By DON FENLEY

Home sales across the Tri-Cities region rose 11.8% in February compared to the same month a year ago, with 532 transactions recorded as buyer activity picked up across most community markets, according to regional real estate data. The number of sales in the mid-month county is 1`2 higher than the early count and the median sales price did not change.

The region’s median sales price climbed 5.6% year-over-year to $275,000, suggesting modest but steady appreciation even as individual markets showed wide variation.

Kingsport and Johnson City drove the bulk of regional sales, accounting for nearly one-third of all sales. Kingsport led all markets with 89 sales, an 18.7% increase from February 2024, at a median price of $250,000, up 6.4%. Johnson City posted 85 sales, a 39.3% jump, though its median price of $320,000 edged down 1.5% from a year ago.

Jonesborough recorded the second-highest median sales price among established markets at $420,000, a 37.7% increase year-over-year, on 39 transactions. Blountville’s median hit $460,000 – the highest in the region –  though sales there fell 41.7% to just seven transactions, limiting its broader market impact.

Greeneville was among the most active outlying markets with 47 sales, up 20.5%, at a median of $278,500.

Several smaller communities posted sharp percentage swings, though analysts typically caution that low transaction volumes can distort month-to-month comparisons. Bulls Gap recorded just four sales but saw a 300% increase from one transaction a year earlier, while Surgoinsville’s three sales reflected a 200% jump. Mount Carmel’s median price of $295,000 more than doubled year-over-year, driven by just four transactions.

On the softer side, Mountain City sales fell 44.4% and Blountville dropped 41.7%, while Telford posted the region’s lowest median price at $145,000 across three sales.

Categories: CORE DATA, REAL ESTATE