Appreciation still growing

November sales statistics continue to show stability in North Idaho real state. Our staff has compiled our year to date results as compared to last year and we still are seeing improvement in this, the first year that we have surpassed 2006 figures for number of homes sold.

For single family homes on less than 2 acres of land - our most requested figure - we see increasing strength in our market. For the Coeur d'Alene area, which includes Dalton Gardens, we actually gained a bit from last month with appreciation up 6 percent from last year, a full percentage point up from October's results. The total number of home sales there continued at 2 percent above last year.

Sales of homes in Post Falls continued to be strong too, with 8 percent more homes sold than in 2013 at an average price that was 8 percent higher than that year. Hayden sales are up significantly. Sales as of the end of November were 17 percent above 2013 compared to a 16 percent improvement the previous month in that area. The average price in Hayden continues to rise at a double digit rate showing an 11 percent increase over 2013 at $260,049.

Rathdrum, Hauser and Twin Lakes maintain their upward momentum closing a remarkable 21 percent more sales this year than last and at an average price that is 12 percent higher than the reported average at the end of November 2013. Rural areas of the North Kootenai County geography did not show the same increases in number of sales, slipping by six sales from last year. Perhaps this is attributed to the impressive price increases there this year with their average sales price a full 20 percent over the same time period in 2013. It is a similar story in South Kootenai County where many waterfront properties are included. The number of sales for the year are down by seven but the average price has risen an impressive 34 percent.

Moving on to Benewah County we see a small drop in the total number of sales and a reflective decrease in average price, down 5 percent from the prior year. The Silver Valley showed the most stability with precisely the same number of sales and a zero percent change in average price when compared to results of completed sales by the end of November.

Our members from Bonner and Boundary counties are enjoying an increase in activity, reporting 18 percent more sold homes this year than last but the average price there is 5 percent lower than at the end of November 2013.

When it comes to demonstrating stability as a North Idaho market, seven is the lucky number. Overall, throughout the Coeur d'Alene Multiple Listing Service member area, we show a 7 percent increase in sales of single family homes on lots smaller than two acres at an average price that is 7 percent higher and a median price 7 percent above our 2013 market performance. We remind you that 2013 also showed significant improvement over its previous year.

When we examine all types of single family homes, including manufactured homes on rented lots as well as luxury homes and homes on acreage, we see an improvement of 13 percent in sales volume ($110 million above 2013) and an average price improvement of 8.2 percent.

Another good sign from our perspective is that sales of distressed properties are continuing to fall. Short sales for 2014 are 35 percent below the previous year and foreclosures are down 12 percent. It may take a while before those numbers equal pre-recession numbers but we see their decline as a sign of recovery locally.

Trust an expert...call a Realtor. Call your Realtor or visit www.cdarealtors.com to search properties on the Multiple Listing Service or to find a Realtor member who will represent your best interests.

Kim Cooper is a real estate broker and the spokesman for the Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors. Kim and the association invite your feedback and input for this column. You may contact them by writing to the Coeur d'Alene Association of Realtors, 409 W. Neider, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 or by calling (208) 667-0664.