By Graham Sweeney
Home sales in Bartlett rocketed more than 30 percent in 2012, according to the Memphis Area Association of Realtors.
Data released Wednesday indicates that 855 houses were sold last year, a near 200-sale improvement over 2011.
With the exception of June, Bartlett saw an increase in sales every month in 2012, including a 124-percent surge in May.
Bartlett also saw a 45-percent jump in new home sales last year.
While the median sales price was down in 2012 at $155,000, the price for new homes was up nearly $2,000 at $199,450.
Bartlett finished the year strong with 71 homes sold in December alone.
With a 35-percent increase in 2012, only Collierville saw more recovery among Shelby County municipalities.
Memphis-area home sales for December increased 26.5 percent from a year ago, with 1,156 total sales recorded.
In Shelby County, year-to-date sales were up 19 percent in 2012. The median sales price also increased 3.5 percent to $84,900.
“The numbers tell the story,” said 2012 MAAR President Carol Lott. “The local market improved this past year. We’re up more than 17 percent in year-to-date total sales. There were slight price increases and an almost 20-percent jump in sales volume for the year.”
While Arlington and Lakeland both finished the year with a 15-percent increase in overall sales, at $233,585 Lakeland had a median sales price 17 percent higher than its northeastern neighbor.
