November home sales in York and Adams counties rose almost 30% over last year, as the central Pennsylvania real estate market keeps on sizzling.

Residential real estate activity in York and Adams counties remains brisk, with home sales in September up 11.4% over the previous year.

Before COVID-19, the economy was in incredible shape, backed by high consumer spending, said Mike Rohm, of SVN Latus. Basically, the risk of recession seemed remote and the commercial market was riding the wave, too, said Rohm, who covers primarily Cumberland and Dauphin counties. Property values were climbing, and local investors were competing for the best assets against out-of-town investors, he said. 

As expected, July home sales surged in the Central Pennsylvania region as houses that went under contract after the real estate industry reopened moved to settlement.

Local real estate leaders are detecting some shifts in homebuyer behavior because of COVID-19, whether it’s more caution in the purchasing process, a desire for extra room or closer access to recreational offerings.

Homes listed for sale in York County are getting gobbled up fast and for more money. At the end of May, year-to-date county home sales were up 5 percent.

Real estate professionals have been making what they describe as a rocky but necessary transition to a new system - called Bright MLS - for listing homes for sale in eastern Pennsylvania.

Citing a surge of buyers motivated by falling interest rates, the Realtors Association of York & Adams Counties said York County homes sales increased by 7 percent in the first quarter of the year. The association reported 1,253 home sales through March, up from 1,169 sales in the first three months of 2018. “With the ...