ERA Starr Realty Blog Featuring Door County Homes for Sale

January 2025 Newsletter

February 20, 2025 by Kathy M

2025 is off to a rousing start! Certainly, we know that sales information from the first month of the year is no guarantee of a continued streak of positive action for the remaining 11 months of the year. Especially this year with all the turmoil involved with a change in national administration.

However, one thing we do know is that January 2025 was the best January in three years. This year there were 55 sales recorded in the Door County Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Three years ago, in 2022, there were 70 sales. There were 15 more sales in 2022 yet the dollar volume three years later here in 2025 was greater. Volume was $19.7 million here in 2025 an just $17.9 million in 2022.

Median Price is another measure used to analyze just how healthy any real estate market is functioning. In reviewing the one month (January) median price numbers, we find just how volatile markets can be. Going back 8 years, starting in 2018, we see a January median sales price of $149,750. Fast forward to 2025, that number has ballooned to $303,000. Pretty much doubled!

Interesting, a look at all the median price numbers for the eight years from 2018 to 2025, we see that median price for the period of 2018 through 2022 ranged from $149,750 to a high of $153,250. Then in 2023, the median price exploded to $325,000. 2024 moderated a bit to $320,000, until our current 2025 median price of $303,000.

In 8 years there was not one January month where there was a median price in the $200,000’s.

Here at ERA Starr Realty, we stay right up to the minute on all the activity in the various markets in both Door and Kewaunee Counties. We continue to list and sell more property than any office in the two-county area. We are “Always There For You”! – Dennis J. Starr, Chief Statistics Officer

Median Price Report

January 30, 2025 by Kathy M

In short, I believe we can say that real estate in Door and Kewaunee Counties has returned to sensible levels after two years of high prices and low inventory.

This is certainly obvious by taking a quick look at median prices for the last three years. Information is gathered from the Door County Multiple Listing Service (MLS). From 2020 to 2021, we saw median price for all type properties in the two counties grow at a modest rate of 3%, from $180,000 to $185,000. Now for 2021 to 2022, the median price skyrocketed by 30% to $240,000. The following year, 2023, the advance was 25%, increasing to $301,000. A 56% increase in just two years is not healthy in the real estate business. These numbers apply to all type properties from residential (inland and shore homes) to commercial, plus vacant land and condos (residential and hotel).

The most prevalent property type, of course, is residential inland homes. In Door County, median price increased from $411,200 to $425,000…a modest 3%. Kewaunee County saw a jump of 10% from $215,500 to $237,000. Remember these numbers apply only to residential inland homes.

Vacant land is another story. Here we saw a rather dramatic uptick in values, moving from a median price of $97,750 to $125,000 for a 28% jump. A word of caution with vacant land. Values depend so much on things like location, type, condition, rural, in-town, zoning, soil type, wooded or open, etc.

With changes like this happening in our two-county markets, it becomes even more important when considering selling or buying a property to contact a real estate professional. Here at ERA Starr Realty, we have followed the real estate markets in Door and Kewaunee since 1954 and our professionals follow all current activity in these markets. “We Are Always There For You”! – Dennis J Starr, Chief Statistics Officer

Residential Inland Home Sales Report

November 22, 2024 by Kathy M

Now that election season is over and we are all stuffed with statistics, statistics, and more statistics, let’s look at a few more, closer to home. I’m talking about home prices thus far here in 2024 as compiled from the Door County Multiple Listing Service (MLS). We will focus on residential inland homes only…no shore homes or condos.

Starting with our Northern Door County neighbors and reaching down the county to Sturgeon Bay, we find the number of sales at 235 for the first 10 months of 2024. Median price was $420,000. In all of 2023, 240 sales with a median price of $411,200 were recorded for a moderate price increase here in 2024.

Now to Sturgeon Bay – 84 sales with a median price of $299,950 this year through October. Twelve more homes were sold but at a lower median price. The median price in 2023 was $302,750.

Next on to Southern Door County. This year through the first 10 months, 30 sales were recorded with a median price of $345,000. For all of 2023, there were 38 sales and a median price of $362,500.

Kewaunee County in 2023 showed 57 sales and a median price of $215,500. Ten months thus far this year, 36 sales were documented in the MLS at a median price of $226,500.

Overall, we see a definite stabilization of pricing for inland residential home sales from the tip of Door County down to and including Kewaunee County. Some areas showed slightly higher home values while others were slightly lower. That’s certainly a healthier home price market than the 19% to 23% jumps in cost when comparing median price changes 2022 vs 2023.

Here at ERA Starr Realty, we strive to stay on top of the fast-changing real estate markets here in Door and Kewaunee Counties. We are “Always There For You”.

Residential Waterfront Home Sales & Median Price Comparison

July 26, 2024 by Kathy M

Last issue we looked at inland residential home sales since 2020. Market activity in Northern Door, Southern Door and Kewaunee County showed rather dramatic increases in median price for all three sectors of the two counties. Shore home values show a similar dramatic median price over the last few years.

All values cited below are from January 1st to July 24th time period as reported in the Door County Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

Bottom line, residential waterfront homes increased in median price from 2019 to 2024 a total of 215%, moving from $383,000 in 2019 to $825,000 this year.

Moving back ten years to 2014, we find median price checking in at $308,000, showing somewhat moderate price increases until prices began to balloon to the current median price of $825,000.

Starting in 2019 with a median price of $383,000, the next five years consecutively check in with median prices of $450,000, $561,000, $559,000, $787,000 and the current value of $825,000 for 2024. Again, that’s from January 1st to July 24th for all prices.

Let’s take a minute and talk about just how active were and are the markets for shore homes through the last ten years. In 2014 there were 40 residential waterfront homes sold. Average Days on Market (DOM) were 329 for the 40 properties sold. Here in 2024, we find the average DOM of 130 days for 33 sales. Fewer homes sold, higher prices, but less time to consummate the sale.

Here at ERA Starr Realty, we take the time to study the many factors that affect home prices and marketability of different type properties in different locations. Real estate markets are very volatile and influenced by many things not in our control. Prices and market time are typically very important to our customers and clients. We can help! We are Always There For YOU!!

Median Price Soars for Residential Home Sales

June 22, 2024 by Kathy M

After the first five months of home sales here in 2024, let’s take a look at just where home sales are headed. All of the following information applies ONLY to residential inland home properties..no condos, shore homes, etc.

Because there are three very distinct markets within Door and Kewaunee Counties, each market shows rather different traits regarding number of sales, dollar volume and median prices. All numbers represent years 2020 through 2024 (January through May).

Starting in Northern Door County (excluding Washington Island), we extend from Liberty Grove township through Sevastopol. Here we find in 2020 there were 48 homes sold at a median price of $317,500. The next 4 years there were 59, 48, 31 and 38 sales. 2024 generated a median price value of $546,500. That’s a 72% increase in values in just five years. WOW!!

Sturgeon Bay south to the county line generated 38 sales in 2020, followed by 57, 41, 25 and 56 homes sold in subsequent years. Median price showed a 77% jump in those five years, moving from $178,500 to $316,500 this year.

Kewaunee County housing market was less active with 27 sales in 2020 followed by 25, 25, 18 and 12 over the next four years. Home prices escalated from a low in 2020 of $129,900 to the current median price of $256,000 for the first five months of 2024, a whopping 97% increase in just five years, but still well below Door County values.

ERA Starr Realty was the most active real estate agency over the last five years. With 45 sales January through May, we topped the second leading agency’s 35 sales. We also lead the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in shore home sales with a total of 110 for the first five months of the year for the last five years. At ERA Starr Realty…“We are “Always There For You”!

2023 Real Estate Review

January 24, 2024 by Kathy M

December finished off a year in the real estate business for Door and Kewaunee Counties that will be difficult to duplicate. I believe I also said that after 2022; however, I cannot see this market continuing to produce the overall value increases we saw in 2023.

Median price is the measure of where property values (all types from homes to commercial to vacant land to condos, etc.) shake out at the end of the year.

From 2016 to 2023 we see annual values fluctuate from -1% to +30%. 2016 was the only year with a negative increase in value. In 2017 values increased 10%. The next 4 years were: +3%, 0%, +9%, and +3%. That took us to 2022 where we found an increase in median price of 30%! WOW you say! Well, in 2023, values increased another 25%. That’s over 50 percent in just two years!

What accounts for these drastic increases? Simply – supply and demand. Many buyers but few homes for sale. Many buyers were forced to build, forcing up land prices. More buyers streamed in from the large cities because of the pandemic and a quest for a safer and less hectic lifestyle. Zoom and other internet options allowed many to work from their homes…and on and on…

I do not believe it will be possible to continue the value increases we have seen over the last several years. I expect more moderate increases in values in the near future.

Here at ERA Starr Realty, we are proud to have served many customers and clients in the housing portion of the real estate markets in Door and Kewaunee Counties in 2023, and we have the numbers to prove it! In 2023, ERA Starr Realty had 58 transactions with Sturgeon Bay homes while the second place office showed 21; 16 waterfront homes sold while second place had 10; 104 residential home transactions compared to the second place agency with just 50.

ERA Starr Realty has been a “Trusted Name in Real Estate Since 1954” and we continue to be “Always There For You”.

October News – Median Prices Continue to Rise

November 14, 2023 by Kathy M

Real estate sales in the Door-Kewaunee County market areas for October continued with a strong trend toward fewer sales but much higher prices. This is the typical scenario in all types of commodity markets. “The higher the price, the fewer the sales!”

In this market, we are seeing this old economic adage playing out at a level probably never seen before, at least not since my entrance in the real estate business in 1969.

This is exemplified by an examination of median price over the last 7 years. Median price in this context is garnered from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and summarizes sales of all type properties, from homes to businesses to vacant land to condominiums, etc. All numbers are measured from January 1 through October 31. Median price for real estate properties sold in Door and Kewaunee Counties back in 2017 was $156,850. Here in 2023, 7 years later, median price exploded to $300,500. That’s a jump of 92%!

How ‘bout just homes prices, you ask? Here in 2023, residential inland homes carried a median price of $355,000. Back 7 years the number was $165,000. That calculates out to a rousing 115% increase! Again, this is for a January-October time frame.

Now let’s take a look at the supply side of the picture. Back 7 years to 2017 there were 401 homes sold. This year just 249 homes sold. That equates to 61% fewer homes sold.

Another measure we in the real estate business consider is days on market (DOM), or time from listing to closing. Seven years ago, DOM was 225, now it’s just 85 days. A big part of this difference is CASH! There is so much competition for desirable homes, buyers are aware they must make their offer as attractive to sellers as possible. And cash, not a financing contingency, is king.

At ERA Starr Realty, we will break down the steps a buyer and seller need to take to complete a successful home purchase. We are “ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU!”

Residential Waterfront Home Sales & Median Price Comparison

Median Price Soars for Residential Home Sales

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