Illinois Home Sales Show First Increase in Over Three Years

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Statewide Illinois home sales

increased year-over-year in the month of September for the first time since March 2006

with first-time buyers driving the rebound in sales. According to the Illinois

Association of REALTORS'(R) latest report, statewide total home sales (which 

include single-family and condominiums) in September 2009 reached 10,350 homes sold,

up 3.3 percent from September 2008 sales of 10,018. The Illinois median price in

September 2009 was $160,000 down 9.3 percent from $176,450 in September 2008. 

The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold 

for less.