State housing sales up; but regional market sales down according to report

Housing sales in Shawano are going well, according to local real estate professionals, despite a report from the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

"I think it's been great this year, I've been busy," said Terri Peterson, Realtor at Country Aire Realty in Shawano. "There's quite a few houses on the market and that frustrates a lot of sellers, but buyers have a lot of homes to pick from."

Residential housing sales were up for the second quarter, as the state set a record of 30,750 homes sold. However, the Northeast region -- of which Shawano County is a part of -- showed a reduction of 4.6 percent in home sales from last year.

Peterson said that with more options, buyers are really looking for what will fit them and homes with a lot for the price.

"Pricing a home right is key in getting a house sold before others. That's always a challenge," Peterson said. "But there's still a lot of good selling time before winter."

Neil Hilgenberg, chairman Coldwell Banker -- Hilgenberg Realtors, said the market is doing well in the area at their business.

"Our market is hot I would say," he said. "With the interest rates staying down and some programs offering 100 percent financing, how can you beat that?"

Hilgenberg said many programs are being offered to help first-time homebuyers with financing, and that is helping drive the market -- along with interest rates.

"I think it's easier for people to buy a house now, with the anticipation that interest rates could rise, now would be the time to buy. It's also a great time of the year to put a house on the market," he said.

Second quarter sales were up 4.6 percent nationally and 5.4 percent in Wisconsin from the same period last year. Prices have climbed 13.6 percent nationally and 6.7 percent in the state.

The major boost in the state's housing market came from the northern region, where sales volume increased 30.2 percent over the second quarter in 2004. Also experiencing double-digit growth was the south central region, at12.9 percent over the period.

Within the northeast region, Menominee County more than doubled its sales, although the second quarter 2004 sales volume was only six units. Manitowoc County reported sales up 20.2 percent, Waupaca County, up 8.1 percent and Door County, up 4.1 percent.

Both Brown and Shawano counties were unchanged from last year, and a number of counties experienced a reduction in their sales volume. Specifically, Kewaunee County fell 2.6 percent; Oconto County, 4.3 percent; Fond du Lac County, 6.1 percent; Green Lake County, 7.3 percent; Winnebago County, 7.6 percent; Outagamie County, 10.2 percent. More substantial reductions in sales volume were seen in Calumet County (down 31.7 percent) and also in Marinette County (down 31.9 percent); both had solid sales volume for the second quarter in 2004.

April Schreiber, president and broker of American Dream Real Estate Inc. in Shawano, said July hasn't been the best month for sales, but they're looking up again.

"In the last two weeks it's really picked up. One agent had three offers accepted in one day, which is really good," Schreiber said. "July is a vacation month, everyone's gone, so the big rush is for school time, and another big rush is for the holidays after school's in session. It's just like that every year; you have certain times that are going to be slow."

Another time for serious buyers is just after the New Year holiday.

"Some people make a New Year's resolution, that this is the year they're gonna do that. If someone asks to look at waterfront property in the middle of winter, they're pretty serious," Schreiber said. "It runs in trends. It's that kind of business."

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State housing sales up; but regional market sales down according to report

Housing sales in Shawano are going well, according to local real estate professionals, despite a report from the Wisconsin Realtors Association.