
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 23, 1995                   TAG: 9507240134
SECTION: HOMES                    PAGE: D-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

STATE'S JUNE HOME SALES INCREASE 11.78%

Pending home sales in the state were up 11.78 percent for June compared to the same period last year, according to the Virginia home sales survey of the Virginia Association of Realtors.

For the first half of the year, however, the 1995 figures lagged.

"Our members have been optimistic that we would see a rebound in activity, and our current interest rates should help to motivate that trend to continue," said Barbara M. Wolcott of Virginia Beach, president-elect of the association. "Plus there is a good selection of homes on the market, making it an excellent time to buy."

For the month of June, 6,223 new and existing homes were placed under contract compared to the prior June's figure of 5,567.

So far this year, 31,962 single family homes have been placed under contract, compared to 34,368 for the same period last year, a 7 percent decrease.

Increases in the number of contracts for June were seen in the Blue Ridge area, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg-Rockingham, Lynchburg, Martinsville-Henry, Massanutten, Middle Peninsula, the Northeern Neck, Northern Virginia, Prince William, Richmond, Roanoke Valley, Southside, Southwest Virginia, Tidewater and Williamsburg.

The average sale price for June was $115,391, up from $103,081 for June of last year. The average house was on the market for 84 days.

by CNB