We have released the 2018 historical Berkshire County Real Estate Market Watch Report. Here is a summary. Feel free to share any of the content you’d like! 2018 Market Watch Report In Full
Real estate sales in 2018 increased over the previous 14 years of real estate transactions record by the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS. The total number of real estate transactions in Berkshire County topped 1,895, an all-time high since 2004. With a market volume of $504 million dollars transacted in 2018, real estate continues to be a critical part of the Berkshire economy.
Residential, condo, land and commercial transactions rose countywide. Multi-family sales fell slightly when compared to 2017. Both northern and central Berkshire sales showed strong gains over the previous year, but south county remained level overall, with no growth in the number of units sold and less than 1% growth in the dollar volume transacted.
| 2017 | 2018 | |||
| All Sales | $ Sold | # Sold | $ Sold | # Sold |
| North | $59,108,843 | 362 | $70,770,394 | 384 |
| Central | $156,494,270 | 829 | $180,752,245 | 869 |
| South | $250,520,154 | 642 | $252,865,005 | 642 |
| Total | $466,123,267 | 1,833 | $504,387,644 | 1,895 |
Northern Berkshire had 384 sales, up from 362, central Berkshire had 869 sales, up from 829 and Southern Berkshire had 642 sales, the exact same as last year.
The strongest residential markets in the Berkshires was found in North Adams, Williamstown, Richmond, Pittsfield, New Marlboro, Stockbridge and Monterey. Several towns reported a lower number of transactions, but higher total dollar volume transacted; Cheshire Hancock, Lanesboro, Becket, Gt Barrington and Mount Washington
Overall, average sale prices of residential homes in Berkshire County fell slightly (2%) from last year, which was a 9 year high recorded since 2008. North County is showing a 9% increase with an average sale price of $202,795, Central Berkshire rose 10% to $216,497 and Southern Berkshire decreased by 6%, down to $401,241.
Residential (single-family) Home Sales
The number of single-family residential homes sales in 2018 rose 3% in Berkshire County, when compared to 2017 sales. Home sales were especially brisk in northern Berkshire, with large gains in both the total number of homes sold and the dollar volume of the transactions – their best year since 2004 for the total sales and record breaking for the total dollar volume transacted.
The central region was also markedly better than the previous years, with a 6% increase in the number of sales and a 16% increase in the dollar volume transacted. Southern Berkshire single family residential homes fell in 2018 compared to 2017, down 38 sales (8%) and 29 million dollars. The average selling prices overall decreased by 2% overall in 2018.
Condominium sales
Condominium sales boomed for the second year in a row, rising 13% in the number of condos sold and 64% in the dollar volume of those sales. With 148 condominium sales in 2018 in Berkshire county, improvements throughout all of the regions’ condo markets made this a steady engine for an overall increase. Average sale price of condos now tops $372,802 countywide with $522,939 average in southern Berkshire, $263,092 in central Berkshire and $194,876 in northern Berkshire. This is an affordable market alternative for price ranges that lack available inventory.
Multi-Family Sales
While sluggish sales in the residential market affected our Southern Berkshire real estate market, gains were reported in the multi-family market. This boost rocketed sales well over double the norm, with 22 sales in Southern Berkshire valued at over 5 million dollars. Central Berkshire, primarily Pittsfield, and Northern Berkshire account for by far the majority of multifamily sales in the county, both of those markets saw sales lag over 2017 rates. After several years of historically high numbers, we will monitor those inventory levels and buyer demand to see what the future holds.
Land Parcels
With ownership of 113 parcels transferred in 2018, this represents a slow and steady increase from previous years. The peak of our raw land market was recorded in the early 2000’s with well over 200 land sales in a year. This year, good news continues with a dollar volume increase of 14%, and average land sales prices continuing to rise.
Commercial Sales
While not all commercial sales are reported to the Berkshire County Board of Realtors, it does allow a good indicator of trends in the sale of commercial property in the county. In 2018, commercial sales rose in all parts of the Berkshires, with a huge leap in the dollar volume transacted, up to 25 million in 2018, compared to $13 million last year. All areas of the Berkshire reported gains in the number of sales and the dollar volume of those transactions.
2018 Market Watch Report In Full
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