Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — Statewide home sales in July were up 1.6 percent from the same month a year ago, the first month-to-month increase since December 2005, the Arkansas Realtors Association reported today.

Average home prices were 2.6 percent lower in July than a year earlier, however. The statewide average price was $153,047, compared to $157,157 in July 2008.

Pulaski County had the most home sales in July, with sales increasing 16.7 percent from a year earlier. Benton County had the second-highest number of sales, though sales decreased there by 3.9 percent from July 2008.

Washington County was third in home sales, which were up 19.3 percent.
Cleburne County had the highest average home price at $196,304, up 40 percent from July 2008. Pulaski County had an average price of $188,878, down 2 percent from a year earlier, and Benton County had an average price of $181,872, down 2.7 percent from July 2008.