HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
In the first home sales
reports from January, Hawaii Information Service counts more home sales on the
Big Island but a slowing of sales on Kauai.
Realtors closed on 105 home sales in Hawaii County, up
from 97 the year before, and 44 condo sales, up from 38, as well as 80 sales of
vacant lots, up from 60 a year ago.
Almost half of the home sales came in the Hilo-Puna area,
where most sales were under $250,000. The median price in Puna District alone
was $120,000, down 22 percent from year-ago levels. The median in South Hilo
District, which includes most of Hilo town, was $245,000, up 4 percent from
last year.
There were 29 home sales, two more than last year, in
North Kona District, which includes Kailua-Kona, for a median price of
$375,000, unchanged from a year ago. But the islandwide median price rose 15
percent as a result of higher prices in areas like South Kona District, which
includes Kealakekua, Ka'u District at the far south end of the island, and
Hamakua, on the north end.
Kauai had 28 home sales, two fewer than last year, and 14
condo sales, seven fewer than last year. The median home sales price in January
was $447,500, up 11 percent, and the condo median was $335,500, up 24 percent,
compared to the same month last year.
Twelve of the home sales were in Kawaihau District, which
includes Kapaa, where the median porice was $405,000. The islandwide median was
skewed upward by more expensive homes in Koloa District, which includes Poipu,
and Hanalei.
Six of the condo sales were in Koloa, where the median
price was $576,500, more than double the median price a year ago. Unlike an
average, which can be distorted by a single very expensive sale, the median is
the point at which half the properties sold for less and half for more.
Realtors on Oahu and Maui are expected to report January
results later this week or next.
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