Utah's 14 boards of Realtors report lower residential real estate sales for 1993, but the Utah Association of Realtors says the problem isn't so much a lack of buyers as a lack of housing inventory.
"The Utah residential real-estate market is still strong. We're simply experiencing an adjustment from the phenomenal markets of 1992 and early 1993," said Max Thompson, UAR president."Combine that with fewer homes for sale, and you'll see a decrease in sold statistics while average sales prices continue to rise," he said.
Here are how the various regions fared last year:
SALT LAKE - Sales dropped in the Salt Lake market by 9 percent, with prices averaging $112,848.
UTAH COUNTY - Utah County reported a 34 percent decrease in sales of homes, with the price averaging $109,684.
PARK CITY - A 7 percent decline brought the average home sale to $232,051. However, Park City Realtors reported a 7 percent increase in condominium sales, with the average price per unit moving up to $116,900.
CACHE RICH - The Cache-Rich Association of Realtors experienced a 34 percent increase, with the average sale $96,616.
IRON COUNTY - A 34 percent increase also was reported for Iron County, where homes sold for an average of $71,314
WASHINGTON COUNTY - In Washington County, sales averaged $116,322.
OGDEN - The Greater Ogden Association reported an 8 percent decrease, with homes selling for an average of $85,493.
NORTHERN UTAH - The Brigham-Tremonton Board of Realtors recorded an 11 percent increase in sales of single-family homes during 1993's fourth quarter compared to the same period for 1992. The average sales price was $73,938.
TOOELE - In Tooele, a 29 percent decrease in sales was recorded, with the average price at $67,315.
CARBON/EMERY - The steepest decline in Utah was recorded by Carbon-Emery Realtors at 42 percent. The average home sold for $51,442.