O.C. Leads Southland With 10% Increase in Home Sales : Real estate: The average price rose 1%, retaining the county’s lead in cost as well. Market now is in existing homes.

Orange County has sprinted ahead of the rest of Southern California this year in home sales, according to a survey released Tuesday by TRW Redi Property Data. The county registered a healthy 10% growth in the sales of existing and new homes from November, 1990 to November, 1991.

The upturn makes for two consecutive months of large year-to-year increases in Orange County. October home sales rose 12% from a year earlier.

In the same November-to-November time period, Southern California sales inched up only marginally, by about 1%. Although Los Angeles saw a 5% increase, sales in San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties dragged down the overall average with decreased sales--nearly canceling out Los Angeles and Orange counties’ stronger showings.

Orange County in November continued to lead the Southland with the highest average home price at $241,941, up 1% from $239,671 last November. Prices for all of Southern California were also up 1%, from $203,263 to $204,972.

“If one is to be picky and take into account inflation, we had negative growth” in prices, said Nima Nattagh, a market research analyst with TRW Redi Property.

Sales of previously occupied homes fared well in Orange County, jumping 19% from the year-earlier month, while sales of new homes dipped 29%.

Last month, 3,176 existing homes and 445 new homes sold in the county.

“There is a bigger demand for existing homes because they tend to be less expensive than new homes,” Nattagh said. The average price for an existing home in Orange County last month was $238,000, compared to $254,000 for a new home.

The 10% boost in overall sales in Orange County “signals a sign of movement in the market,” Nattagh said.

Housing Market in Orange County

MONTHLY HOME SALES

Total sales of new and resale houses and condominiums April 1989: 4,431 November 1991: 3,621

AVERAGE HOME PRICE

Average sale price for new and resale houses and condominiums April 1989: $251,959 November 1991: $241,941

Source: TRW Marketing Services