Charleston home sales have strongest January since ‘08, report says

Home sales were strong in the Charleston region in January, the best start of the year since 2008, according to a local housing report today.

The Charleston Trident Association of Realtors said 634 homes sold at a median price of $181,750 last month.

The association said it was the highest sales volume for the month since 2008, when 648 homes changed hands in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties.

The housing market is off to a strong start this year with sales volume up 16 percent and median price up 3 percent compared to 2012.

Today’s report keeps the momentum rolling from 2012, which has bene touted as a turn-around for the housing market.

The association reported 10,574 homes changed hands in 2012, the most since 2007, when 12,921 homes were sold. The region’s median home price climbed to $190,065 last year, nearly 5 percent higher than 2011. It remained about 9 percent off the comparable figure of $207,850 for 2007.

Housing experts have said the combination of falling prices, low borrowing costs and the mending economy have driven home sales higher.

Check back with postandcourier.com later for updates.