By Steve Sinovic / Journal Staff Writer: 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque metro home sales prices and the numbers of detached homes sold rose in April, continuing a string of increases since the beginning of the year, the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors reported Tuesday.

The association said median home sales prices for the metro region stood at $185,000 last month, a 4.6 percent increase over April 2015. Median means half of the homes sold for a higher price and half for a lower price.

The median stood at $168,000 three years ago.

The average sales price of homes also improved year over year. April 2016’s average sales price of $217,616 is a 3.7 percent rise over the same period last year, and well above the $196,321 detached average home price recorded five years ago.

During the month, the association said, 930 detached homes were sold, representing a 10.1 percent jump from last year. The association comprises Bernalillo, Valencia, Sandoval, Torrance and parts of Socorro and Santa Fe counties.

Also in April, pending sales grew 2.6 percent from the previous year — totaling 1,211 homes under contract by month’s end.

As sales ramp up, the housing market inventory in Central New Mexico continued to slide. April’s detached housing market inventory dropped to 3,275 listings, a 17 percent decline from April 2015.

“The steady growth in the median home price reflects a healthy housing market,” said Jon Schnoor, association president, in a statement. “A (nearly) $20,000 hike in the median home price over three years is good news —not just to sellers, but to local homeowners as well,” who are eager to see an uptick in what is the major asset for many people.

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