Capital Region home sales down nearly 27% in May

The number of houses sold in the Capital Region in May was 26.6% lower than in May 2010. There were 580 homes sold in May, according to figures from the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. That compares with 790 sales in May 2010, a month that was boosted by the federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers. The average sale price was slightly higher, at $196,589, compared with $193,239 in May 2010. East Baton Rouge Parish sales were down 26.6%, from 444 in May 2010 to 326. The average sale price was higher, going from $209,305 to $215,660 last month. Ascension Parish sales dropped by 27%, from 159 to 116. The average sale price was slightly lower, going from $186,727 in May 2010 to $184,046. Livingston Parish sales were down 31.7%, from 139 in 2010 to 95 last month. The average sale price also dropped, from $161,193 to $148,883. And the other category, which includes MLS sales in parishes such as West Baton Rouge and Iberville, dropped from 48 to 43 over the year, while the average sale price was up from $159,007 to $191,239. Year to date, the number of homes sold in the Capital Region is 16.4% lower than it was a year ago. There have been 2,438 houses sold through the end of May, compared with 2,918 through the first five months of 2010. —Timothy Boone