Sales of existing homes in Buncombe County jumped 68 percent, according to figures from the N.C. Mountains Multiple Listing Service.
A total of 237 existing homes were sold in Buncombe County in April, up from 203 in March of this year and 141 in April of 2009.
Realtors said the expiration of federal tax credits contributed to the rise, along with an overall recovery in the economy.
“Hopefully, these are signs that the ship has been turned and were heading in the right direction,” said Terry Horner, president of Preferred Properties in Asheville.
Despite the rise in sales, the prices of homes sold declined slightly. The median home sale price in April was $186,000, down from $208,000 a year ago. Some other nearby mountain counties saw a similar trend with rising sales and lower prices in April, according to the MLS data.
However, the MLS also shows inventory remains high. In Buncombe County, theres an excess of high priced homes. Realtors report theres about nine months of supply for homes below $100,000, but 10 years worth of supply for homes between $750,000 and $1 million. The supply for homes in other price categories is about 16 months, say industry officials, well above a typical equilibrium level of six months supply.
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The number of foreclosures in South Carolina dropped 17 percent in April compared to March, although it was up 36 percent from April of 2009, according to a report from RealtyTrac. The Columbia area saw better improvement. Foreclosures there dropped more than 40 percent in April from March.
The Columbia area saw 356 homes enter the foreclosure process in April. Industry experts say it remains difficult to get loans modified.
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USC Upstates George Dean Johnson Jr. College of Business and Economics, also known simply as “The George,” opened this week in downtown Spartanburg.
The opening ceremony drew more than 500 guests to the new college building on St. John Street. Construction of the $30 million project, which included an adjoining parking deck, began in December 2008.
George Johnson was the lead contributor to the new building, which was made possible by a total of $14 million in private donations.
The college is expected to provide additional academic opportunities for students, and provide a boost to the economy in downtown Spartanburg. Johnson said he hopes the new college will help create more local entrepreneurs who will create new businesses and additional jobs in the community.
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Alexium Inc. announced plans to create about 200 jobs in Greer with a new high-tech manufacturing and research and development facility.
The Australia-based company owns the global rights to Reactive Surface Technology, which uses low-energy microwaves to make materials waterproof, oil-proof, anti-microbial, UV protected or anti-stick.
The company plans to invest $8 million in a plant near Greer and create the jobs, including some requiring experience with textiles, over the next five years.
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Milliken has donated $2 million
The funds were given to the school on the condition that it seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for its oldest buildings.
The school is planning a $3.8 million efficiency project, which includes the creation of a new geothermal HVA system with 50 wells, each 500 feet deep. The wells will help naturally heat and cool the buildings.
Drilling for the wells is expected to begin this month. The school also plans to replace doors and windows, install new insulation and more energy-efficient lighting.
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The North Carolina Symphony announced that musicians of the orchestra have agreed to a contract extension providing for two additional years of cost-saving measures to continue operating on a greatly reduced budget.
The agreement calls for a 38-week season in 2010-2011 and 39 weeks in 2011-2012, compared to 44 weeks in the original 2007-2011 contract. The revised contract trims $1 million annually from the budget, a cut of about $19 percent per musician in total compensation.
The symphony has been able to lower operating expenses for 2009-2010 to $11.6 million from an original plan of $14.1 million.
The symphony is has raised $6.6 million toward its goal of $8 million needed to obtain $1.5 million in state matching funds. The money will be used to reduce debt and meet the lower budgets.
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Isothermal Community College
N.C. Governor Bev Perdue also has proposed raising the per credit hour tuition rate to $8 per hour. The recommended changes to the state budget for the North Carolina Community College System would take effect July 1, 2011 if approved.
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The City of Asheville has banned smoking in parks and municipal buildings. The ban will take effect July 1 and applies to parks, greenways and areas around city buildings. Property owners will be able to call police to report violations of the no-smoking rules. Violations can result in a $50 fine. The ban does allow the city to establish areas outside city buildings to be designated smoking areas.
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Businesses in Greer, S.C.
Proponents of the change says it could also draw more businesses to Greer. City councilman Wryley Bettis says he is willing to push for the referendum so voters can have a say on the issue.
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The Center for Birds of Prey near Charleston, S.C. says it is planning to send workers to help clean up birds affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The center created a hospital two years ago to treat oiled birds, and about 80 percent of the centers staff and volunteers is qualified to treat oiled birds.
Jim Elliott of the center says the worst of the spill has not yet come ashore, but it inevitably will affect birds in the region.are calling for a referendum to allow them to serve alcohol after midnight Saturday and during meals on Sunday. The change is needed they said to compete with other neighboring community, which already have approved similar measures. says dual enrollment programs for high school students may be cut in the upcoming fiscal year due to reduced state funding. to make the 50-year-old buildings at Spartanburg Day School more energy efficient.