Home sales report

There may not have been that many home sales this year, but the houses that sold got a good price. Home sales across Iowa fell 33 percent in November compared to a year earlier, according to the Iowa Association of Realtors. But the price increased. The average sale price climbed $3,888 over the year to $141,342. Kurt Schade, president of the Iowa Association of Realtors, said he thinks buyers' concern about the economy and job security concerns continue to influence home sales. But he thinks sales will pick up after the holidays as consumers see interest rates tick higher and prices stabilize.