As consumer confidence increased in February, so did the number of homes sold, according to data released today.
The number of homes sold rose 3.4 percent in February to 2,229, compared with 2,156 the previous month, according to an analysis of Metrolist data.
“People are starting to feel better about the large investments,” said David Simonson a broker with ReMax Professionals Inc.
The number of homes sold was still down 8.5 percent compared to February 2010, when 2,436 sales closed.
The year-over-year decline is largely a result of the first-time homebuyer tax credit expiring, which accounted for about 40 percent of sales activity a year ago, said Gary Bauer, an independent real estate consultant.
“Take that out of there, and look at what we have today and it’s really positive,” Bauer said. “I’m very happy with what the numbers show. We’ve got activity.”
The median price for a single-family home declined 2.2 percent, from $225,000 in January to $220,000 last month. Last February, the median price was $220,750.
