EAU CLAIRE — Home sales in the western part of the state surged in April compared with the year-ago period, according to the latest data from the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

The WRA’s west region, which includes Eau Claire, Chippewa, Dunn and nine other counties, saw its sales grow 40.4% — to 525 homes last month from 374 in April of last year. In year-to-date totals, the region’s sales were up 8.1% compared with 2023 at 1,474 homes.

Months of inventory statewide rose 14.8% to 3.1 in April compared with a year ago, and the median home price rose 6.4% to $300,000. According to the WRA, a balanced market has six months of inventory.

“As we kick off the summer buying season, the influx in properties hitting the market is exciting and fueling inventory growth,” Todd Schwartz, president of the Realtors Association of Northwestern Wisconsin, said in a news release. “Higher home sales already reflect this momentum, signaling the start of a growth that hopefully continues.”

In Eau Claire County specifically, sales rose 42% to 98 and the median home price ballooned to $349,250 in April, up 28.4% compared with a year ago. Both sales and home prices also rose in Dunn and Chippewa counties last month. Chippewa County's median sales price rose to $338,875 and Dunn County's home sales increased to 49 units.

Although home sales in April statewide rose 25.7% compared with a year ago, average mortgage rates in Wisconsin increased to 6.99% in April from 6.34% in the year-ago period. That, combined with rising prices, offset modest income growth, according to the WRA, and fueled a 10.1% decline in affordability over the past 12 months.

“There are significant unmet housing needs for millennial buyers, the oldest of whom are now in their early 40s," Tom Larson, WRA president and CEO, said in a statement. "Even though average monthly mortgage rates have been increasing throughout 2024, millennials remain committed to homeownership, which is a big reason home sales have rebounded this year.”