Home Sales Plunged in June

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina realty group says home sales plunged in June from year-ago levels, but prices are up. South Carolina Realtors’ monthly report says home sales statewide fell nearly 20 percent in June. Sales were down by nearly a third in the Columbia and Augusta areas. The report shows that average home prices of nearly $204,000 are up 4 percent from year-ago levels. It took about 142 days to sell a home in June. That’s a nearly 14 percent increase from last year when it took just over four months to sell. Fewer people are listing their homes for sale. The report says there were more than 8,700 newly listed homes in June, a decrease of more than 12 percent. (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)