January residential unit sales in New Hampshire were ahead of the prior January for the third consecutive year, as 656 single family homes were sold in the Granite State last month.  According to MLS data released  by the New Hampshire Association of Realtors (NHAR), that number represented a 20 percent increase over the 549 homes sold in January 2011.  The median price of those homes, meanwhile, continued to lag slightly behind, having dropped 4 percent, from $207,000 in January 2011 to $198,500 in January 2012. “Although it’s human nature to look for that one defining month that signals to everyone that the recovery in the housing market is afoot, that’s just not the nature of this economy,” said NHAR President John Rice, a 40‐year veteran of the real estate industry and an agent with Tate & Foss Sotheby’s International in Portsmouth. “As we continue to hear from economists, we’re probably in the early stages of a slow upward climb.  Rice said he was encouraged by the fact that the 656 January sales were the most since 2007, but he pointed out that this mild winter, particularly compared to last year’s frigid and snow‐caked January, has likely played a role in the uptick. “We’re happy to report positive news in terms of the market, but we also need to be clear about the context,” Rice said, “and right now the context is that we’ve had positive conditions compared to last year.” The drop in median price continues to be influenced by the foreclosure market. The New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority reported 368 foreclosure deeds recorded in December 2011, the highest December number since NHHFA began its reporting in 2005. In terms of local markets, eight of the state’s 10 counties saw unit sales increases in January compared to a year ago, including a 108 percent jump in Sullivan County, 45 percent in Belknap County and 36 percent in both Cheshire and Rockingham counties. The state’s largest county, Hillsborough, witnessed a 14 percent sales increase.  Median price, meanwhile, saw increases in four of 10 counties, the largest of those being 22 percent in Coos County. January 2012 data residentialJanuary 2012 data condo With inventory still relatively high, interest rates low and prices competitive, Rice said he would not be surprised to see an excellent spring in terms of sales.  “No predictions, but the market is certainly ripe for a continued increase in activity,” he said. “Those looking to buy a home have excellent opportunities right now.”   Source:  Press Release NHAR, Dave Cummings, NHAR Director of Communications, Concord, NH