LITTLE ROCK — Home sales in Arkansas rose 15.4 percent in February compared with the same month last year, the Arkansas Realtors Association reported Wednesday.
For Jefferson County, 20 homes sold in February 2012 compared to 19 in February 2011, according to the report. For the year to date, 39 homes have sold in Jefferson County compared to 35 during the same time period in 2011.
For the state, the association said 1,610 homes sold in the state in February, compared to 1,395 during the same month in 2011, while the average price of a home rose just over .04 percent to $136,875, compared to $136,925 a year ago.
“This is good news for the Arkansas housing market,” said Dana Powell, executive broker with Keller-Williams Realty in Little Rock.
“Overall, our state was up in all categories … home values, units sold and average price points,” Powell said. “Increases ranged from over 22 percent month over month to 12 percent year over year. Buyers and sellers alike can be encouraged by signs that the market is finally turning.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Benton and Pulaski counties tied for the highest number of homes sold in February with 252 each, followed by Washington County with 115, Saline County with 106 and Faulkner County with 83. Seventy homes sold in Sebastian County in February and 20 sold in Jefferson County.
The average home prices for the month were highest in Pulaski County at $180,250; Madison County, $175,000; Benton County, $171,618; Saline County, $163,322; and Garland County, $158,789.
The average price of homes sold in Sebastian County was $101,733 in February. The average price in Jefferson County was $98,653.