Most areas of the Winchester real estate market enjoyed an increase in the number of homes sold in February, according to The Long & Foster Market Minute reports. The greater Winchester, Va., real estate market includes Frederick, Shenandoah and Warren counties and the city of Winchester. The Long & Foster Market Minute reports are based on data provided by Metropolitan Regional Information System and its member associations of Realtors and include residential real estate transactions within specific geographic regions, not just Long & Foster sales.

The number of homes sold increased in the majority of areas of the Winchester region in February compared to the same month in 2015. Winchester City saw a 38 percent jump, while Warren County experienced a 21 percent increase. Frederick County experienced a 9 percent increase in the number of homes sold compared to last year and Shenandoah County experienced a 5 percent decrease.

In February, median sale prices varied in the Winchester region, with Warren County experiencing an increase of 20 percent and Frederick County seeing an increase of 6 percent compared to the previous year. The median sale price declined by 12 percent in Shenandoah County and it fell by 40 percent in Winchester City.

In the Winchester region, active inventory decreased by 29 percent in Winchester City and by 13 percent in Warren County. Frederick County saw an 11 percent drop when compared to the same month the previous year, and in Shenandoah County inventory declined by 9 percent.

Homes in the Winchester area are continuing to sell at a steady pace according to February data. Frederick and Warren counties each saw the lowest days on market (DOM) average at 79 days, followed by Winchester City at 114 days. Shenandoah County had a DOM average of 126 days.

“The United States economy saw positive growth in the number of jobs added in February, which is good news for the housing market,” said Jeffrey S. Detwiler, chief operating officer of The Long & Foster Companies. “We also saw some favorable improvements happening within our market areas last month as well, including in the Winchester region. Though many places are feeling the squeeze of low inventory, we anticipate an upturn in the spring will help alleviate demand.”

The Long & Foster Market Minute is an overview of market statistics based on residential real estate transactions and presented at the county level. The easy-to-read and easy-to-share reports include information about each area’s units sold, active inventory, median sale prices, months of supply, new listings, new contracts, list to sold price ratio, and days on market. Featuring reports for more than 500 local areas and neighborhoods in addition to more than 100 counties in eight states, The Long & Foster Market Minute is offered to buyers and sellers as they aim to make well-informed real estate decisions.

The Long & Foster Market Minute reports are available at www.LongandFoster.com, and you can subscribe to free updates for the reports in which you’re interested.    Information included in this report is based on data supplied by MRIS, which is not responsible for its accuracy. The reports 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, Inc.