The median sales price of a house in Carbon County rebounded in January to $231,000 from $200,000 in December, according to Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors.

“Demand for housing persists,” said GLVR President Howard Schaeffer.

There were 58 new listings in January, which is more than in December when there were just 35 new listings, according to GLVR data.

The current inventory stands at 101 units, which is enough to last a little more than a month and half.

The data also showed that in the middle of winter, the number of days on the market increased in January from 28 days to 46 days.

“Many would say higher mortgage interest rates have cut into housing affordability, but with homes spending a little longer on the market, buyers have more time and negotiating power when shopping for a home. Seller concessions are making a comeback, too,” Schaeffer said.

“At the end of a deal, it all balances out, and my clients are notably seeing in real-time the affordability story isn’t quite as alarming as it seems on the surface.”

Schaeffer thinks interest rates will stabilize as inflation continues to slow.

“Recent generations have become accustomed to rates at historical lows and subnormal levels,” he said. “Buyers and sellers shouldn’t get wrapped up in the catastrophizing of the mortgage situation, when through these current corrections, rates are resetting back into reality.”

For now, closed sales continue to be down, as well as the number of new listings and pending sales.