Maine’s real estate market continues on a positive track — buyers remain generally undeterred by the winter elements. According to Maine Listings, 646 homes changed hands in February, a rise of 8.94 percent compared to February 2013. The statewide median sales price (MSP) in February 2014 reached $160,000, an increase of 5.61 percent over February 2013. The MSP indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less.

Nationally, sales dipped 6.9 percent compared to February 2013. The National Association of Realtors reported a 9.0 percent increase in the national MSP to $189,200. Regional sales in the Northeast declined 12.7 percent, while sales prices rose 1.5 percent to a regional MSP of $237,800. 

Angelia Levesque, 2014 President of the Maine Association of Realtors, said there is excitement for the spring market and she remains “hopeful that warmer weather will bring an up-tick in listings and sales all over the state. Spring is a good time to spruce up your property in order to list it for sale.”

Levesque, a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate/The Masiello Group in Bangor, noted there is brisk activity in Southern Maine, as well as other areas of the state. “The trend reports show that buyers and sellers did not shy away from the snow last month.”