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

DATE: SUNDAY, November 12, 1995                   TAG: 9511140001
SECTION: HOMES                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

STATE HOMES SALES OFF FOR SEPTEMBER

Pending home sales in the state have dropped slightly behind sales for the same period last year, according to the Virginia Home Sales Survey published by the Virginia Association of Realtors.

"We're seeing sales level off, as they typically do this time of year when schools open," said Thomas N. Innes of Richmond, president of the association.

"Activity continues to be brisk in many areas of the state, however, probably because rates have shown some decline recently and buyers can still pick up a mortgage in the 6- to 7-percent range," Innes said.

The report shows that sales for the month of September were down 0.25 percent compared to the same period last year. The association said 4,799 new and existing homes were placed under contract compared to the prior September's figure of 4,811.

The first nine months of the year showed an 11.46 decline as 49,064 single family homes had been placed under contract compared to 49,996 for the same period in 1994.

Increases in home sales were seen in 13 of the 24 areas reporting, including the Blue Ridge area, Charlottesville, Dulles, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg-Rockingham, the New River Valley, Prince William, Southside Virginia, Staunton-Augusta, Richmond and the Peninsula.

The average sales price was $108,831, up from last year's $104,595. Homes were on the market an average of 85 days.

by CNB