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

DATE: SUNDAY, October 17, 1993                   TAG: 9310180310
SECTION: HOMES                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

HOME SALES IN VA. UP 8.8 PERCENT IN AUGUST

Home sales across Virginia rose 8.8 percent in August, the Virginia Association of Realtors reported last week. The trade group's survey showed its members placed 5,989 homes under contract at the end of the summer, compared with 5,505 in August 1992.

For the first eight months, Virginia home sales totaled 46,049 contracts, up less than 1 percent from 45,599 in the corresponding period of last year.

VAR President Edward Pagett attributed the increase to favorable mortgage interest rates, demand for housing and consumer confidence in the economy.

by CNB