Local Existing Home Sales Rose In August, Declined On State And National Levels

Rates of existing home sales fell on the national and state levels in August, but increased on the local level.
The National Association of Realtors says existing home sales fell nine-tenths of a point last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.33 million, the second straight monthly decline. Industry analysts blame a shortage of homes on the market, citing a decline of 10.1 percent from a year ago. The Ohio Association of Realtors says statewide sales fell by 2.1 percent from July. The Columbus Realtors trade association says a record 31 hundred existing homes changed hands last month in its multi-county, an increase of 1.5 percent from July. The shortage forced a decline in sale prices. The national median sale price was 240 thousand dollars in August, down by 4 thousand from the previous month. The statewide average price in August was 168 thousand, down from 173 thousand in July. The average regional price was nearly 205 thousand, down from nearly 214 thousand dollars during the previous month.