Catawba Valley home sales swing upward

Oct. 13—LENOIR — Home sales continue to sizzle across the four-county Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metropolitan statistical area, according to a monthly report on real estate transactions.

Home sales in Caldwell County in August increased 25.3% from August 2020, with 94 homes sold compared to 75 last year, according to Canopy MLS, operated by the Canopy Realtor Association.

The number of houses going under contract rose 27.3%, from 66 in August 2020 to 84 this year.

As has been the case for many months, demand for houses exceeded supply, so prices also continued to go up. The median, which is the point where half of all sales were more and half were less, was $221,550 in August, up about 20% from August 2020, Canopy said.

Sellers got just over 99% of their asking price, and houses were on the market an average of just 19 days until they went under contract, the report said.

The increase in prices in Caldwell County stood in contrast to neighboring Burke County, where the number of homes sold rose 28.8% but the median price actually declined 1.5%.

Cory Klassett, president of Catawba Valley Association of Realtors, said the area's low cost of living and nearness to Charlotte and Raleigh make the overall Hickory region attractive, especially to "those buyers interested in the slower pace and lifestyle that smaller towns in the region provide."

But he said a recent rise in mortgage rates could be expected to dampen the market some and reduce the heavy buyer competition.

Reporter Candice Simmons can be reached at (828)610-8721

Reporter Candice Simmons can be reached at (828)610-8721