June home sales jump 13.5% in Capital Region

From the Baton Rouge Business Report:

Halfway through 2012, home sales in the eight-parish region tracked by the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors were up 19% over sales recorded six months into 2011. Year-to-date figures were aided by another strong sales month in June, during which 776 homes were sold, a 13.5% increase over the month last year, according to the GBRAR's latest tally. Sales numbers have been up every month this year, with a total of 3,739 through last month, compared to 3,142 through June 2011. East Baton Rouge Parish has led the sales increases in 2012, up 19.9% with 2,059, compared to 1,717 last year. Ascension Parish's rate of increase isn't far behind, up 19.1% with 710 sales, compared to 596 last year. Livingston Parish sales this year are up 15% to 638, from 555 through June 2011. Sales in the five other parishes lumped into GBRAR's "other" statistical category—West Baton Rouge, Iberville, East Feliciana, West Feliciana and Pointe Coupee parishes—are up 22.2% at 332, from 274. Total year-to-date volume of homes sold in the entire eight-parish region was $706.5 million through June, up 17% over the $603.4 million sold in the same period last year. See the GBRAR's complete sales report here.