JULY 2015
CAR members hammer, paint and help Habitat
Habitat for Humanity received $840 from the Coastal Association through the Coastal Association of Realtors’ “Paint Nite: on June 9. At the event were, from left, Wicomico County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Molly Hilligoss, 2015 CAR President Vicki Harmon, Sen. Jim Mathias and 2015 CAR President-Elect Linda Moran.
The Coastal Association of Realtors (CAR), which serves members in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties, raised $840 for two local chapters of Habitat for Humanity via a Paint Nite Fundraiser on Tuesday, June 9 at Brew River Restaurant in Salisbury. The 54 participants received food and drinks courtesy of CAR affiliate member Dan Varda of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Salisbury. The funds raised through the event will be split between the Wicomico and Worcester County chapters of Habitat for Humanity. CAR assembled a 20-person team that volunteered on June 25 for a “Build Day” at a home being built in Salisbury. “The amount we received will pay for almost all of the light fixtures going into the home,” said Molly Hilligoss, executive director of the Wicomico County chapter of Habitat for Humanity. “We are so grateful for CAR’s continued support of Habitat for Humanity of Worcester County,” said Andrea Bowland, executive director of the Worcester County chapter of Habitat for Humanity. “This donation will help serve our mission to provide permanent housing solutions to hardworking families in Worcester.” For more information about CAR, visit www.coastalrealtors.org.
Home settlements spike on lower shore CAR’s May housing report shows highest increase in settlements in tri-county area so far this year Spring and summer are traditionally the busiest time of the year for real estate sales and the latest figures from the Coastal Association of Realtors (CAR) reflects this year being no exception. According to CAR’s local housing statistics for May, settlements of single-family homes in the tri-county area are up 19.7 percent compared to the same time last year. This is the highest sales increase the area has seen so far this year. Individually, Wicomico County saw a 28.6 percent increase, Worcester County a 36.1 percent increase and Somerset County an 80 percent increase. Contracts, or pending sales, for single-family homes and condominiums are still up, reflecting a 25.5 percent increase throughout the lower shore. List prices are up by 3.9 percent since last month, averaging at $185,111. Sales prices also show an increase of 6.4 percent, averaging at $177,125. More properties are selling closer to their
listing price, which reflects the value of local homes as well as accurate work done by local Realtors and affiliates. New listings of single-family homes and condominiums are down by 10.5 percent, which is partially reflective of a national trend of limited inventory. Days on market increased by 25.7 percent. “Last month, we saw increased contracts, which we knew would translate into increased settlements as we delve deeper into our busy season,” said Vicki Harmon, 2015 president of the CAR Board of Directors.“It’s all up hill from this point, as our Realtors and affiliates continue working hard to provide the most professional, top notch service available to their clients.” CAR’s monthly local housing statistics are pulled from the association’s Multiple Listing Service, which represents the activity of over 1,000 local Realtors. Visit www.coastalrealtors.org for more information. More about Coastal Association of Realtors: Coastal Association of Realtors is the leading local advocacy group in the real estate industry on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.