MO home sales rise 13.3% in August

Missouri real estate agents sold 6,215 homes in August, a 13.3 percent increase compared to 5,484 homes in the same month of 2011.

August was the eighth consecutive month with a year-to-year figure increase in homes sold, according to the Missouri Association of Realtors' latest monthly home sales report, released Sept. 28.

In July, there were 5,977 home sales in Missouri.

During August, the average selling price for homes sold statewide was $151,701, rising 5.4 percent from $143,990 in the same month last year. The median price increased 8 percent to $125,000 from $116,000, according to the report.

Homes sold in August were on the market for an average of 133 days, down from 138 days a year ago.

Confidence in the market is climbing, according to the August Realtors Confidence Index, a monthly survey sent to more than 50,000 real estate agents nationwide. The confidence index was 61 - a score of 50 represents the line between strong and weak - and the outlook index was 62, according to the report.