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Nathan Hurst / The Detroit News

Sales of Metro Detroit homes were up 19.71 percent in April over the same month in 2007, a possible sign the region’s moribund housing market is coming back to life.

The figure is part of a report released Tuesday by Realcomp, the region’s largest multiple listing service.

Only Livingston County posted lower sales this April than last, down 2.42 percent to 161 single-family homes and condominiums sold from 165 in April 2007.

Elsewhere, transactions were up:

– In Wayne County, sales gained 25.11 percent to 1,774 units in April from 1,418 the year before. Homes sold in City of Detroit drove much of the growth; sales there rose up 71.32 percent to 932 homes from 544.

– Oakland County: Up 9.87 percent, from 1,003 to 1,102.

– Macomb County: Up 31.58 percent, from 494 to 650.

But the brisker sales haven’t necessarily boosted gains for home sellers.

Foreclosure prices have driven down the Metro Detroit average significantly. The region’s median home price has plunged 27.9 percent in April over the same month a year ago.

In Wayne County — where 857 foreclosure sales were closed in April along with 917 non-foreclosure deals — the average selling price was $28,000 compared to $102,000 in April 2007. That was driven largely by a 68.76 percent slide in Detroit, where the median price fell to $9,200 from $29,450.

Pending home sales are up for the region as well, with Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston counties all showing gains.

You can reach Nathan Hurst at (313) 222-2293 or nhurst@detnews.com.

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Detroit Area home sales up 12.8%

By GRETA GUEST • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • March 11, 2008

Sales of homes and condos in metro Detroit rose 12.8% in February as compared to a year ago, according to figures released today by Realcomp.

There were 3,591 home and condo sales in the metro area in February compared to 3,184 in the same month a year ago.

Detroit saw the greatest improvement with 804 homes and condos sold in the month compared to 538 in February 2007, a 49.4% spike.

While the area is expected to see its high foreclosure trend continue, the February sales figures are a hopeful sign for the market as spring nears.

Low interest rates and falling home prices are key reasons for the uptick in sales, said Realcomp, a Farmington Hills-based real estate listing service.

Other highlights from the February sales report include:

Macomb County sales rose 21.7% to 483 from 397.
• Oakland County sales rose 7.54% to 818 from 761.
• Livingston County sales rose 19.5% to 104 from 87.
• St. Clair County sales fell 9.4% to 87 from 96.
• Wayne County sales rose 28.1% to 1,481 from 1,156.

Contact GRETA GUEST at 313-223-4192 or gguest@freepress.com.