Median home price rises throughout San Diego County

SAN DIEGO − The median sales price of homes in San Diego County rose last month, while the number of residences that changed ownership fell, according to San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR) figures.

The price of a single-family home that sold in May was $570,000, or $10,000 more than the month before. The cost was 9 percent higher than May 2015, the SDAR said.

In May, just over 2,200 houses changed hands, down two percent from April and three percent lower than the same month last year, according to SDAR data.

For condominiums and townhomes, the median May sales price was $380,000,

a five percent climb over April and 9 percent above May 2015.

The 1,120 condos that sold last month was 44 fewer than April and about the same as May last year.

The SDAR blamed a continuing inventory shortage on the lower sales numbers, but organization President Cory Shepard said he remained bullish on the local residential real estate market.

"First-time home buyers have had the luxury of low mortgage interest rates for an extended period of time, making their mortgage payment lower than rent in many areas of the county,'' Shepard said. "However, buyers have to come prepared to make realistic offers and be willing to compete, in many cases, for their dream home.''

The most expensive single-family property sold in May was a five-bedroom, five-bath, 3,590-square-foot ocean-view home in La Jolla Shores − built in 1930 − that went for $9.5 million.