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Rhode Island
Rhode Island single-family homes nearing $500,000 median sales price
Home Buying
Homes in Rhode Island sold for a median price of $485,000 in September, which is $30,000 more than last year.
It cost buyers $30,000 more to purchase a single-family home in Rhode Island in September than it did last fall, according to a report the state’s realtor association released Thursday.
The median sales price for a single-family home in Rhode Island was $485,000 in September, which reflects a 6.6 percent year-over-year increase.
Soaring home prices, mortgage rates that are at their highest level in two months, and a lack of inventory have put a damper on sales. “Closed sales fell by 3 percent, and pending sales … also dropped by 2.2 percent,” according to the report.
The inventory of homes “continues to creep upward” but is “still critically low,” according to the association. The state had a 2.4-months’ supply of homes on the market in September. A healthy market has at least a five.
“Each month since January 2022, pending sales have fallen compared to the previous year, a sign that housing affordability is not improving in Rhode Island,” Sally Hersey, president of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors, said in a news release. “The median sales price of single-family homes has risen year over year every month since January 2017. We desperately need to build more housing.”
Home buyers who are turning to the condo market to fulfill the American dream of homeownership shelled out nearly $48,000 more last month for a unit than they did in September 2023. The median sales price of $427,450 last month was a record and reflected a 12.52 percent year-over-year increase. Sales were down 5.3 percent, but the inventory got a bump; it’s up 31 percent year over year.
“We haven’t yet seen much of an effect from the Federal Reserve’s September rate cut on Rhode Island’s housing market. Our main problem continues to be supply. The Realtor Association is committed to supporting all viable legislative initiatives that can help in that regard in the 2025 legislative session,” Hersey said.
Some buyers purchase multifamily homes to cover their mortgages. They live in one unit and rent out the other/s. That endeavor gets more challenging by the month. The median sales price for a multifamily in Rhode Island “skyrocketed to a record $595,000” in September, an increase of nearly 25 percent.
Buyers still in the game had more listings to consider. The inventory in Rhode Island’s multifamily market increased 7.4 percent compared to September 2023.
In a drilldown into single-family home prices, the report noted that Washington County — home to Block Island, North Kingstown, and South Kingstown, among other high-income enclaves — the median sales price for a single-family home ($700,000) jumped 19.66 percent in September. The median sales price in September 2023 was a more palatable $585,000.
Providence County, home to the capital, the median sales price rose a more modest 8.64 percent to $440,000.
The only county that saw a price drop was Bristol. The median sales price of $622,753 reflects a 17.52 decrease, but that is based on only 34 sales. Compare that to Washington County (111 sales) and Providence County (345). Fewer sales can skew the results.
Why is the flag at half staff? These are possible reasons
The flag of the United States of America is flown at half-staff on several occasions, generally marking that the country is in mourning
On Friday, May 15, flags will be flown at half-staff across the United States to commemorate Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Recognized each year since 1962 as part of May’s National Police Week, the national observance pays tribute to United States law enforcement officials who gave their lives in the line of duty, whether at the local, state or federal level.
“United in gratitude, we recommit ourselves to supporting those who keep the peace in our neighborhoods, and we offer our heartfelt appreciation for the service they render to community and country,” reads a proclamation from President Trump. “Their steady presence brings calm to our streets, their dedication preserves the order that allows our Nation to flourish, and their unwavering vigilance is the reason families across America can rest under the promise of a safer tomorrow.”
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, the flag of the United States at all public buildings and grounds across the country and its territories – including in Rhode Island – will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, May 15.
Why are flags flown at half-staff?
According to the official website of the U.S. General Services Administration, flags typically fly at half-staff when the country or specific state is in mourning. Observances include national tragedies, days of remembrance and deaths of government or military personnel.
The president, the state governor or the mayor of Washington, D.C., can order flags to fly at half-staff.
Half-staff vs. half-mast
While half-staff refers to lowered flags on land, half-mast refers to those at sea. Both refer to a flag being flown beneath the top of its staff as a sign of respect.
RI’s Verdi Productions films ‘Bad News On The Doorstep’ in Providence
Verdi Productions wrapped filming of Tom DeNucci’s “Bad News On The Doorstep” early on May 23 in Providence.
Verdi Productions’ secret horror movie, “My Boyfriend is a Demon,” now filming in Rhode Island, is no longer a secret as Chad A. Verdi, the East Greenwich production company’s president, has announced the cast and given an outline of the movie’s plot.
The ensemble cast comprises veteran actors and rising young talents. The story follows Mary, a lonely, small-town girl who creates a fake Instagram account that pretends to be boyfriend, a guy too perfect to be real. Mary puts so much effort into making him “real” that he shows up at her door one day.
The cast includes:
- Mattias Ferrell, son of comic actor Will Ferrell and known for “A Very Jonas Christmas Movie” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.”
- Coco Arquette, daughter of Courteney Cox and David Arquette and known for “Cougar Town.”
- David Arquette, known for his work in the “Scream” film franchise.
- Rosanna Arquette, David’s sister and Coco’s aunt, known for “The Moment.”
- Bailey Sloan, known for “Ragamuffin.”
- Jack Champion, known for “Avatar.”
- Ever Anderson, known for “Peter Pan & Wendy.”
- Vinnie Hacker, known for “Euphoria.”
- Josephine Reitman, known for “Juno.”
- Savannah Lee Smith, kown for “Tunsel Town.”
- Lisa Yamada, known for “Elle.”
- Ty Law, known for “Friday Night Lights.”
“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is written and directed by first-time director mishka.
“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is filming in Providence
The movie began filming in Rhode Island in April and has rented Providence’s Cranston Street Armory for the month of May to use as a studio.
The producing team for Verdi Productions includes Chad A. Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, Michelle Verdi and Sera Verdi. Executive producers include Ketchup Entertainment and Kinolime.
Good morning! Happy Thursday! Today will be pretty unsettled with the chance for showers and t’storms. Friday will still be damp with showers and drizzle, but the weekend still looks amazing!
The one good thing with the rain, for allergy sufferers at least, the pollen levels will be lower. In fact, both today and tomorrow, the tree pollen counts will be low locally. Do expect a spike in the pollen count for Saturday and Sunday with the dry weather.
INTERACTIVE RADAR: Live Pinpoint Weather 12 Radar »
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” FLIGHT TRACKER
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” POWER OUTAGES
TODAY
Hour-by-hour forecast for today…
Hour by Hour // A close look at the upcoming conditions »
We’ll have some showers around during the morning commute today, but the greatest chance for showers and t’storms will be after 9AM and before 5PM.
Showers and thunderstorms could slow travel around mid-day. Rain could fall heavily at times.
A line of showers and t’storms will be sweeping across the area through the afternoon as a slow-moving weather systems moves through the region.
Highs today will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s with southeast to east winds of 5-15mph.
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” BEACH AND BOATING FORECASTS
TONIGHT
Showers are still possible this evening; although they won’t be as numerous.
TOMORROW
That low center will be nearby Friday morning, and we’ll be stuck with a damp, cool windflow. Expect drizzle and showers in the morning and possibly some lingering showers in the afternoon.
Highs Friday will only be in the 50s. The average high this time of year is in the upper 60s.
LOOKING AHEAD
Then…there’s the weekend. Saturday looks amazing with lots of sunshine and dry weather. It’ll be warmer, too, with highs in the 70s.
-Meteorologist T.J. Del Santo
T.J. Del Santo (tdelsanto@wpri.com) is the weekday morning and noon meteorologist for 12 News. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Threads and BlueSky.
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