Twin Cities housing sales still ahead of 2015

Posted on December 16, 2016

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington-Normal housing market continues to pace ahead of 2015.

The latest Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors numbers show overall sales are up 3.2 percent for the year. BNAR President Ed Neaves explained the dip in sales between October and November is typical.

“As in 2015 it went from 212 to 165, this year 227 to 170,” said Neaves. “There’s a closing dip because the sales in September and October slow when they’re writing contracts, so the closings follow in November.”

New construction sales are down 4.9 percent for the year. Neaves said part of the reason behind that continues to be the rising cost of building a new home.

“And of course regulatory expenses with the different codes, and the energy codes, and the building codes that have changed over the years,” he said.

Neaves added new construction can be important because each new home puts $82,000 in the local economy.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…