Ten houses in Babylon for the month of May 2009. That’s a big haul and reflects a bit of a surge in the real estate market generally. There’s been some buzz about an increase in home sales in May nationwide, but you need to remember that those numbers aren’t seasonally adjusted. Year over year (comparing May 2009 to May 2008), houing sales are still down.

Still, it’s at least a little encouraging and maybe a hint that the real bottom of the market isn’t that far off.

With ten houses to cover, my comments for each one will be brief. Feel free to chime in in the comments if you’ve got something to add.

742 Freedom St

  • MLS# 2131667Zillow Page
  • Sold: $360,000 – 5/1/2009
  • Prior Sales:
    09/12/2002 – $334,500
  • 4 bedrooms – 2.5 bath – Split
  • Taxes: $8,900 – Village Taxes: –

This one’s out of the Village, so not really in my wheelhouse. Still, it’s ten percent up from the 2002 price which probably puts us right about on a 2003 price.

394 Fire Island Ave

  • MLS# 2132917Zillow Page
  • Sold: $390,000 – 5/1/2009
  • Prior Sales:
    03/17/2000 – $143,000
  • 4 bedrooms – 1 bath – Cape
  • Taxes: $6,108 – Village Taxes: $664

Waterview is not what it used to be, I guess.

151 Whalers Cove

  • MLS# 2135863Zillow Page
  • Sold: $325,000 – 5/8/2009
  • Prior Sales: none
  • 2 bedrooms – 1.5 bath – Condo
  • Taxes: $4,747 – Village Taxes: ?

Prices for these Whalers Cove units seem to be dropping somewhat. I still don’t think I’d pay this much for a two bedroom condo.

16 W Robbins Ave

  • MLS# 2103205Zillow Page
  • Sold: $600,000 – 5/11/2009
  • Prior Sales: none
  • 4 bedrooms – 2.5 bath – Colonial
  • Taxes: $13,159 – Village Taxes: $1,285

This is a ginormous house on a big piece of property in that nice, south of Montauk area. Here’s the virtual tour for as long as it stays live.

Bedrooms are a little small for a house in this price range and it looks like it needs a bit of updating, but still, four tenths of an acre and a big house for $600,000 is a serious comp.

49 Greenmeadow Dr

  • MLS# 2085347Zillow Page
  • Sold: $340,000 – 5/18/2009
  • Prior Sales: none
  • 2 bedrooms – 2 bath – Condo
  • Taxes: $4,115 – Village Taxes: $690

I like the Green Meadow condos more that the Whaler’s Cove ones, even though there’s not much more space. $340K still seems like too much, though.

111 E Shore Dr

  • MLS# 2174324Zillow Page
  • Sold: $852,500 – 5/20/2009
  • Prior Sales:
    06/07/2002 – $375,000
  • 3 bedrooms – 2 bath – Contemporary
  • Taxes: $$11,814 – Village Taxes: $1,229

35 Cameron Ave

  • MLS# 2010216Zillow Page
  • Sold: $355,000 – 5/21/2009
  • Prior Sales:

    09/14/2006 – $450,000

    02/28/2000 – $139,000

  • 3 bedrooms – 1.5 bath – Colonial
  • Taxes: $7,494 – Village Taxes: $588

Oh my, our old friend 35 Cameron finally drops. Debra and I went to see this house three times but we just couldn’t pull the trigger. Knocks on this place were the almost non-existent yard, dubious basement and the back of the house butting up against a moderately busy road.

$355,000 is a great price for this house, albeit a short sale. That’s almost 100 grand off the crazy, 2006 sale price.

76 Clinton St

  • MLS# 2167330Zillow Page
  • Sold: $387,000 – 5/28/2009
  • Prior Sales: none
  • 4 bedrooms – 2 bath – Cape
  • Taxes: $8,734 – Village Taxes: $483

Here’s Debra’s open house report on this place. Not a lot of houses in this price range in the Village, so people tend to pay a bit more than they should.

32 Midway St

  • MLS# 2153040Zillow Page
  • Sold: $465,000 – Sold Date: 5/29/2009
  • Prior Sales: none
  • 3 bedrooms – 1 bath – Hi Ranch
  • Taxes: $8,602 – Village Taxes: $924

Waterfront property isn’t quite what it used to be.

19 Waters Edge Ct

  • MLS# 2145812Zillow Page
  • Sold: $840,000 – 5/29/2009
  • Prior Sales: none
  • 4 bedrooms – 3 bath – Expanded Ranch
  • Taxes: $16,787 – Village Taxes: $2,396