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Charlotte-area home sales rose significantly in September compared to the previous year, newdata show.
Prices, however, continued to slide.
About 1,970 houses, townhouses and condos sold in the region in September, up 26 percent from September 2010, according to the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association. Sales were down nearly 14 percent compared with August, however.
The average sales price in September was $196,686, down 4.5 percent from August and down 6.5 percent from September 2010.
Association president Laurie Knudsen said she wasn't surprised to see the annual gain because many homebuyers last year closed deals before June 30 to qualify for government first-time homebuyer tax credits. That meant sales in the second half of 2010 were unusually slow, said Knudsen, a Realtor with Helen Adams Realty.
"This September is more of what a normal market would look like," she said.
The number of pending sales, or signed contracts that haven't closed, also rose - more than 14 percent - compared with last year. Pending sales are considered a good measure of current housing activity.
Distressed sales fell slightly as foreclosures and short sales are absorbed by the market.
Distressed sales accounted for more than 21 percent of closings in September, down from 23 percent in August. Distressed sales made up nearly 16 percent of new listings in September, suggesting consumers are buying these properties faster than lenders are listing them, according to the association.
"We're close to becoming a balanced market, where we've been a buyers market," Knudsen said.
