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Posted on Sat, Jan. 19, 2002 Sale contracts climb 8% in region Charlotte home sales were surprisingly strong last year -- hitting a new high -- despite the recession and economic impact of Sept. 11. Contracts, the most current snapshot of sales activity, climbed 8 percent in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties, to a new high of 25,643. Closings, on which many national sales reports are based, climbed almost 4 percent compared to the year before. The National Association of Realtors predicted last week that U.S. home sales also would hit a record in 2001 despite the uncertain economy. The group said sales of new and existing homes would be up 2.5 percent, although firm figures won't be available until the end of this month. Charlotte real estate agents say they had a busy December, as buyers seemed to rebound from the uncertainty after the attack on New York. Contracts in December were up 15 percent from the same month in 2000, according to the year-end report of the Carolina Multiple Listing Services. The average closing price for homes sold through the MLS last year was $177,959, up $1,001 from the year before. |
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