Litchfield County housing prices up, but sales down

By By CARA BARUZZI
Special to The Register Citizen
The median sale price of single-family homes in Litchfield County rose more than 17 percent, despite drops throughout the rest of the state. The median price of Connecticut homes fell in February, dropping 5.5 percent in the biggest decline since 1995, The Warren Group reported Monday.
The statewide median sale price in February was $260,000, down from $275,000 in February 2007. The drop was the biggest decline since April 1995, according to The Warren Group, a Boston firm that tracks residential real estate. In Litchfield County, prices rose more than 17 percent, from $233,000 to $273,750.
In February, the steepest drop in prices was in Tolland County, where homes sold for a median price of $226,500, down almost 11 percent from $254,000 a year ago. In New Haven County, prices slid about 4 percent, from a median of $245,000 a year ago to $235,000 in February.
Two Connecticut counties managed price gains, however. In addition to Litchfield County, Middlesex County had a median price of $295,000, up more than 5 percent from $280,000 a year ago.
Fairfield, Hartford, New London and Windham counties all saw prices fall.
Statewide, home sales continued their downward trend in February. In all, 1,401 homes sold, down 23 percent from 1,819 a year earlier. Every county experienced a double-digit percentage drop in sales, ranging from 16 percent in Tolland and Middlesex counties to 28 percent plunges in Fairfield and Hartford counties.
The Warren Group also reported February sales and pricing data for condominiums Monday. Condo sales sank 29 percent statewide in February, compared with a year ago, to 559 from 784. But the median sale price grew about 1.5 percent from $190,000 to $192,900.
Cara Baruzzi can be reached at cbaruzzi@nhregister.com or 789-5748.