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

DATE: SUNDAY, September 25, 1994                   TAG: 9410280026
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

HOME SALES AHEAD SO FAR THIS YEAR

The pace of home sales fell slightly in August, but year-to-date totals are still running ahead of 1993, the Virginia Association of Realtors reported last week.

The Richmond-based trade group, reporting on the number of houses under contract by its members statewide, said 5,770 houses were sold last month, down 3.7 percent from the 5,989 sold in August 1993. But in the first eight months of this year, Virginia Realtors have sold 46,313 homes, 2 percent more than the 45,387 in the corresponding period of last year.

"Mortgage rates have remained reasonably steady since the last reporting period, as has the average price of houses," said Edwin C. Hall, president of the VAR and of Hall Associates, a Roanoke commercial realty company.

"In addition, the economy continues to grow at a health clip, sustained by increases in consumer confidence, personal income and employment. All thgis points to what we believe will be a very good year for housing sales in the state," he said.

- staff report

by CNB