A home is seen under construction on Vine Maple Drive Southeast above a row of completed homes on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
The housing market in Salem and Keizer remains hot. Fewer people in the Salem area are receiving unemployment benefits, more employers are posting want ads and average hourly wages are up. Slightly fewer new businesses were registered in Salem. Residents spent less on video poker, possibly because of a week of increased pandemic restrictions. Building permits were a mixed bag.
Home sales (lots under a half acre) – Salem/Keizer
April 2021: 290
March 2021: 273
April 2020: 282
February 2021: 195
Median price:
April 2021: $369,500
April 2020: $321,295
March 2021: $375,000
March 2020: $321,250
Source: Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service
Continuing claims for unemployment
Marion County
April 2021: 2,836
March 2021: 3,172
February 2021: 4,218
January 2021: 4,730
December 2020: 3,909
April 2020: 12,948
January 2020: 2,268
Polk County
April 2021: 662
March 2021: 751
February 2021: 931
January 2021: 1,034
December 2020: 828
April 2020: 2,925
January 2020: 502
Source: Oregon Employment Department
Salem area average hourly earning
April 2021: $24.36
March 2021: $24.04
February 2021: $24.29
April 2020: $23.38
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Salem area help wanted ads online
April: 9,750
March: 8,750
February: 7,890
Statewide area help wanted ads online
April: 104,000
March: 91,800
February: 80,400
Source: The Conference Board via Oregon Employment Department
Video lottery sales
Marion County
April: $9.4 million
March: $11.8 million
February: $5.8 million
January: $212,084 (lottery locations limited)
Polk County
April: $1.1 million
March: $1.3 million
February: $606,615
January: $27,453 (lottery locations limited)
Source: Oregon Lottery
Salem new business registrations
April: 758
March: 766
February: 614
January: 582
April: 2020: 461
Source: Oregon Secretary of State
Salem building permits
New single-family dwellings
April: 42
Total value for April: $13.6 million
March: 68
February: 59
January: 25
April 2020: 22
Total value for April 2020: $6.6 million
New multi-family dwelling units
April: 15
Total value for April: $1.8 million
March: 6
February: 246
January: 0
April 2020: 96
Total value for April 2020: $9.9 million
New commercial/industrial permits
April: 7
Total value: $2.8 million
March: 7
Total value: $6.6 million
February: 13
Total value: $8.9 million
January: 7
Total value: $12.7 million
April 2020: 6
Total value: $7.8 million
Source: city of Salem
Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or [email protected] or @jakethomas2009.
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