2021 was another banner year in real estate that ended very strong—here’s an “at a glance” recap of some of the various market stats.

• The average sales prices varied monthly throughout the year, but September had the highest sales price average increase for Worcester County at 32.6% higher than 2020 figures, and a sales price average at $440,320
• The most recently reported figure for the month of November showed months of inventory in Worcester County is at a record low of 1.1 months, compared to the same time last year where the months of inventory average was 1.8, and at the same time in 2019 it was significantly higher at 5.3
• In 2020 the active inventory during November was 444units; in 2021 it was 299
• As of the first week in 2021, there are only 38 total units actively listed for sale in the MLS that are direct oceanfront
• The luxury market posted 34 sales in 2021 over the $1 million dollar mark; this is similar to last year where there were 29 sales over $1 million
• The majority of the luxury homes sold in 2020 had mailing addresses in the 21842 zip code of Ocean City, which saw 15 of the 34 sales, and Ocean Pines came in second with 9 sales over the $1 million mark
• The highest priced sale in Worcester County was for $5,200,000, and this home was located in West Ocean City in Martha’s Landing subdivision
• As of the first week in 2021, there were only 11 active single-family homes in Ocean Pines listed for sale in the MLS priced under $400,000
• In 2021, there were 64 new construction units sold and as of the first week in 2022, there are only 33 new construction homes actively listed for sale throughout Worcester County

Lauren Bunting is a Broker with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City, Maryland.