September home sales hit lowest point in months

Home sales in Spokane County last month fell to their lowest level since February, and pending sales were lower still, according to figures released by the Spokane Association of Realtors.

Buyers took title to 317 residential properties in September, down almost 8 percent from August and more than 28 percent from September 2009.

Only 266 sales were pending, down almost 25 percent from August and more than 42 percent from last September. The low mark for 2010 sales is 210 in February, not surprising given that only 177 sales were pending in January.

The average price in September was $182,264, down from $191,174 in August but up from $179,492 a year ago. The median price was $162,000, off from $170,000 in August, but slightly ahead of the $160,000 a year earlier.

September’s numbers dragged down year-to-date sales for the first nine months of 2010, at 3,330; there were 3,338 for the same period in 2009.