Buying in German Village? Bloomberg doesn't know that market.

Remember that when you read headlines about ‘the real estate market’ (unless you’re reading them here) the real estate market in question is not your market. It’s a mythical national housing market where the numbers make no sense when trying to make home buying decisions locally.

Below is the latest from the Columbus Board of Realtors. These figures are getting warmer but guess what, the numbers included in the Columbus Board of Realtors announcements include Delaware, Fayette, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway and Union Counties and parts of Champagne, Clark, Hocking, Licking, Fairfield, Knox, Logan, Marion, Muskingham, Perry and Ross Counties.

You might just be concerned about the Franklin County numbers. Getting Warmer. Then again, if you’re selling your home in Clintonville, what do you care about how the Grove City figures look? You want to know what’s up in Clintonville. That’s what I’m here for. This, for example, is what’s up in Clintonville. Want to know what’s up in your neck of the woods? Ask.

Here is the Columbus Board of Realtors article on May numbers.

Housing activity increased in May

(June 21, 2011) The central Ohio housing market was active last month as more homes were put on the market and in contract compared to last year. There were 2,610 homes for sale that went into contract (but haven’t closed) which was up 44.8 percent over the 1,803 homes put in contract during May 2010 according to the Columbus Board of REALTORS®.

As for inventory, there were 3,723 homes added to the market in May 2011, up 10.6 percent from the 3,366 new listings during the same month one year ago.

“In contracts and new listings are both important housing market indicators,” says Rick Benjamin, 2011 President of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. “Having such strong increases in both areas is a healthy sign for the central Ohio housing market.”

Currently, there are approximately 15,146 residential homes available for sale in the central Ohio area – 12,322 single family homes and 2,824 condominiums.

Home prices continue to inch up, with May’s average sale price up 2.6 percent over April. However, May’s average sale price of $158,191 was down 4.7 percent from the same period in 2010.

Homes closed last month reached 1,875, up 15.7 percent over April home closings, but were down 25 percent from May of 2010.

“May of 2010 was a busy month for home sales as so many buyers were on their way to the closing table after meeting the home buyer tax credit deadline,” offers Benjamin. “But sales are up over 2009 when we were in the midst of the first round of home buyer tax incentives which is yet another positive sign.”