WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. -- Bellingham-area home sales rose sharply in the second quarter of this year over last year.

Five-hundred-thirty-nine Whatcom County homes sold from April to June - up 7.2 percent from last year according to a new report released by Lylene Johnson of the Muljat Group.

Johnson says June was a particularly strong month especially for Bellingham housing sales.

She says “Bellingham is leading what could be the beginning of a recovery…”



The increase in sales was accompanied by smaller ticks upward in median and average prices of homes sold, due primarily to strength in Bellingham.

Johnson says the price increase is likely because more expensive homes are starting to sell.

The median price of homes that sold in the county rose 2.6 percent to $259,500 in the second quarter; while the average price was $288,100, up 1.6 percent.