While Addison County felt a substantial downturn in sales throughout the first half of 2022, it’s important to note that 2021 represented historically high sales. Single family home sales declined 30% to 135 properties sold, and limited condominium units available limited transactions to 9, 40% less than in 2021. New inventory was soft, reflecting a 21.4% decline in single-family homes listed. Despite limited sales, prices appreciated by over 13.6%. Addison County was the beneficiary of interest from out-of-state buyers during the past two years as buyers sought more tranquil areas. The combination of charming towns like Vergennes, Bristol, and Middlebury surrounded by ample recreational, agricultural, and lakeshore property makes the region a desirable primary and second home market.
Both single-family homes and condos showed substantial price appreciation in Chittenden County. The median sale price of single-family homes rose to $505,050 – a record high. Newly listed properties dropped 15.4% to 559. Pending single-family homes in May, an indicator of home sales to come, were flat with last year and showed a 10.2% decline over a 12-month average. Limited choice and slowing buyer demand are two contributing factors to this decline.
While condominium options are slightly more plentiful in Chittenden County, new inventory was down 1.3% from 2021 with 376 new listings. Limited inventory continued to put pressure on prices as the median sale price of condominiums appreciated to $340,000, a nearly 22% increase over last year. Higher interest rates, coupled with inflation are slowing cooling demand. It is anticipated that inventory will gradually increase, slowing down price appreciation.