Austin housing market blistering through first half 2014

AUSTIN – For the first six months of this year, Austin area home sales were up 3 percent over the same period in 2013. That pace keeps 2014 on track to surpass last year’s record home sales total, according to the Austin Board of Realtors.

There were 13,426 single-family home sales from January through June 2014. The median price of those sales was $239,000, a 7 percent increase from the first half 2013.

The midyear tally was boosted by a surge in sales in June, which came in just shy of 3,000, a 13 percent increase from June 2013’s volume and setting a record for June sales.

The median sales price was $252,520, a 7 percent increase from June 2013, the board said.

Single-family homes spent an average of 39 days on the market in June, four days fewer than the prior June and the fastest rate since 2001.

Amid Central Texas’ ongoing job and population growth, 2014 “could very well turn out to be another ‘best year ever’ for Austin-area home sales,” said Bill Evans, president of the Austin Board of Realtors. “Both homebuyers and sellers can expect the rest of the summer selling season to be highly competitive.”