Home sales and the median price of homes sold in the South Carolina Association of Realtors Southern Midlands Association during the month of March were up from the same month a year ago.

The number of homes sold during the month was 57, up 18.8 percent in March 2006 compared to March 2005, according to the Southern Midlands Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service statistics.

The SMA consists of Realtors and affiliate members from Orangeburg, Bamberg and Clarendon counties and a portion of Calhoun County.

The median price of homes sold in March was up 30 percent from $86,000 in March 2005 to $112,000 in March 2006.

Year to date, both home sales and the median price of homes sold are slightly above this same time from last year.

Statewide, the real estate market continues to buck national trends, boasting a 6 percent increase in home sales during both the first quarter and the month of March as compared to the same periods last year.

Home median prices continue to rise across the state.

There was an upsurge in home sales for many areas of the Upstate, including Clemson/Seneca, Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg and Gaffney.

Aiken also increased its sales by 40 percent in the first quarter, and Sumter sales jumped 26 percent. Coastal areas from Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head all experienced a slowdown accompanied by an inventory build-up.

The South Carolina Association of Realtors is considered one of the largest professional trade associations in the state, serving as the voice of real estate for more than 18,000 members.

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