MetroWest home sales in February a mixed bag

Photo | Grant Welker A home for sale in Worcester

Write a Comment

By Sam Bonacci

There were 3,026 single-family home sales recorded in Massachusetts in February, a 12.8% increase from the same month in 2020, and the highest number of sales recorded in February since 2004, according to a monthly report from Peabody real estate data firm The Warren Group, although a number of MetroWest communities bucked this positive trend as they saw sales decline or coast.

Hopkinton was among the MetroWest communities with the most dramatic decline in sales, with a 69.2% year-over-year decline in single-family home sales to just four for the month. Condo sales in the community were down even more, with only two sales accounting for a 77.8% decline compared to February, 2020. One bright spot for the town was median home sale prices, which rose 26.9% for the month and 26.7% year-to-date to $742,500 and $735,000, respectively.

Westborough was also down in both home and condo sales. Home sales were down 62.5% in February, dropping to only three sales from eight in February of 2021. Condo sales were down 37.5% to five in the month, although prices were up slightly to a median price of $440,695. Median home prices were up even more, 22.8%, climbing to $595,000.

Milford also saw sales decline in both single-family homes and condos, with a 17.6% drop in home sales to 14 and a 33% decline to 2 condo sales for February. Median home prices were up 6% in February to $409,750. The median year-to-date condo sale price is not far behind at $328,000 for a 40.8% increase so far this year.

A number of MetroWest communities did record strong sales. Ashland was up 50% year-over-year in February to nine home sales for a median sale price of $469,000 or a 29.3% increase. Condo sales were also strong in the community, with identical sales figures, although the median price was down 8.8% to $365,000 in February.

Marlborough also recorded a 50% growth in single-family home sales in February, with 18 homes sold at a median price of $439,000 for a 25.4% increase over last February. Condos also performed well in the city, with a 100% growth in sales to eight in February for a median price of $309,000 for an 86.7% increase in price over the same month last year.

Northborough saw home sales double to six with a moderate median sale price increase to $432,500 for a 12.3% year-over-year increase in February. Condo sales were down by one, marking continued low condo sales in the town with only four for the year although the median price continues to climb to $411,250 year-to-date.

Framingham, Southborough, Holliston and Natick, saw mild fluctuations in both home and condo sales although prices continue to climb in all the communities.