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SANDY — The Salt Lake Board of Realtors Thursday reported that single-family home sales in Salt Lake County fell 21 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010 from the same period the previous year.
Data from the Board showed 1,934 existing single-family homes were sold during the final three months of last year, compared to 2,450 sales in the fourth quarter of 2009.
The figures were not a surprise to local insiders.
"Last year at this time the $8,000 federal tax credit created a surge in home sales," said DeAnna Dipo, president of the Salt Lake Board of Realtors. "However, the most recent fourth quarter sales numbers are up 12 percent compared to home sales in the fourth quarter of 2008 — when the Great Recession was at its strongest point."
She said the two-year improvement could indicate the worst of Salt Lake's housing downturn is likely over.
The report also showed that single-family home prices in Salt Lake County declined 4 percent in the quarter, but there were a few places that saw sales price gains. Those areas included West Jordan ZIP code 84081 which climbed up 6 percent; 84020 in Draper and 84107 in Murray — both increased 7 percent; Herriman's 84096 hiked 10 percent; Sandy's 84092 increased 12 percent; and ZIP code 84103 in Salt Lake City jumped 18 percent.
In 2010, the total number of existing single-family home sales in Salt Lake County decreased 8 percent from 2009's total.
The median sales price of all housing types sold in Salt Lake County last year was $208,000, down 4 percent compared to a median price of $216,000 the previous year.
The median sales price for single-family homes sold in 2010 was $220,000, a 6 percent decline from $233,900 in 2009.
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