Portland-Area Residential Real Estate Market Activity
April 2008
For March 2008, the Portland-area real estate market showed its normal seasonal increase in activity, but continues to lag behind 2007’s pace by nearly 33% in sales volume.
A slower rate of sales plus a consistent pace of new listings entering the market means more inventory. April started with 15,412 active properties in the multiple listing service. It’s taking on average 83 days to sell a home in the Portland market (vs. 65 in March 2007). A couple higher-priced markets (Lake Oswego/West Linn and NW Washington County) are now over 100 days on average.
You would expect pricing to be affected by higher inventories and longer sales cycle, and it has…although not on par with other national markets. Comparing year-to-year, March’s average sale price of $336,700 is virtually the same as last year (336,300). Median prices are even, too ($286,500 vs. $286,200).
Below are the March 2008 results for average and median sale prices, appreciation, and time on market (or DOM*), sorted by average sale price. (Remember, the appreciation numbers are a 12-month rollup compared to the previous 12 months and may not reflect recent months’ price declines.)
Year-to-date results by market area:
| Area | YTD Avg. Sale Price | YTD Median Sale Price | 12-Mo. Appreciation | DOM |
| Lake Oswego / West Linn | $557,600 | $455,000 | 8.7% | 102 |
| West Portland | $492,400 | $399,500 | 3.1% | 92 |
| NW Washington County | $402,600 | $385,000 | 4.5% | 100 |
| Tigard / Tualatin / Sherwood / Wilsonville | $363,300 | $340,000 | 2.2% | 83 |
| Milwaukie / Clackamas | $356,000 | $300,000 | -6.4% | 83 |
| Northeast Portland | $321,200 | $273,500 | 6.9% | 64 |
| Oregon City / Canby | $309,200 | $286,000 | 0.6% | 91 |
| Hillsboro / Forest Grove | $289,500 | $259,900 | 2.7% | 98 |
| Yamhill County | $285,700 | $227,000 | 4.1% | 127 |
| Beaverton / Aloha | $280,300 | $250,000 | 2.6% | 69 |
| Southeast Portland | $278,300 | $249,300 | 5.0% | 70 |
| North Portland | $274,300 | $250,100 | 8.2% | 51 |
| Gresham / Troutdale | $258,700 | $245,000 | 2.2% | 93 |
| Columbia County | $230,900 | $216,000 | 6.2% | 116 |
Appreciation percentages are based on a comparison of average price from the last 12 months (04/01/07 - 03/31/08) with 12 months before (04/01/06 - 03/31/07).
*Days on market (DOM) or average market time may exhibit reporting inconsistencies and should be used to analyze trends only.
Source: RMLS, April 2008.
Ron Ares, Broker
Equal Housing Opportunity. Ron Ares and Advanced Real Estate Services are licensed in Oregon.
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.
Original contents copyright © 2004-2008 Ron Ares.