PORTLAND, ME (November 23, 2022) – Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, Maine’s leading luxury property company, with offices in Portland, Kennebunk, Brunswick, Damariscotta, Camden, and Northeast Harbor, announces that buyer demand remains healthy in Maine, while rising interest rates and tight inventory continue to affect the real estate market. Maine Listings today reported a 7.79 percent rise in the cost for a single family existing home, which reached a median sales price (MSP) of $332,000 in October 2022 compared to October 2021. The MSP indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less. October 2022 sales dipped 23.41 percent compared to a year ago, due to the existing market factors. “After a two-year streak of double-digit pricing increases, we’re finally seeing some relief,” says Madeleine Hill, 2022 President of the Maine Association of REALTORS and Designated Broker at Roxanne York Real Estate in Harpswell. “While demand remains steady for Maine’s tight for-sale inventory, increased mortgage interest rates have impacted the market,” added Hill. “Buyers who need to finance their home have less purchasing power, and the recent pricing deceleration indicates that sellers are adjusting. “Sales volume last month outpaced the number of homes coming onto the market, and for-sale inventory remains tight with eight percent fewer homes on the market in October 2022 compared to September 2022 – and 58 percent fewer homes for sale than pre-pandemic October 2019.” The National Association of Realtors reported a 28.2 percent decline in sales nationwide, with a national MSP of $384,900—a rise of 6.2 percent in the past year. Regionally, sales in the Northeast reflected a similar trend, with a decline of 23 percent compared to October 2021. The regional MSP jumped 8.0 percent to $408,700. “With nearly 1,600 sales, October 2022 was the 7th best October in the 22 years of available records,” says Hill. Below are two charts showing statistics for Maine and its 16 counties. The first chart lists statistics for the month of October 2021 and 2022 only, statewide. The second chart compares the number of existing, single-family homes sold (units) and volume (MSP) during the rolling three months of August, September and October (2021/2022). Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty can be reached at 207-780-8900 and [email protected]. Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, with offices in Portland, Kennebunk, Brunswick, Damariscotta, Camden, and Northeast Harbor, is Maine’s leading luxury and lifestyle property company with more than 90 agents and six offices serving Maine coastal communities from York County to Hancock County as well as Seacoast New Hampshire. Offices Located at: 2 City Center, Portland, ME 04101 // 207.780.8900 (Greater Portland Maine Real Estate) 150 Port Road, Kennebunk, ME 04043 // 207.967.0934 (Southern Maine and Seacoast New Hampshire Real Estate) 141 Maine Street, Brunswick, ME 04011 // 207.729.2820 (Mid Coast Maine Real Estate) 170 Main Street, Damariscotta 04543 // 207.563.2775 (Boothbay Harbor, Damariscotta and Bristol Regions Real Estate) 46 Bay View Street, Camden, ME 04843 // 207.230.1003 (Camden, Rockport, and Knox and Waldo County Real Estate) 6 Neighborhood Road, Northeast Harbor, ME 04662 // 207.780.8900 (Mount Desert Island, Hancock and Washington County Real Estate)