The suburban area of New Haven, Connecticut, like many of its neighboring and nearby cities on the East Coast, has seen its share of ill effects from the U.S. financial crisis, which triggered a collapse in the U.S. residential real estate market. As a result, New Haven real estate has seen a decline in its value, a rise in troubled mortgage-holders and a buildup of inventory.

Despite tough market conditions, the market for real estate in New Haven does seem to be on the brink of turning the page into a brighter, if not at pre-crash levels, future. According to local realtor Donna Bigda, at the end of October 2009, there were 178 homes for sale in New Haven, ranging from just $29,900 all the way up to $1 million.

October’s real estate statistics show slow improvement in the market. The month saw 34 sales, an increase of 16 from October 2008’s figures, up by around 50%. Prices of homes on the market in New Haven remained mostly steady. In October of last year, the average sales price for a sold home was $174,050; this year in October, the figure rose slightly to $174,534.

However, homes are now spending more time on the market before selling as compared with last year. In October 2009, the homes sold did so after an average 108 days on the market. Last year’s average was just 68 days. It is estimated that the market had about a six-month supply in 2009’s third quarter.