Cherokee Tribune
Ashley Fuller
afuller@cherokeetribune.com 
07/17/2009

House sales in Cherokee County increased last month as the housing market heats up this summer.

There were 192 houses sold in Cherokee last month, according to the First Multiple Listing Service, a data services provider for real estate professionals. The number could go higher as not all numbers are reported right away.

Sales are up from 182 in May, but down from 247 reported in June last year. So far this year, 996 sales have been reported in Cherokee, down from 1,305 at this time in 2008.

There were 596 new listings on the market in June, up from 565 in May but down from 711 in June 2008. There have been 3,552 new listings on the market in Cherokee this year, down from 4,553 at this time last year.

The average sale price of a house in the county was $205,392 in June, up slightly from $205,010 in May, but down from $249,522 in June 2008.

Terry Moore, managing broker of Prudential Georgia Realty Towne Lake office, said the company’s sales have been helped with the introduction of a job loss protection program.

The Homeowner Education and Loan Protection program provides up to $1,800 of protection a month for six months during a 24-month coverage period.

For people who know it is a great time to buy, but are worried about losing their job, the program allows them to “purchase and have a little comfort,” she said.

“July is blowing the doors off,” she said about how sales are going so far this month.

Anita Davis, a Realtor with Solid Source Realty in Canton, said the spring season typically is busier than the summer, but that has not happened this year.

“Buyers have come back out in the last month and a half in good force, she said. “It is actually picking up more now than in the spring.”

Diane Galvin of Re/Max Town and Country in Towne Lake expects house sale activity to stay high until school starts back early next month.

“Some agents are really busy right now,” said Ms. Galvin, president of the Cherokee Association of Realtors. “Phones are ringing more. I’ve got some agents who are having their best year ever.”

For information about the Prudential program, call the Towne Lake office at (770) 517-2150 or the Canton office at (770) 720-1400.