Click to enlarge August Real Estate Numbers

Central Ohio home sales last month were down from the previous year but the average sale price of a home sold is again on the upswing. The 1,605 homes sold in August was 19.5 percent lower than the previous year, but thanks to the tax credit earlier this year, sales are still 9.2 percent higher than the first eight months of 2009.

“Not only did we see a lull in housing activity after the tax credit expired, we experienced some pretty high temperatures this summer which kept many buyers inside or by a pool,” said Sue Lusk-Gleich, President of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. “That kind of heat will have a real affect on showings and subsequent contracts.”

The average sale price of a home has been inching back up this year from $145,993 in January to $169,959 in August. The average sale price year to date (January through August) is $161,645, which is 2,2 percent higher than one year ago.

There were 3,700 homes listed for sale last month bringing the total number of homes for sale in central Ohio to nearly 17,000 which is 16,5 percent more homes than were on the market at the end of last summer.

“With interest rates still so low and the selection of homes for sale so plentiful, any one who has an interest in buying a home should take a look at what’s available right now,” adds Lusk-Gleich.

The Columbus Board of REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service (MLS) serves all of Franklin, Delaware, Fayette, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway and Union Counties and parts of Champagne, Clark, Hocking, Licking, Fairfield, Knox, Logan, Marion, and Ross Counties.