
Rick Pennington, president of the San Benito County Association of Realtors, agreed that the market has been slow recently. He said real estate downturns usually last between 12 and 24 months.
“The state and national associations of realtors think we’ve probably reached the bottom in the fall,” said Pennington, who owns Pennington Town and Country Realty. “They predict modest gains in 2007.”
The most expensive home sold last month in San Benito County went for $2 million. The 1,850-square-foot house has six bedrooms and two bathrooms, and sits on 40 acres.
The least expensive home was a 1,200-square-foot house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms that sold for $489,000.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or ah*@fr***********.com.
