The Pierce County housing market ended 2012 on a positive note as median prices rose 14 percent, the largest percentage increase of the year, according to Northwest Multiple Listing Service data released Monday.
Median prices rose 14.48 percent to $200,563 last month from $175,199 in December 2011, the combined single-family residence and condominium data show. Home sales in the same year-over-year period weren't as strong, rising just 2.15 percent to 808 units from 791 units, the combined data show.
Pierce County median prices gradually showed improvement in 2012 after tumbling sharply during the first half of the year. Median prices fell as much as 16 percent in the first half of the year, then stabilized and increased through the summer and fall.
Pending sales, meanwhile, rose 6.83 percent to 986 units last month, the combined data show. The number of homes for sale once again plunged in December, down 36 percent to 2,734 units, while new listings last month also fell to 701 units from 846 units in December 2011.
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