Home sales rise 15.5 percent across Ohio

Home sales rise 15.5 percent across Ohio

COLUMBUS

Homes sales across Ohio rose 15.5 percent in June, as the market posted year-over-year gains in activity for the 24th consecutive month, according to the Ohio Association of REALTORS.

“Over the past two years the Ohio housing market – month-by-month – has made slow, steady and consistent progress in its effort to recover from the economic challenges wrought by the recession,” said Thomas J. Williams, president of the association in a statement. “Attaining 24 consecutive months of gains in sales activity — our longest stretch in uninterrupted growth in 16 years of tracking Ohio home sales — is a clear indicator of growing consumer confidence and a renewed appreciation that housing is a solid, long-term investment.”

Sales through the first six months of 2013 totaled 61,297, a 15.8 percent increase from the 52,932 sales posted during the same period a year ago.