The first graph shows median home prices for all regions plus the U.S. The median home price in the West rose to $221,700. Nationally, the median home price rose to $177,400. In the West, the median price has increased 3 months in a row, reflecting seasonal factors, but is also showing more price gains than has been the gains over the past two years.
Nationally, home prices rose 10.1 percent, year over year.
According to today's report, home sales transactions (closings, not seasonally adjusted) rose 1.0 percent, from April 2011 to April 2012, in the West region while nationally, sales rose 6.7 percent during the same period. All regions reported year-over-year increases in sales activity. The largest increase was reported in the Northeast where sales rose 15.6 percent.
The second graph shows closings by region. All regions showed a month-over-month increase from March to April, which is common due to seasonality. Sales rose nationally 11.1 percent from March to April, while sales in the West rose 9.5 percent.
Overall, April's sales activity was higher than was the case during April of last year.
