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"Our economy remains stagnant, which is a huge problem," said Tom Consaga, manager with RE/MAX Ace Realty in Pleasantville. "I believe if the economy was better, the sales would be significantly better than what we're seeing now."
In Thornwood, the average sale price of a home from September through November 2012 was $520,500, a decrease of 18 percent, or $114,000, from that same time period in 2011, according to data on Trulia.com. Over the past five years, sale prices in Thornwood have decreased by about 16 percent.
In Valhalla, the average sale price of a home from September through November 2012 was $457,000. That average is down 19.5 percent, or $110,500, from that same time period in 2011. Average sale prices in Valhalla have decreased by about 21 percent over the past five years.
Hawthorne was the only hamlet that experienced any short-term upward trend in prices. From September through November 2012, the average sale price of a home in Hawthorne was $474,000. That number is up by 23 percent, or $89,000, from that period in 2011. Yet over the past five years, Hawthorne's average sale price has decreased by 11 percent.
In a tough market, residents looking to sell can get the most by using a sound strategy and keeping up on the little things, Consaga said.
"The strategy of pricing a little high to test the market is a terrible strategy these days because it can scare off the buyer," he said. "Just making sure that the house is presented in good light because the houses that are the ones in good condition with few problems that are priced right are the ones that are having no problems with selling."
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