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ANGOLA — The state saw a marked increase in existing home sales in October 2009 compared to October 2008, but locally there was a mix of positive and negative results.
The state’s October sales increased 20.9 percent from the same month a year ago, making it the first time this year that there was an increase. The report just started being made available this year, in the spring.
“This is positive news for Indiana housing markets,” said Karl Berron, Chief Executive Officer of the Indiana Association of REALTORS (IAR). “It has been some time since we have seen an increase in sales and I think these numbers highlight the kind of impact the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit has had and the importance that it was not only extended but expanded.”
LaGrange and Steuben counties saw year-over-year increases while DeKalb and Noble did not.
“While one month of positive numbers does not make a trend, this month’s numbers are a hopeful sign to those looking to buy and sell,” Berron added.
The most dramatic decline was in DeKalb County where there were 28 homes sold in October 2009 compared to 38 in October 2008, a negative change of 26.3 percent.
In DeKalb County there have been 263 homes sold through October, compared to 290 last year, a drop of 9.3 percent.
The IAR obtains its data directly from the state’s 23 largest Multiple Listing Services and the Broker Listing Cooperative in central Indiana.
The report represents 98 percent of the housing market statewide.
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