Home sales across Illinois, Massachusetts and Ohio fell in October from their year-ago levels, while North Carolina posted record sales, according to Realtor associations in those states.
Sales of existing homes in North Carolina grew 14 percent in October, passing the previous record set in 2003, according to the North Carolina Association of Realtors. Realtors reported 9,512 residential units were sold on an adjusted basis last month, compared to 8,352 units sold in October 2003. The average existing-home sales price was $197,041, up 5 percent from $186,942 posted a year ago.
Nearly 95,000 units have been sold on a year-to-date basis in North Carolina, an increase of 21 percent from sales posted during the first 10 months of 2003 and surpassing the record 92,000 units sold during all of 2003. The year-to-date average sales price increased 5 percent during the same time period to $193,649.
Of the 17 multiple listing services included in the North Carolina report, all but three have experienced double-digit growth in unit sales so far this year, with Jacksonville showing the highest percentage growth at 34 percent. The strongest year-to-date price appreciation has been in Brunswick County, where the average sales price has increased 21 percent to $253,009.
According to the latest report from the Illinois Association of Realtors, sales of existing single-family homes were down 6.3 percent to 10,438 home sales reported in October 2004, compared to 11,140 sales in October 2003. The median price of an existing single-family home increased 6.3 percent over the same period to $183,700 in October, from $172,800 in October 2003. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.
Detached single-family home sales in Massachusetts totaled 4,200 in October, down 5.3 percent from 4,434 sales a year ago, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported. The median price of a detached single-family home grew 12.4 percent to $344,950 in October, up from $307,000 a year ago.
Ohio’s October home sales decreased 1 percent from a year ago, with sales this year reaching 11,608, compared to the record 11,730 sales during October 2003, the Ohio Association of Realtors reported. The month’s average sales price of $154,385 is a 5.5 percent increase over the October 2003 average sales price of $146,339.
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