S.L. County home sales went down in July

Sales of single-family homes in Salt Lake County were down in July, bucking the Western regional trend for the month, which showed an overall increase in sales as buyers snapped up deals in foreclosure-ravaged areas.

The number of single-family homes and condominiums sold in Salt Lake County fell 10 percent from June to July, and sales dropped 22 percent compared with July 2007, according to a report Monday by the Salt Lake Board of Realtors. The July drop in home sales followed five consecutive months of increasing home sales in the county.

The median sales price of all homes and condominiums in Salt Lake County rose 1 percent from June to July, to $232,500. But the median price was down 1 percent when compared with July of last year.

Sales of existing homes in the West edged higher overall in July, as many buyers took advantage of falling prices in foreclosure-ravaged areas in California, Nevada and elsewhere, according to two other reports Monday.

About 1.1 million pre-owned houses and condominiums were sold last month in the 13-state region, up almost 1 percent from the same month last year, according to the National Association of Realtors. But the median home price in the West plunged by more than 22 percent versus a year ago to $273,200, the association said.

Nationally, existing home sales were down 13.2 percent from July last year, but rose 3.1 percent from June. The U.S. median home price slipped 7.1 percent to $212,400 compared with July 2007.

The Western region, where sales of foreclosed homes are translating into sharp price declines, was clearly a large drag on the overall market.

Five Western metropolitan areas — Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix and Las Vegas — were among the top 10 markets with the steepest median home-price declines in the nation last month, according to The Associated Press-Re/Max Monthly Housing Report, which analyzed all home sales recorded by all local agents, regardless of company affiliation.

The Las Vegas metro area, where foreclosures have flooded the market since last year, was the hottest market in the country last month, according to the AP-Re/Max report.

Sales almost doubled versus a year ago, and rose 16 percent from June. The median home price, meanwhile, tumbled 25 percent to $220,000 versus a year ago.

"I think our market has probably reached its bottom," said Rosa Herwick, a broker and owner of Century 21 JR Realty in Henderson, Nev.

Herwick said bank-owned homes and short sales — meaning the bank agrees to accept less than the value on the mortgage — accounted for much of what was sold last month in Las Vegas.

Large housing markdowns are also helping some buyers in California overcome their affordability hurdles.

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