YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The number of houses sold in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in March was down about 10% from a year earlier.

Cumulatively, 371 houses were sold in the three counties in March, compared with 412 in the same month a year ago, MLS Now, a multiple listing service collecting sales data from the northeastern Ohio region, reported Thursday.

That includes 178 houses sold in Mahoning County last month, compared with 187 in March 2024, a 4.8% decrease. In Trumbull County, 135 houses were sold last month, down 19.2% from 167 a year earlier. In Columbiana County, 58 units were sold in March, unchanged from March 2024.

New listings in March increased 3.3% from a year earlier in Mahoning County, 13.1% in Trumbull County and 8.9% in Columbiana County.

The total volume of houses sold in March compared with the same period last year was up in Mahoning and Columbiana counties but down in Trumbull County.

In Mahoning County, March sales totaled $37.4 million, up 2% from $36.7 million a year earlier. In Trumbull County, total sales were down 6.3%, from $27.3 million last March to $25.5 million last month. In Columbiana County, dollar volume totaled $10.9 million in March, up 11.6% from $9.8 million a year earlier.

Average sales prices in March were up in all three counties.

The average sale in Mahoning County in March was $210,235, up 7.1% from $196,282 a year ago. The average sales price in Trumbull County last month was $189,596, a 15.9% increase from March 2024’s $163,617. Columbiana County’s average sales price last month was $189,475, up 11.6% from $169,844 in March 2024.

Throughout Ohio, home sales in March reached 9,406, a 7.1% decrease from the 10,125 sales recorded in March 2024. The average sales price across the state in March reached $297,614, a 6.1% increase from the $280,541 mark posted in March 2024.

“While home sales dipped in March, we’re already seeing strong indicators that buyers and sellers are preparing to re-engage as we head into the spring homebuying season,” said Michelle Billings, Ohio Realtors president. “With mortgage rates showing signs of stability and inventory gradually improving, we’re optimistic that the coming months will bring renewed energy and opportunity to the housing market.”