Staff Report
Published Nov. 23, 2009

Home sales in South Carolina experienced a double-digit year-over-year increase in October, leading Jay Rinehart, president of the S.C. Realtors Association to declare October a success.

“October was a good month for the housing market in South Carolina. With an 18% increase in total sales from October of last year, this is the largest monthly increase in activity we have reported this year. South Carolina Realtors agree that the first-time homebuyer tax credit has had a significant impact on recent sales,” Rinehart said in a statement.

The association, which released its findings Friday, reported that 4,104 homes were sold this October, compared with 3,475 in October 2008.

It also reported that sales increased 5.8% from September to October 2009.

Of the state’s three major metropolitan areas, Charleston and Columbia reported increases of 10.1% and 2.6%, respectively, while the Greenville area reported a decrease in sales of 0.1%, or one home.

The median price of homes in October was $152,400, up 2% year over year and 10% over the median price of homes in September of this year.

The average number of days a home was on the market was 175, up from 155 in September.

Statewide home sales year-to-date

Regional home sales

Source: S.C. Realtors