Housing sales behind 2010 pace

COEUR d'ALENE - North Idaho housing sales continue to run behind last year's numbers, according to the latest report of the Coeur d'Alene Multiple Listing Service.

In Kootenai County, 899 single-family homes have sold through July, down 12 percent from last year. The average sales price, at $169,739, is off 6 percent, according to the MLS.

"The market improved a little in July versus June - when both are compared to last year - but still lags behind 2010 production overall," wrote Pete Faust, Realtor with Century 21 Beutler and Associates.

Coeur d'Alene/Dalton Gardens saw 368 home sales, a decline of 17 percent compared to last year, while the average price fell 6 percent to $168,488.

Post Falls has seen 272 home sales, a decline of 18 percent from the first seven months of 2010, while the average sales price dropped 13 percent to $149,506.

In Hayden, 161 homes have sold, a 1 percent increase, while the average price held steady at $204,111.

And in Rathdrum/Twin Lakes, 63 single-family homes have sold through July, a 5 percent decline, while the average price also remained steady at $149,981.

The majority of sales through July, 57 percent, were in the $100,000 to $200,000 range, the MLS reported.

There have been 61 waterfront homes sold, a 33 percent increase, while the average price climbed 6 percent to $706,993.

"Sales at the upper end, $500,000 to $1 million and higher, are both up but only marginally - apparently people with real money seeing opportunity," Faust wrote.

Faust wrote that bank-owned properties and short sales continue to "heavily influence" the numbers with "stressed" sales comprising 525 closings of the 1,128 total reported.

The number of residential listings, 3,947, is down 12 percent from 2010.