By Anita Miller
New cases of COVID-19 are dropping in Hays County faster than in some surrounding counties, the New York Times reported on Friday, Aug. 21.
That may explain why Hays saw the biggest increase in home values across a five-county region in July, according to the Central Texas Housing Market Report released Aug. 19 by the Austin Board of REALTORS.
Home sales in Hays County rose by 32.8 % in July, compared to 21.4% in Austin, 17% in Travis County, 24.5% in Williamson County, 28% in Bastrop County and 3%in Caldwell County.
The report illustrated the “resiliency” in the face of the pandemic, with sales increases demonstrating “the vital role real estate will play as the region begins its economic recovery.”
In addition to home sales, the report tracks the median price of home, sales dollar volume and, pending sales and active listings.
Hays also led the five counties in sales dollar volume and median home price. The former shot up 59.3% and the latter 18.1%.
Regarding sales dollar volume, Hays was followed by the city of Austin with a 41.8% increase. Sales dollar volume rose 40.7% in Bastrop County, by 34.6% in Travis Williamson County, 34.2% and in Caldwell County by 1.7%.
Median home sales in Hays, meanwhile, rose by 18.1% to $310,000. New listings jumped by 24.9% to 587 and active listings fell 35% to 683. Pending sales rose by 66.5% to 621, and uousing inventory decreased to 1.9 months.
In the city of Austin, median home price rose 11.3% to $423,000, new listings jumped 24.4% to 1,676. Active listings decreased by 19.1% to 1,653 and pending sales grew by 25% to 1,413. Housing inventory stood at 1.7 months.
Williamson County had a median home price increase of 10.5% to $314,995,new listings rose 6.5% to 1,450, active listings fell by 39.5% and pending sales jumped 29.5% to 1,518. Housing inventory was a 1.5 months.
In Bastrop County, the median home price climbed 6.2% to $265,500 while new listings rose by 31.5% to 192, active listings dropped 10.1% to 329 and pending sales grew by 23.5% to 147. Bastrop had 3.4 months of housing inventory.
Caldwell County, meanwhile, saw the median home price increased by 7.3% to $205,000. New listings fell 7.9% to 35, active listings dropped by 27.6% to 76 and pending sales increased by 33.3% to 44. Housing inventory was at 2.9 months.
