Median price in home sales rises 2.6 percent

The relative shortage of houses for sale in the Baltimore region continues to push up sales prices, with the median price of a home in July up 2.6 percent from this same month last year to $277,000. Sales volume continued to climb, further eroding the inventory of homes for sale. The number of sale closings last month surged 6.5 percent to 3,822, the highest July level in a decade, according to data provided by MarketStats by ShowingTime. But active listings fell to 10,047 at the end of July, down 8.2 percent, the fewest in July for the past decade and the 35th consecutive month of declining year-over-year inventory levels, according to data, which is based on listing activity from Bright MLS. Sellers were getting close to their asking prices, with the average percentage of original list price received at just over 97 percent, up a bit from last year. The median days homes spent on the market was 20, two fewer days than July 2017, but not as fast as June, when homes sold in a median 15 days.

Motorcyclist killed in crash is identified

Investigators released the name of a motorcyclist killed Sunday as a result of a collision near Francis Scott Key Highway and Stone Road in Carroll County. Kelly Lucas Kennedy, 37, of Littlestown, Pa., was headed north on Francis Scott Key Highway and struck a truck towing an equipment trailer that was heading south on Francis Scott