Struggling with a lack of housing inventory, the Lancaster market proved to be a challenging one for buyers in 2016. December proved no exception, as the prices jumped with many buyers but fewer choices.

“December was pretty astounding, even for what we’ve come to expect for Lancaster in this market cycle,” said James Martin, president of the MetroTex Association of REALTORS. “The number of sales was comparatively steady, and overall average prices are increasing with low inventory and high demand.”

According to the monthly housing report released by MetroTex, there were 35 active listings on the market in Lancaster in December and 44 closed sales, a 25.7 percent increase from 2015. The December dollar volume of sales in Lancaster increased 44.1 percent year-over-year to $6,642,603. The average price in December was $150,968, up 14.6 percent from last year, while the median price was $155,763, up 24.6 percent compared to December last year.

Lancaster’s monthly housing inventory was 1.0 months in December. The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University contends that 6.5 months of inventory represents a market in which supply and demand for homes is balanced.

Homes spent an average of 38 days on the market in December.

Lancaster 2016 Market Summary

• 433                         Homes sold, 27.7 percent higher than 2015.
• $58,972,046         Sales dollar volume for 2016, up 43.0 percent year-over-year.
• $136,194               Average sales price for homes, 12 percent more than 2015.
• $139,900               Median sales price for homes, an 11.9 percent decrease over 2015.
• 39                           Average number of days homes spent on the market in 2016.
• 49                           Average number of active home listings on the market in 2016.
• $73                         Average price per square foot in 2016, up 13.2 percent year-over-year.

2016 North Texas Market Overall – New records set

• 101,529                 Homes sold, beating a 10-year-old record of 95,509 sales. This year’s result is 8 percent higher than 2015.
• $28,050,996,211 Total dollar volume of sales, up 13 percent from 2015 and sets a new record in dollar volume.
• $225,000               Median sales price for homes, 10 percent more than 2015, a record high.
• $276,286               Average sales price for homes, a 7 percent increase over 2015, a record high.
• 42                           Average number of days homes spent on the market in 2016.
• 18,355                   Average active home listings on the market in 2016, a 1 percent drop.
• $119                       Average price per square foot, up 7 percent year-over-year.

Celebrating 100 years of service in North Texas, MetroTex is the area’s largest REALTOR association.  We are an advocate for homeowners, private property rights, the real estate industry, and real estate professionals. MetroTex is comprised of more than 18,000 members.

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