Published August 2001

King Co. workers keep home sales humming here

By Mike Benbow
Herald Economy Editor

Snohomish County home prices set a record in June, and sales continued to be strong, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Figures from the listing service, which represents real estate agents in 13 Western Washington counties, show the combined median price of single-family homes and condominiums in the county in June was $200,500.

June's combined median for Snohomish County, meaning half the houses and condos sold for less and half for more, was $1,500 higher than May's and 5.4 percent higher than the June 2000 median of $189,950.

For just single-family homes, the price increase was more dramatic. Houses alone brought a record median price of $214,950 in June, a 10.2 percent increase from last year, when the price was $195,000.

Condos sold for a median price of $143,110 in June, up just 3.7 percent from June 2000, when the median was $138,000.

The increases don't mean an individual home is worth 10 percent more this year than last, but it's a good indicator of the strength of the housing portion of Snohomish County's economy.

Part of the reason for the strong sales is the county's continued population growth. Another is strong job growth in neighboring King County, where the combined median home price is $245,000, nearly $45,000 more than in Snohomish County. Recent census statistics show many people who work in King County are buying less expensive homes here and commuting to their jobs.

Here's a quick rundown on home sales and prices in June in different areas of Snohomish County:

• Maltby, southeast county: Some 135 homes sold at a median price of $279,00, by far the highest in the county. Average time on the market was 60 days.
• Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace: 265 homes sold at a median price of $215,950 and spent an average of 40 days on the market, the shortest sales time in the county.
• Everett, Mukilteo, Mill Creek: 343 homes sold at a median price of $201,000 and spent an average of 47 days on the market.
• Snohomish, Monroe, Gold Bar: 106 homes sold at a median price of $186,975 and spent an average of 61 days on the market.
• Stanwood, Marysville: 210 homes sold at a median price of $184,350 and spent an average of 48 days on the market.
• Lake Stevens, Granite Falls, Darrington: 136 homes sold at a median price of $174,975 and spent 62 days on the market, the longest sales time in the county.

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