Staff Report
Published Jan. 18, 2012

Although the volume of residential home sales dropped statewide in December, the three largest metro areas posted gains, according to data released by the South Carolina Realtors.

Across the state, there were 3,595 home sales last month, down 1.6% compared to 3,652 sales in December 2010.

But in Charleston sales were up 13.7% in December, with 778 closings compared to 684 for the same month in 2010. Columbia real estate agents reported a 0.6% increase, selling 520 units in December compared to 517 for the same month in 2010, and Greenville sales were up 1.8% at 500 units compared to 491 for December 2010.

The market segment with the largest gain in sales was homes priced at $100,000 and below, according to the report. Sales for that market were up 12.7% for the year.

The overall median sales price dropped 1% to $148,500 for the year, the report said. Meanwhile, the property type with the slightest decline was the single-family dwelling, where prices slipped just 0.6% to $157,000.

Across the state inventories were down 15.6%, the report said.

In year-to-year comparisons, homes sales in Charleston were up 5.5% in 2011, while the median price dropped 2.7% to $182,000.

In Columbia, the number of sales dropped 10.9% for 2011, while the median price dropped 0.4%.

At Greenville, sales in 2011 dropped 2.5%, while the median price held even at $140,000.

The association’s report also showed that parts of the coastal market, which was hammered during the recession, appears to be bouncing back. Sales for the year in the Hilton Head Island market were up 9.4% to 2,718 units compared to 2,485 for 2010.

Although the median price was down 2.8% for Hilton Head, the area boasted the highest price tag in South Carolina at $228,250.