New York realtors sold more than 8,400 previously-owned homes in January, down 8 percent from more than 9,100 homes sold a year earlier.

That’s according to the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR)’s January housing-market report.

Sales data

The January 2019 statewide median sales price was $278,000, up nearly 6 percent from the January 2018 median of nearly $263,000, according to the NYSAR data.

Pending sales totaled more than 8.500 in January, an increase of about 4 percent from the same month in 2018.

The months’ supply of homes for sale rose about 2 percent at the end of January to a 5.4 month supply, per NYSAR’s report. Supply stood at 5.3 months at the end of January 2018.

A 6 month to 6.5 month supply is considered to be a balanced market. 

The number of homes for sale totaled 60,501 in January, up 1.1 percent from January 2018 levels.

Central New York data

Realtors in Onondaga County sold 306 previously owned homes in January, up more than 4 percent from the 293 homes sold in January 2018. The median sales price rose 7.1 percent to $134,250 from more than $125,000 a year ago, according to the NYSAR report.

NYSAR also reports that realtors sold 124 homes in Oneida County in January, down nearly 20 percent from 154 sold in January 2018. The median sales price rose 6 percent to more than $124,000 from more than $117,000 a year ago.

Realtors in Broome County sold 86 existing homes in January, down about 25 percent from 115 a year ago, according to the NYSAR report. The median sales price edged up 0.5 percent to $99,500 from $99,000 a year ago.

In Jefferson County, realtors closed on 70 homes in January, down almost 8 percent from 76 a year prior, and the median sales price of $136,000 was up nearly 6 percent from more than $128,000 a year before, according to the NYSAR data.

All home-sales data is compiled from multiple-listing services in New York state and it includes townhomes and condominiums in addition to existing single-family homes, according to NYSAR.

It’s a free business-training program for Syracuse small-business owners who qualify

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is accepting letters of interest through March 29 for the next class in its Emerging Leaders program.

 “We’re going to accept approximately 15 to 20 businesses this year into the class. The individual accepted has to agree to attend all 13 [classes],” Bernard J. Paprocki, executive director of the Syracuse district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, said in the March 4 recruitment announcement. 

The Emerging Leaders program is a free business-training program for Syracuse small-businesses that qualify. 

Participants are “usually the owner or a key decision maker in the business,” Bernard J. Paprocki, executive director of the Syracuse district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, said in his remarks. 

“The idea is to take your business to the next level,” said Paprocki. “This program is not for startups.”

Through the program, participants develop a three-year, “strategic growth action plan” for their company’s goals, the SBA said in a news release.

The SBA held the March 4 announcement at Mello Velo Bicycle Shop & Café at 790 Canal St. in Syracuse. Co-owner Sara Morris graduated from the Emerging Leaders program in 2014.

“To date, 130 [area] businesses have taken advantage of this program, including [Mello Velo],” Paprocki noted.

Interested small-business owners can find information on applying and eligibility criteria at www.sba.gov/ny/syracuse.

About the program

Paprocki called Emerging Leaders “a very intense program,” which includes 100 hours of classroom time with other CEOs.

“It gives you the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience through a combination of executive education, practical tips based on real-life business experience, and advice from business leaders that can be readily applied,” he said. 

Participants can work with experienced mentors; attend workshops; and develop connections with their peers, city leaders, and financial communities, the SBA said.

To be eligible, a business must be at least three years old, have at least one employee, other than the owner, and generate revenue between $250,000 and $10 million a year, said Paprocki. 

The program includes 13 classes, beginning April 23 at the Tech Garden in downtown Syracuse. Classes are held every other week through November. Class size is limited to one owner per business, the SBA said.

Since it launched in 2008, the SBA Emerging Leaders program has trained more than 5,000 small-business owners nationwide, creating more than 6,500 jobs, generating over $300 in new financing, and securing more than $3 billion in government contracts, the SBA says.