Homebuyers in Winchester had more homes to choose from in May compared to a year earlier, according to Long & Foster Market Minute reports. Home prices in the city also dropped 18 percent from May 2017. Much of the surrounding area saw fewer homes on the market along with increased prices.

The region includes Frederick, Shenandoah and Warren counties and the city of Winchester.

Warren County saw a 15 percent decline in the number of homes available, while sales fell 8 percent. Median sale prices ranged from $196,500 in Shenandoah County to $260,000 in Frederick County. Across the region, there is a shortage of homes in the entry and mid-level price ranges, said Larry “Boomer” Foster, president of Long & Foster Real estate.

“Homes are not staying on the market if they’re priced correctly and you make sure they show well,” Foster said.

Mortgage interest rates are slowly increasing, as expected, but Foster said he doesn’t think that alone will dampen demand. He predicted a seller’s market at least through the end of the year, because of strong economic indicators, as long as consumer confidence remains solid. When it comes to buying or selling, consumers should rely on the advice of an experienced real estate agent to help navigate a complex process.

“An experienced agent can help evaluate multiple offers and get you the most for your house,” Foster said. “There are many companies out there that say they will provide services at a discounted rate, but you generally get what you pay for.”

The Long & Foster Market Minute is an overview of market statistics based on residential real estate transactions for more than 500 local areas and neighborhoods and over 100 counties in eight states. The easy-to-read, easy-to-share reports include information about each area’s units sold, active inventory, median sale prices, list to sold price ratio, days on market and more.

Information included in this report is based on data supplied by Metropolitan Regional Information System and its member associations of Realtors, which are not responsible for its accuracy. The reports include residential real estate transactions within specific geographic regions, not just Long & Foster sales, and they do not reflect all activity in the marketplace. Information contained in this report is deemed reliable but not guaranteed, should be independently verified, and does not constitute an opinion of MRIS or Long & Foster Real Estate.