Home Sales, Prices in West County Rise 10% Over April ’98

West Ventura County saw a 9.5% increase in the sale of single-family homes in April over the same period a year earlier, with the median price jumping 10.8%.

The Ventura County Coastal Assn. of Realtors reported that 254 single-family homes were sold last month, compared with 232 in April 1998. The sales figures represent homes sold in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Port Hueneme, Fillmore and parts of Ojai.

The association reported that condominium sales also jumped 10% over the same period a year ago. There were 112 condos sold in west Ventura County in April, compared with 102 a year earlier.

Pat Patterson, president of the local real estate association, said the increase in sales was due to confidence in the economy and low interest rates.

The median price of a house sold in April was $219,000, compared with $197,500 a year earlier. The median price is the point where half the prices sold for more and half for less.

The median sales price for condominiums in April was $138,000, compared with $132,500 in April 1998, a 15% increase.

Patterson said homes and condominiums are selling faster now than last year. Single-family residences for last month averaged 68 days before closing escrow, compared with 87 days in April 1998. The selling time for condominiums averaged 58 days this year compared with 80 days during the same month last year.